Thanks. Sorry for this basic question .... but what other digital 8 brands should I look out for? I am only familiar with the Sony Digital 8 camcorders. Thanks for the tip about the Canopus. I already have the ADVC-55 hooked to my a VHS player.

I believe Sony was the main producer of D8.
I see them at flea markets and thrift stores for around $15-20.

Sony is the only ones that make Digital 8 anymore I believe. If you don't need it, you might see if you can rent/borrow one from a camera shop in your area.

Otherwise, you can try ebay. But make sure it can play analog 8mm tapes. Not all of them can.

Dave T2

Thanks for your help!!!

rjm:

Im not sure the other posts exactly answered your question. I do a fair amount of 8mm captures and here is what I found:

1. Canon & Sony captured Hi8 tapes will generally play back on either brand Hi8 camcorder unit, but Canon plays back Sony better than a Sony will play back a Canon captured tape.
2. Some Digital 8 camcorders play back Hi8 tapes.
2. The Sony digital 8 generally won't play back on a Canon Digital 8 camcorder. Maybe a head alignment issue.
3. The Sony digital video walkmen are among the best Hi8 & Digital 8 capture devices and play almost anything and some convert to digital via firewire, but they are still very expensive for a a one time project.
4. Obviously, you want to capture digital 8 to a hard drive for authoring on a DVD to avoid a DVD player/burner MPG-2 conversion.

Are all the tapes digital 8? Are they all Sony? If so, spring for a digital walkman on Ebay & resell it later.