Any compeling reason to keep old Digital 8 camera?

VegasVideo wrote on 5/6/2008, 10:28 AM
I just finished uploading all of my old analog and digital 8mm tapes to my hard drive. I have them all backed up to another 1 tetrabyte drive. I am thinking of selling my old sony 8mm camera and putting the money towards the purchase of a HD camcorder. I can't think of a reason to hang onto the old camera unless I needed to upload one of the tapes again but even say 5 years down the road, would it even work if I blew the dust off it. Seems to me I am better off selling it and putting the cash to good use. Am I wrong?

Comments

Former user wrote on 5/6/2008, 10:37 AM
"Am I wrong?"

No, and I think you should just mail that old Digital 8 camera to me.

:)

Kidding aside, if you feel comfortable with the storage medium of the tapes, then you don't need the camera, but you probably won't get much money out of it, so why not just keep it just in case?

But feel free to send it to me if you decide not to keep it.

Dave T2
CClub wrote on 5/6/2008, 11:09 AM
I had kept an old 8mm camcorder in the corner of a closet, and about a year ago I was hired to mix photos and some footage from 8mm tapes with some current media. Dusted the old 8mm off, plugged it in, and was able to capture footage from that 8mm camcorder. The money you'll get from the camcorder will not be much (you could do a probe on ebay), and if you do any video work for hire, you'll never know when the 8mm camcorder might be useful. My 0.02.
VegasVideo wrote on 5/6/2008, 11:22 AM
Here is the kicker.. I went on eBay to see what they are going for figuring like you I will just keep it in case. The crazy thing is that a camera like mine (Sony TRV-480) just sold for $466.. Yeah.. not kidding. Another went for over $200. My camera will convert the old analog to digital so thats maybe why this particular model is going for so much now.. demand vs supply I think... Crazy I know.. I think I only paid 400 for it new! So with spending 600 on a HV20 I figured I could recoup some of it anyway.. Thanks!
Former user wrote on 5/6/2008, 11:46 AM
That is surprising. Yeah I would sell it too then.

Dave T2
DGates wrote on 5/6/2008, 12:29 PM
"The money you'll get from the camcorder will not be much."

Actually, if it's a Digital 8 that has ability to playback and convert 8mm to digital, then those get decent amounts on eBay.

Most D8 camcorders don't do this, instead just simply recording and playing back the digital recording. So those models are rare.
CClub wrote on 5/6/2008, 2:27 PM
Geez... absolutely sell it. I was thinking about $40 bucks or so.
GaryAshorn wrote on 5/6/2008, 6:49 PM
Funny I still keep up my 8-track audio deck for conversion projects for clients. Wife worked years ago as an 8-track assembler for Columbia. You would be surprised what we get paid for repairing and converting 8-track tapes. I keep a version of most all past items for just this reason from old old Beta decks, reel to reels, cassette to most all video tapes formats. There is always someone who has a one of kind that needs conversion. BTW, I still have my D8 that does the standard 8mm too.

Gary
johnmeyer wrote on 5/6/2008, 7:11 PM
I have 78 rpm turntable & stylus; 45 & 33 rpm turntable & stylus; reel-to-reel tape; cassette tape; VHS tape; 8mm videotape; and even a Beta (consumer) deck. I also have 8mm, Super8, and 16mm film projectors.

Like Gary said, it sure is great when a client wants a conversion from old format to have something that can handle it.

On the other hand, I was amazed when I just did an eBay search on Digital8 and found some cameras going for $250. I would have guessed you wouldn't get more than $50.
Pal wrote on 5/6/2008, 10:19 PM
For what it's worth, I use my old digital 8 for 2 camera shoots plus it works as the pass through for my external monitor in Vegas.
DGates wrote on 5/7/2008, 1:06 AM
"I was amazed when I just did an eBay search on Digital8 and found some cameras going for $250"

That's what I was referring to, epecially the ones that convert regular 8mm/Hi8 to digital. Again, only some models do this (the ones getting the big bucks).

I imagine there are tons of old 8mm/Hi8 tapes that people would like to get into their computer.
teaktart wrote on 5/7/2008, 10:59 AM
I have a friend just yesterday begging to borrow my old Hi8 for capturing his old footage.... I'll loan it out and keep it for just such occassions. After all, its paid for! long ago.

On advice from Spot at a trade show years ago, I bought an ADS Pyro a/v Link for analog to digital conversion for about $140 to use instead of wearing out the heads on the old Hi8 camcorder. Its also good for using as a way to connect my external monitor via firewire so its served a couple of purposes without wearing out a camera.

Interesting to hear that the prices aren't going down that much for the older cameras.
I still have my old '83 VW bus (18yrs and counting) and its amazing that they are still worth a couple thousand even being 25yrs old....
and pushing 300K miles. Love it when a teenager pays a compilment to the old girl...(The bus that is, not me!)

eileen

LarryP wrote on 5/7/2008, 6:47 PM
If I recall correctly some of the earlier Digital-8 cameras had a decent time base corrector which is handy for analog to DV conversion.

Larry
DGates wrote on 5/7/2008, 6:49 PM
You're right Larry, they did.
fldave wrote on 5/7/2008, 8:32 PM
Mine is worth the big bucks then. I am going to keep mine, and charge big bucks to transfer 8mm tapes to Blu Ray.

Hey, why not?
DGates wrote on 5/7/2008, 9:12 PM
Might as well, at least as long as the camera holds out.
VegasVideo wrote on 5/20/2008, 9:10 AM
Just to update the thread.. sold the TRV-480 on eBay for $404.00 I put the money into an open box Canon HV20 for $489 from Circuit City...
Laurence wrote on 5/20/2008, 10:06 AM
Wow! You made out really well I'd say.
teaktart wrote on 5/20/2008, 3:37 PM
I'm jealous.....too!