A device to play 8mm HS90 tape.

[BrickyBrian]

I have found some TDK 8mm HS90 tapes when clearing out and I would like to see what is on them. I seem to remember from many years ago that there used to be a VHS cassette that one could slip those 8mm HS90 tapes into. Could anyone please point me towards where I could obtain such a device?

[Station X]

A working 8mm camcorder would do the job.

Several companies offer a transfer to DVD service.

[cmjones01]

An 8mm cassette won't work in a VHS adapter. The adapters were for use with VHS-C cassettes, which were a different standard. The 8mm cassette is a different size and the picture and sound are recorded differently on the tape, so a proper Video-8 or Hi-8 player or camcorder is what you need.

Chris

[duncanlowe]

Quite a few of the digital 8 machines could also playback the analogue format 8mm tapes. This is handy because it makes it easy to capture onto a computer. Sony did a range of D8 camcorders, and I still have mine just in case I turn up any more analogue 8mm.

[Graham G3ZVT]

I had the same issue two years ago, so I bid on an old camcorder on Ebay, and secured it at the princely sum of 99p (+£2.90 p&p)

I digitised the tapes by recording them on my old DVD recorder that accepts a composite input.

[BrickyBrian]

Many thanks for all of your replies but I'm sure that there used to be a VHS cassette case of some sort that one could slip those 8mm HS90 tapes into so I will have to keep looking.



.

[paulsherwin]

No, it's a completely different standard. The tape is a different width for one thing. Don't waste your time looking for a suitable adaptor because they don't exist. As Chris said in #3, you are thinking of the adaptors which allowed VHS-C camcorder tapes to be played back on full sized VCRs. The tape and encoding system are the same for VHS and VHS-C, and only the physical cassette body is different.

[Gulliver]

Just to back up what others have said, there is no possible way to "adapt" an 8mm video cassette to run in a VHS machine. The formats are wholly incompatible. Any one of us could go into details if you wish.

There *was* an adaptor for VHS-C cassettes to fit in a full size VHS machine. But that won't do you any good.

I have working hi8 and digital 8 camcorders but am afraid I'm way backlogged transferring tapes to USB and DVD for friends.

However I can attest that obtaining a cheap used camcorder of the correct format works. You can then output to a DVD recorder or computer capture card if you have one...if not you can probably buy a capture card for only a few pounds more than the camcorder.

[BrickyBrian]

Just goes to show what a frustrating spare part a defective memory is. I could see the device I mentioned in my minds eye but as you said, even the width of the two tapes is different. I was going to say that I'm not tight but I am and I don't fancy paying £45.00 to have these three tapes looked at when they may even be empty so I will go for the option looking for working 8mm camcorder. It can then go in the cupboard with my wonderful old Panasonic that looked like a 3.5 rocket launcher and embarrassed my wife so much she refused to go out with when I carried it but for all you patience.

[Station X]

This reminds me that I must dig out my Video8 camcorder, check that it still works in playback (it stopped recording years ago) and digitise my recordings.

[radioredcat]

I was in a charity shop today and saw a nice looking bag on a shelf so looked in it and it's a Samsung VP-U10 with accessories plus two new Fuji 60 min tapes so couldn't resist in buying it.
I switched it on and the view finder lit but battery was showing low so I have put it on charge so will know when it's charged whether the unit works ok.

Andy

[electronicskip]

Amazing to think nowadays how technology has become throw away in the main.
I remember selling an early Akai portable (shopping trolley) camcorder to a customer costing about £1200 , now its worth almost nothing.

[Graham G3ZVT]

Originally Posted by radioredcat

I was in a charity shop today and saw a nice looking bag on a shelf so looked in it and it's a Samsung VP-U10 with accessories plus two new Fuji 60 min tapes so couldn't resist in buying it.
I switched it on and the view finder lit but battery was showing low so I have put it on charge so will know when it's charged whether the unit works ok.

Was it less, or more than the 99 pence I paid for my Hitachi

It was listed as untested , for spares or repair, and didn't have its PSU/charger, so I banked on the probability that the camera itself was OK, and after finding a suitable power brick, this proved to be the case. Long play would have been nice, but you can't have everything.

I've just been looking at your SpE TV videos, I must do that one last time while there is still some analogue left, and before it's just a memory.

Graham.
G3ZVT

Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase...
...Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel 2

[radioredcat]

Hi Graham it cost me £10 and it is in mint condition anyway battery charged in 40 mins so tried the camera functions and all good the VCR mech looks very clean.
So I need to check the VCR next so will have to break open one of the sealed tapes as I have no other tapes so will try it later just reading the manual for it.

Andy

[mjddewet]

I've got a Sony TRV 380E videocam that can output to Firewire, USB as well as composite video.

It reads analogue 8, Hi-8 and Digital-8 tapes.

It is also a 'pass-thru' device, where you can use the composite cable as input to the vidcam, and then output to USB for capturing media from VHS to digital format on a PC.

It is quite a nifty piece of electronics, as it can sense when there's analogue input and then will 'ask' you to connect the USB cable for output to a PC.

I nurture the vidcam like a priceless jewel, as I've still got some older D8 and analogue tapes to "put on DVD"

[jay_oldstuff]

Just be aware that the camcorders made in the early to mid 90's are now starting in to have electrolytic capacitor problems, serface mount and mare to change. I managed to pick up a nice early 2000's Sony at a boot sale for £2 which does both digital and analogue. And so far seems very reliable even the two li-on batteries still hold a good charge.

Jay