Hi8 Playback Compatibility with Digital* Camcorders

Nope. hi8 was newer technology. hi8 camcorder could play older 8mm videos but not vice-versa. hi8 video has higher resolution then older 8mm

The only way to do that is to play it in a device that plays Hi8 tapes and somehow converts it to a digital signal (likely through firewire as DV), then capture it to your computer just like a digital camcorder.

There are several ways:
1. Buy a device (like a camera) that plays it, output through RCA cables to your other camera or tape deck that is digital through the line in, and then just record that. (Alternatively, you could put that signal into a DVD-R machine and record onto a DVD, then just copy the files off the DVD, if you don't have a way to capture DV through firewire.)
2. Buy a device that plays Digital8 (same tapes, but miniDV FORMAT) and output directly from the tape through firewire. This means you must buy a SONY (only brand that made [now discontinued] Digital8) camcorder or deck [if decks were made, though those are usually expensive].

So, the simple answer: get a Digital8 camera and capture, or get another digital camcorder and a Hi8 camcorder and play through the digital one into the computer.

Buying a Sony Handycam (OLDER model) will be your easiest option, and probably possible on ebay, etc., for $100-$200.


Short of this, you could look to a friend or a professional solution for just getting the tape copied (like VHS->DVD services exist, there is probably some place you can mail your tape to).

EDIT: I should add: You included "8mm" in your title-- that is a bit confusing. 8mm refers to a few formats. One is film (obviously not what you're referring to), but then there is the older "8mm" tape format; it's like Hi8, but I believe it's actually not the same tape-- unlike Digital8 and Hi8which share a physical medium. I don't think you can get an 8mm -> Digital device, so you'd need to go through the RCA cables, as described above. [And though Hi8 is actually 8mm in width, it's not quite the same as the other "8mm" format... for whatever odd reason someone decided.... ]
However, I suspect you ARE actually working with Hi8, so this shouldn't be a problem.

I have the exact same camera and same exact same problem. Any analog Video8 or Hi-8 camcorder or VCR will play these tapes.

By using the same cassettes as Hi8, many (NOT ALL) Digital8 (produced by Sony exclusively) camcorders are able to play analog Video8/Hi8 recordings, preserving compatibility with already recorded analog tapes.

you can connect Digital8 camcorders to your computer to download your movies for editing or Internet use.

As of 2008, Digital8 camcorders have been removed from the equipment offered by Sony.

DCR-TRV130 is not capable of playing back 8mm or Hi8 tapes recorded on analog camcorders. Digital recording playback only.

DCR-TRV250E is a PAL version camera of the Digital8 format.
Yes you can use Hi8/Digital8 NTSC tapes. The camera will record a PAL digital picture on the tapes which means that you can play back the tapes in PAL and therefore you will be able to playback recorded tapes on UK televisions because they are also of the PAL format.

I too was having a problem playing back my 8mm in my TRV460. The audio and video was both very glitchy. I tried what dyz66 said and rewound to the start of the tape,and then recorded about 10 seconds of meaninless video. After that the whole tape played nice and clear. Thanks for the idea. I believe from here on out I'm going to buy some new tapes to try and avoid this.

mechanical alignment! try to record for a minute and playback the result on another player/recorder, not on your camera, if the playback is not okay then your camera needs alignment, you need pro fix. You said that you've done manual cleaning already, maybe you dis aligned the mechanical parts accidentally, applying too much force on the mechanical parts of your small unit tends to bend, dislocate or move these parts out of alignment. defective videohead will never playback good video, and you said that it seems to correct only a few minutes of playback.

may be your camera not design to play the analog tape...there are some model that can playback a analog tape...i think your camera is for digital playback only.... check your user manual

maybe I would buy your camera,
yes as far as I know hi8 and 8mm are completely different cameras,
where are you and how much for the camera?

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Yes. Hi8 camcorders are manufactured to work with 8mm or Hi8 tapes. The difference is the quality of the tape. 8mm tapes will provide about 270 lines of resolution where a Hi8 tape will provide up to 400. For better quality recordings, you'll want to use Hi8 tapes.