Hi 8 Video 8mm transfer to DVD - Compatibility

[Andy JB]

I am in the process of transferring all my 8mm tapes to DVD - half way through my tape loader in the original portable video recorder/player has developed a fault.

I can replace it with a similar model from ebay just for replay the tape to record onto a hard drive/DVD but none are Hi8 recorder models despite being similar models in the range from Hatachi.

The question is can i play Hi8 recorded tape quality from a non Hi8 player & still receive the record the same quality or will the replay default to non-Hi8 quality during playback ?

[Simpo Two]

You are not recording Hi8 so you only need a player not a recorder. But if it plays back on a non-Hi8 machine then not surprisingly it will lose the 'Hi'. So you need a Hi8 player.

[FurtiveFreddy]

There were 3 8mm formats with some compatibility between players. Read this if you haven't already to determine what you can playback if you can't get the same format player now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_mm_video_format

You may be able to find a video equipment hire company with some old kit they could rent to you if you got really desperate.

Or you could send the tapes to someone who converts formats commercially. Depending on the content, of course

[Simpo Two]

FurtiveFreddy said:

Or you could send the tapes to someone who converts formats commercially. Depending on the content, of course

A friend of mine does this; PM if interested. As for content, he had a previously unseen film of Hitler last year!