Are Camcorders Obsolete
How obsolete are we talking here?
Hi,
I have a bunch of Hi8 tapes that need converting and no camcorder.
I’m toying with the idea of getting a Digital 8/ hi8 camcorder with firewire in order to get them on my mac.
We’re talking about £150 to buy the Digital 8 camcorder.
Is this a sound investment?
I appreciate that everyone else is upgrading to DV camcorders, but I have lots of tapes that need editing and am not happy putting them in to get converted by someone else (last time the company went bust and the tapes never seen again!)
Will it be impossible to get a few years use out of a Digital 8 camera/ will it be hard to get tapes etc.
Any help much welcomed before I go spending money I probably shouldn’t.
Thanks
I’m not sure where some of the other answerers are coming from but both Hi8 and Digital 8 tapes are quite easily available in the UK, but don’t confuse the two – they are NOT interchangeable, i.e a Hi8 tape will not play back on a Dig.8 and rarely vice versa.
I still use Dig.8 for random filming so you could still get plenty of use from a suitable camcorder, but please ensure that any Dig.8 unit you buy will be able to play back analogue Hi8 format.
I regularly convert Hi8 to Digital format and could help out if you get stuck, mail me direct.
Are Digital Cameras Becoming Obsolete?