I bought this HI8 camera in 1996 for 2600 DM (Deutsche Mark= german Mark) which would be 1300 € Euro, but with Inflation more than 2000 Euro. Used it very often in daily life and on travels and i really liked this camera. Later there was a Mini DV Version of this camera but i never saw that in the stores. Really good HI8 camera at its time with all the funcitions that Sony had to offer. It was at the top level of their consumer camcorders. Good old memories...
@@IJDMit was kinda funny. I was at GW and there was an official Sony Camera bag new in the box with a tripod packaged as a camera "kit". But when i picked it up it was really heavy. When i opened the box i thought it was a Mavica. To my surprise it had everything in there. 3 blank sealed tapes, all cables, a strange dock, lens cleaning kit, 2 batteries plus battery charger, and manuals with advertisements in 3 different languages. $19.99 the whole sha-bang! 😂
This was the predecessor to the Ruvi, an even smaller camcorder from Sony which was about the same size as a 35mm photo camera, and recorded on a 30-minute spool of Hi8 tape integrated with the video head drum in a small removable cartridge.
I have that same camera, I have tried to use it 3 weeks ago ( it has been kept in the closet for 20 years now ), I could pull out the tape but cannot close the tape slot now... any ideas ?
I would check all the gears and mech to make sure it all looks correct. Over time the plastics and belts break down which can cause those problems. In the situation with the one that I have it has a faulty sensor chip, somehow heating with a hair dryer for 45 seconds temporarily fixes that problem for me, however in your case it sounds like another issue, I of course cannot recommend the 'hair dryer trick' due to varying results with different electronics.
I just found my old Sony video Hi8 Handycam in very good condition - everything seems to work and have two batteries which readily charged and a station adapter. More importantly found 8 cassette tapes with family memories and I have no idea how to move/transcribe these to digital format. It seems as if you did in fact move on to this. If this is accurate, can you forward me a link where you go through this process? THANKS SO MUCH!
Hello, I used an analog video encoder/capture device, I think it was made by Elgato. Basically, you use the video/audio output on the camera to the encoder, which connects to your computer and the software takes care of the rest. It really is a simple process. You should be able to find one doing a quick search on the internet for 'analog capture device'. I may do a future video better detailing the process.
Hi there! What a lovely coincidence, I am looking for an advice and came across that post! I am owning that camera since 90-s, took many videos on it. Finally I am at the point when all these cassettes need to be transferred to cloud, or usb, or some other form where we actually can watch it. The problem is - this notorious cassette drive you could not close )))) is not opening on my apparatus. The cassette inside is stuck and this entire chromed part is not moving out. Can someone give an advice how to make this thingy move? There is no 'water' indicator on the display, so I assume its not the problem. Also, I read your description, ZoneXero Venture, and I suspect you can give a sound and expect advice if it worth to pay $330 to yes video to digitalize 20 cassettes to workable format (I-cloud and usb) or there is a way to do it myself using this camera and some wires? Oh, the last question, does this cam and cassettes worth something? Thank you in advance, kind people , hopefully someone from this community will help me!
While I absolutely cannot recommend it, heating mine with a hair dryer seems to bring it back for small periods of time. From the way this camera was built, I think it just has solder joints that lose contact as it ages, and by re-heating them it temporarily fixes those issues. This quick fix does not hold at all, as I have had to do it multiple times with mixed results. As these old cameras age, parts are rare, and they are nearly impossible to disassemble and repair correctly without ending up with more issues. That being said, some of the issues I have had with this type camera where solved with a new battery and using the pinhole reset switch. Best of luck.
@@IJDM Thank you so much! I am afraid to try fan heat bc the old cassette stuck there, dont want to damage the tape. I never knew there is a pinhole reset switch on the camera, can you please tell me its location?
@@IJDM Also, you can work it without getting a new battery if you are indoors- there is a charger wire that goest strait to the camera ( the connector on the side)
ownin one, my father bought it back in 96/97. just has a problem thats now recording, i dont know if all the cassettes are full, if u know what i mean, greetins from switzerland
Hello out there in Switzerland! I can suggest a few things, first of course is that the record protection switch is off for the tapes, I mention that because I had a similar issue when I first purchased the one I have trying to use old tapes. Secondly, if the unit is flashing an error on the screen it is usually the moisture sensor, I think at this point they have all gone bad just due to time, the only trick I know (without having to disassemble the entire camera) is open the door, turn off the camera, remove the battery, and heat the insides with a hair dryer, be extra careful not to overdue it as you do not want to melt or damage anything with the heat, just enough to get it warm for about 30-40seconds, for some reason this temporarily fixes the issue. As always, do so at your own risk, as I am not any type of authority on these cameras. Best of luck...IJDM
@@MontanaHook It is on the tape side where you would put the spine label, it's just a little switch on the tape that moves back and forth , if it is open you can record, if it is closed just flip it the other way so it is open, very easy to spot.
I bought this HI8 camera in 1996 for 2600 DM (Deutsche Mark= german Mark) which would be 1300 € Euro, but with Inflation more than 2000 Euro. Used it very often in daily life and on travels and i really liked this camera. Later there was a Mini DV Version of this camera but i never saw that in the stores. Really good HI8 camera at its time with all the funcitions that Sony had to offer. It was at the top level of their consumer camcorders. Good old memories...
I thot there was a mini dv cam in this form factor, still have yet to find one.
Found one today with all accessories and bag!
I don't see them very often, they appear on ebay once in a while, I picked up mine fairly cheap a while back, I see now they are going for over $100.
@@IJDMit was kinda funny. I was at GW and there was an official Sony Camera bag new in the box with a tripod packaged as a camera "kit". But when i picked it up it was really heavy. When i opened the box i thought it was a Mavica. To my surprise it had everything in there. 3 blank sealed tapes, all cables, a strange dock, lens cleaning kit, 2 batteries plus battery charger, and manuals with advertisements in 3 different languages. $19.99 the whole sha-bang! 😂
@@jdoh4972 That is a great deal, especially if it works, I still have issue with mine and the tape mech.
I have been looking at my top viewed videos, this one has amazing response, do you want to see more of this camera? Let me know your questions!
This was the predecessor to the Ruvi, an even smaller camcorder from Sony which was about the same size as a 35mm photo camera, and recorded on a 30-minute spool of Hi8 tape integrated with the video head drum in a small removable cartridge.
Thanks @vwestlife I knew there was a later model they made, I just noticed @techmoan did a video on the Sony Ruvi several years ago.
can we get a test footage video? I’ve been dying to find test video on this camcorder
Part 2 actually has footage from the cam for the intro teaser.
I have that same camera, I have tried to use it 3 weeks ago ( it has been kept in the closet for 20 years now ), I could pull out the tape but cannot close the tape slot now... any ideas ?
I would check all the gears and mech to make sure it all looks correct. Over time the plastics and belts break down which can cause those problems. In the situation with the one that I have it has a faulty sensor chip, somehow heating with a hair dryer for 45 seconds temporarily fixes that problem for me, however in your case it sounds like another issue, I of course cannot recommend the 'hair dryer trick' due to varying results with different electronics.
I just found my old Sony video Hi8 Handycam in very good condition - everything seems to work and have two batteries which readily charged and a station adapter. More importantly found 8 cassette tapes with family memories and I have no idea how to move/transcribe these to digital format. It seems as if you did in fact move on to this. If this is accurate, can you forward me a link where you go through this process? THANKS SO MUCH!
Hello, I used an analog video encoder/capture device, I think it was made by Elgato. Basically, you use the video/audio output on the camera to the encoder, which connects to your computer and the software takes care of the rest. It really is a simple process. You should be able to find one doing a quick search on the internet for 'analog capture device'. I may do a future video better detailing the process.
@@IJDM - thanks so much! I will check into locating an analog capture device. Will keep you posted if I figure it out.
Hi there! What a lovely coincidence, I am looking for an advice and came across that post! I am owning that camera since 90-s, took many videos on it. Finally I am at the point when all these cassettes need to be transferred to cloud, or usb, or some other form where we actually can watch it. The problem is - this notorious cassette drive you could not close )))) is not opening on my apparatus. The cassette inside is stuck and this entire chromed part is not moving out. Can someone give an advice how to make this thingy move? There is no 'water' indicator on the display, so I assume its not the problem. Also, I read your description, ZoneXero Venture, and I suspect you can give a sound and expect advice if it worth to pay $330 to yes video to digitalize 20 cassettes to workable format (I-cloud and usb) or there is a way to do it myself using this camera and some wires? Oh, the last question, does this cam and cassettes worth something? Thank you in advance, kind people , hopefully someone from this community will help me!
While I absolutely cannot recommend it, heating mine with a hair dryer seems to bring it back for small periods of time. From the way this camera was built, I think it just has solder joints that lose contact as it ages, and by re-heating them it temporarily fixes those issues. This quick fix does not hold at all, as I have had to do it multiple times with mixed results. As these old cameras age, parts are rare, and they are nearly impossible to disassemble and repair correctly without ending up with more issues. That being said, some of the issues I have had with this type camera where solved with a new battery and using the pinhole reset switch. Best of luck.
@@IJDM Thank you so much! I am afraid to try fan heat bc the old cassette stuck there, dont want to damage the tape. I never knew there is a pinhole reset switch on the camera, can you please tell me its location?
@@IJDM Also, you can work it without getting a new battery if you are indoors- there is a charger wire that goest strait to the camera ( the connector on the side)
ownin one, my father bought it back in 96/97. just has a problem thats now recording, i dont know if all the cassettes are full, if u know what i mean, greetins from switzerland
Hello out there in Switzerland! I can suggest a few things, first of course is that the record protection switch is off for the tapes, I mention that because I had a similar issue when I first purchased the one I have trying to use old tapes. Secondly, if the unit is flashing an error on the screen it is usually the moisture sensor, I think at this point they have all gone bad just due to time, the only trick I know (without having to disassemble the entire camera) is open the door, turn off the camera, remove the battery, and heat the insides with a hair dryer, be extra careful not to overdue it as you do not want to melt or damage anything with the heat, just enough to get it warm for about 30-40seconds, for some reason this temporarily fixes the issue. As always, do so at your own risk, as I am not any type of authority on these cameras. Best of luck...IJDM
@@IJDM record protection switch? where do i find the switch? thanks for answerin so fast, imma try that thing with the dryer 😂
@@MontanaHook It is on the tape side where you would put the spine label, it's just a little switch on the tape that moves back and forth , if it is open you can record, if it is closed just flip it the other way so it is open, very easy to spot.
is this the smallest hi8 camera ever? i think so!
The Sony CCD-SC5 is even smaller, also a hard one to find.