DuB-EnG: Sony Video 8 Pro Handycam Hi Digital Camera Camcorder - A potted history and old footage

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
  • Found a Sony Video 8 Pro in the attic - here is some nostalgia on said camera, Hi8, historic video cameras, old footage, SUBSCRIBE and Thumbs Up for more! A bit TechMoan
    Thanks to the internet for all the historic facts... more specifically, Wikipedia!
    In January 1984, Eastman Kodak announced the new technology. In 1985, Sony of Japan introduced the Handycam, one of the first Video8 cameras with commercial success. Much smaller than the competition's VHSand Betamax video cameras, Video8 became very popular in the consumer camcorder market. Their user base consisted mainly of amateur camcorder users, although they also saw some use in the professional television production field.
    The 8mm video format is used by three videocassette formats. These are the original entirely Analogue Video8 format, its improved successor Hi8 analog but with provision for digital audio, and a more recent digital recordingformat known as Digital8. These three formats are physically very similar, featuring both the same magnetic tape width and near-identical cassette shells. This gives a measure of backward compatibility in some cases. One difference between them is in the quality of the tape itself, but the main differences lie in the encoding of the video when it is recorded onto the tape.
    In all three cases, a length of 8mm-wide magnetic tape is wound between two spools and contained within a hard plastic-shell cassette. These cassettes share similar sizes and appearance, and standard recording time is up to 180 minutes for PAL and 120 minutes for NTSC. The cassette holds the same length tape; tape consumption is different between PAL and NTSC recorders.
    Like most other videocassette systems, Video8 uses a helical-scaning drum/barrel type head to read from and write to the magnetic tape. The drum rotates at high speed, one or two rotations per picture frame while the tape is pulled along the drum's path. Because the tape and drum are oriented at a slight angular offset, the recording tracks are laid down as parallel diagonal stripes on the tape.
    In terms of video quality, Video8 and Beta-II offer similar performance in their standard-play modes. In terms of audio, Video8 generally outperforms its older rivals. Standard VHS and Beta audio is recorded along a narrow linear track at the edge of the tape, where it is vulnerable to damage. Coupled with the slow horizontal tape speed, the sound was comparable with that of a low-quality audio cassette.
    The audio quality of Video8 also out-performed most systems of its day. Video8 machines used audio frequency modulation (AFM) to record sound along the same helical tape path as that of the video signal. This meant that Video8's standard audio was of a far higher quality than that of its rivals Video8 later included true stereo. In general, Video8 comfortably outperforms non-HiFi VHS/Beta.
    Video8 has one major advantage over the full-size competition. Thanks to their compact size, Video8 camcorders are small enough to hold in the palm of the user's hand. Such a feat was impossible with Betamax and full-sized VHS camcorders, which operate best on sturdy tripods or strong shoulders.
    Efforts were made to expand Video8 from only the camcorder market into mainstream home video. But as a replacement for full-size VCRs, Video8 failed. It lacks the long (5+ hours) recording times of both VHS and Betamax, offers no clear audio/video improvement to the general user, and cost more! Even with all of the advanced features offered in high-end Video8 machines, there was no compelling reason to switch to Video8 for the home application. Initially, many movies were prerecorded in 8mm format for home and rental use, but the rental market for Video8 never materialized. Sony maintained a line of Video8 home VCRs well into the 1990s, but unlike VHS, 8mm VCRs with timers were very expensive.
    Sony also produced a line of Video8 Walkman-branded players and recorders, with and without a flip-up screen meant for video playback and limited recording. These have been adapted for Digital8 as well as MiniDV formats, even as portable DVD players have become popular in this application. Such players saw use in professional applications, particularly with airlines, who, during the 1980s, adopted 8mm as the format for in-flight movies. As of 2008, they remain in use on many airliners.

ความคิดเห็น • 100

  • @armouros
    @armouros 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    it would be fun to go back to the same spots and record yourself doing the same things.

  • @dangelus_the_watcher
    @dangelus_the_watcher 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    We have something in common Howard. No, I don't have a Hi8 video camera but I also had hair in 1999 :)

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Hahahaha.... yup.... how the years change us! ... I’m basically the same, slightly balder and maybe just a little more irritating these days!

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have a camera 8 pro (8mm) sony ccd v 100e but I need its accessories like adapter, connector battery, flashes ..... can help me ???

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have a camera 8 pro (8mm) sony ccd v 100e but I need its accessories like adapter, connector battery, flashes ..... can help me ???

  • @NOWThatsRichy
    @NOWThatsRichy 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I've still got my Sony Hi8 camcorder that we bought in the late 90's, haven't used it for years though, I should really power it up and run it sometime, and yes somewhere I do have some holiday footage of the Clifton suspension bridge as well! 👍

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Hahaha! - Excellent!!... There's an observatory not too far from it... worth a little visit if you have time!

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      you don't want to sell me

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I can sell mine :-)

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have a camera 8 pro (8mm) sony ccd v 100e but I need its accessories like adapter, connector battery, flashes ..... can help me ???

  • @video99couk
    @video99couk 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    3:57 It should be said that the actual quality of the recording was almost certainly far higher than you saw from that nasty USB capture device. A professional video capture to large files could give surprisingly good results.

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Upscaling would also be beneficial…. It’s 520x 240 …

  • @frigbychilwether
    @frigbychilwether 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Oh what 19 years does to a person ! (myself included). Watching this reminded me I've got some hi-8 tapes from around 1993 of me and friends dicking about. I should check ebay to see if there's a cheap player/camcorder available.

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Absolutely! ... 50 bucks should do it.... there are also some services that convert from tape to dvd, but personally I prefer to see what’s on the tapes myself!

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Oh... follow up don’t use that uvc converter I did... it’s SH1T

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have a camera 8 pro (8mm) sony ccd v 100e but I need its accessories like adapter, connector battery, flashes ..... can help me ???

  • @forester77cj
    @forester77cj 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice review buddy 😉👍👍👍

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Chris ... teehee... great button push today.... 60 views already! .... watch out for those space aliens.... and stay clear of the Bristol suspension bridge... I bet your kids have no idea what tapes are!

  • @LeftoverBeefcake
    @LeftoverBeefcake 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Heh, quite the time capsule you've got there. And all these years later, you're still doing dubious things in front of a camera. :P

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That was the funny part... I’d forgotten I was doing this kind of stuff 20 years ago! .... I laughed my arse off at my own stupid antics!

  • @Normanskie
    @Normanskie 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for sharing your early documentaries, don't give up the day job, enjoyed the info though.

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Hahah!!! ... I found this video camera in my late fathers garage ... in the rafters... I also came across some old reel to reel tapes ... I chucked a crappy video up on that too :-)

  • @SimplyArctic
    @SimplyArctic 3 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Hii i was wondering so today I Ordered the Sony CCD-V9 Pro but I was wondering do you know what kind of battery it needs to make it work?

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  3 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      The battery is very difficult to buy, best to re-cell old batteries with new NiMh cells

    • @SimplyArctic
      @SimplyArctic 3 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@DubiousEngineering ahh okkk thank YOUU so much I will try that!🩵

  • @rutgerfilms8636
    @rutgerfilms8636 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hello, I just got my hands on one! However, it seems that the release system of the casette is ‘stuck’, It doesnt pop out, like yours. Any way to fix you think?

  • @wardverstuyft9694
    @wardverstuyft9694 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I just received this camera from my grandfather. Can you advise me with the aparature that can put my recordings on digital? So to my pc or record straight to a SD-card? Thx in advance!

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I used two devices, one to convert composite video to hdmi, then another to capture the hdmi ….

  • @marotox123
    @marotox123 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My grandfather is having the same but without briefcase

  • @karen4you
    @karen4you 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    To still have this is a true blast, especially with that footage. Not your typical home movies... sorry the alien took hair follicle samples but they have no hair whatsoever & they were just too curious.

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah! - Damn those Aliens! - I'm glad it was only hair samples... I think they may have given me a few extra pounds too... to carry around in my belly!

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have a camera 8 pro (8mm) sony ccd v 100e but I need its accessories like adapter, connector battery, flashes ..... can help me ???

  • @kevinr487
    @kevinr487 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    5:24 totally epic mullet!

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Do love a good mullet!!!

    • @kevinr487
      @kevinr487 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@DubiousEngineering Thanks for the video. I was researching a particular digital 8 camera I'm considering buying (DCRTRV120) to play back some old standard format 8mm video tapes and was trying to figure out if Digital8 cameras are backwards compatible. I think you answered my question.

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@kevinr487 ... I hope so... double check on google, but they were mostly interchangeable!!! :-)

    • @kevinr487
      @kevinr487 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@DubiousEngineering Will do! Thanks again

  • @BeyondBaito
    @BeyondBaito ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It looks like a bigger version of that camera from Back to the Future

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Great Scott! 21.1 Giggaeatts on a flux capacitor!

    • @BeyondBaito
      @BeyondBaito ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@DubiousEngineering I love cameras like these. That lime between VHS and MiniDV.
      It just has an amazing look to it.

  • @leonandersen9118
    @leonandersen9118 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Have some of the same one and it uses the same battery do you know where to get it?

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      No chance on getting these batteries anymore, suggest finding someone to re-cell the old casing!

  • @x1Reflex
    @x1Reflex ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It's funny, my father also had a similar camera and they really saw a wave of UFOs around those dates, almost around my birth 1996-1999 SLP, Mexico wanted to try to record them with that camera but they were scared shitless lol

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ooooh!! That's creepy!!! :-) 😀 tin foil hats on!

  • @ninosubotic04
    @ninosubotic04 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have the same Camera but it won’t power on can someone pls help me what may couse That problem? Camera is in great condition and I cleaned the contact but no luck :(

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Did you put a multimeter on the output of the power supply to check the voltage output?

  • @przemassLU
    @przemassLU ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have the same. Did they come out with stickers to write my name on? Mine also has the same stickers as yours.

  • @MrDavidyaz
    @MrDavidyaz 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    hi nice videos-i have an old sony ccd v100 pro and want to watch my old v8 videos-have clinch cable(white red yellow) to hdmi cabel and want to watch by tv or laptop-but can not maybe can you help thank you

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You can buy composite to hdmi converters on ebay for about £20

  • @EricMBaldwin13
    @EricMBaldwin13 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Will this playback hi8 tapes?

  • @purplevectorgaming6089
    @purplevectorgaming6089 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Does anyone know if it's still possible to get batteries for this video 8 camera? Or anyone to still use one in general? I also found my dad's old video camera. Same model, but I'm not quite sure what to do with it. Or if it even works, since I have no power for it

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I can probably re-cell a battery pack for you

    • @purplevectorgaming6089
      @purplevectorgaming6089 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Whats re-celling. I'm very tech illiterate when it comes to older tech and batteries.

    • @kureki147
      @kureki147 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@purplevectorgaming6089 recelling means changing the guts of the battery. Basically a new battery capacity in the housing of the old one.

  • @kevinr487
    @kevinr487 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    By the way, I've been racking my brain for what seems like forever trying to figure out the best way to go about converting 8mm video to digital and having a difficult time coming to a solid conclusion. At this point, I believe I will get the best results if I buy a new camera to play back the tapes and connect the camera using an S-Cable to an external DVD recorder, which aren't really easy to find. Any knowledge on this topic?

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Awww ... check my betamax video ... I use a ds60 it’s epic... I have a future video half in the bag. Give me a few weeks :-) hahah

  • @lloydyinspainandhiscigarbo7735
    @lloydyinspainandhiscigarbo7735 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    So you knew Nick Cave back in 1999 hey?

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I think I met him at a birthday party after visiting the boys next door.... but he’s a bit of a bad seed... :). Hope all those references make sense! ... that dude has been one of my very best mates for life! :). And yes he plays good guitar!

  • @cynicalrabbit915
    @cynicalrabbit915 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Dubious Engineering
    Here's an idea for dubious engineering.
    There are many reasons why this may be hard to almost impossible to do, the most obvious reason actually cuts two ways.
    WHY DO IT?
    1 - Literally no benefit.
    2 - It would be fun to try.
    Proposal
    Take an old VHS or BETAMAX video camera, gut it and replace the them with the guts of a digital video camera (cheap fixed focus lens) giving the Frankensteinian result a better lens and all the attendant benefits if any. 😂

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      brilliant idea... and the quality would be far superior with the modern technology... I’ll keep my eyes open when the junk shops open again and see if anything crops up!

  • @michelaesposito7126
    @michelaesposito7126 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Il nome dell caricabatterie e batteria grazie

  • @flashy696969
    @flashy696969 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey, do you still have that Video 8 Pro camera etc ?? I want to buy it !!

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      flash - the drone man yes, and yes I can sell it. My email address is in the about section of my channel

    • @goodfellah811
      @goodfellah811 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have one as well, if you would like to purchase it

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have a camera 8 pro (8mm) sony ccd v 100e but I need its accessories like adapter, connector battery, flashes ..... can help me ???

    • @santo2hi
      @santo2hi 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, I have it and I want to sale

  • @sureshsharma-ut7xn
    @sureshsharma-ut7xn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Share your I'd so I can send the pictures of the camera

  • @jamesruivivar8722
    @jamesruivivar8722 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    How much when you sell it have one too

  • @mosesirungu6517
    @mosesirungu6517 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi, can this camera play some Hi8 tapes i have in my archieve?

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I don’t believe hi8 are compatible with the video8 ... sorry ... that said, I could be wrong!

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Holy moly! ... I just. Looked it up... Hi8 is backwards compatible with video 8 !

    • @mosesirungu6517
      @mosesirungu6517 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@DubiousEngineering 😂😂 your 2nd comment😂 i saw a similar camera on sale like the one you've diplayed here. I was sceptic to buy it cause was not sure if it would play my Hi8 tapes. I bought a digital8 camcorder sometime back but didn't work. So if that's the case i will buy it. Thank you very much

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hahah... fantastic... strongly suggest you double check all your research!! This is dubious engineering :). I may be wrong!!

    • @mosesirungu6517
      @mosesirungu6517 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@DubiousEngineering hahaha.... Noted bt thanks for responding

  • @krishnukrishna967
    @krishnukrishna967 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What is price for today in market because I want to sell this camara

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      In UK it’s worth £40 to £100 depending on condition. Hope that helps... I suggest use eBay to check!

    • @aliouldkradda2003
      @aliouldkradda2003 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have a camera 8 pro (8mm) sony ccd v 100e but I need its accessories like adapter, connector battery, flashes ..... can help me ???

  • @gpowerdragon9852
    @gpowerdragon9852 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Nice fick camera but the computer capture card is a bunch of rubbish many of those cheap Little dongle things are not Good . aver media One of The best but The input is component but if you have a DVD recorder with that u good😊

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Yeah so many dongle capture cards are utter poop...

  • @LiviuDragon
    @LiviuDragon ปีที่แล้ว +1

    i have sony 4k camcorder

  • @Yukatoshi
    @Yukatoshi 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    You look weird with hair lol.

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Mattias Forelli I agree! ... I should have been born with no follicles!

    • @Yukatoshi
      @Yukatoshi 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Dubious Engineering Lol yeah.

    • @DubiousEngineering
      @DubiousEngineering  6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hahah... perhaps a hairless albino!

  • @sureshsharma-ut7xn
    @sureshsharma-ut7xn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi sir this is Suresh from india
    I have same video camera
    And I want to sale that