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Guys, I am looking for a camcorder to use taping the grandkids. I do not like the cellphone style videos that the family is using. I remember when my daughter was born (the first child) I rushed out and bought my first video camera, a Canon E65, I must have paid close to 1500. dollars for it, that was back in 1987.

I took so many videos of her and my other children as they came along. All the Christmases, birthdays, trips etc. I eventually transferred those to DVD. The camera is long broken and gone.

But now with so much time now on my hands, I want to start taking videos of my grandchildren the same way and have them preserved.

So I am in the market for a camcorder. Not looking to spend big bucks this time around.

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I have done video recordings since 1978 and in additional to other equipment, I have two 8mm cameras, but not for sale. Most people kept their 8mm tapes, but got rid of the cameras to play the tapes and it cost $28.00 at Costco to copy a 2 hour tape. Fifty slides also cost $28.00 to copy on DVD/CDs and I just finished  copying 14,000 of my slides at home. Rass, it was punishment, because the scanner can only hold four slides at one time. 

Be VERY CAREFUL when you buy used video equipment [cameras, recorders and players], because a bad head  could damage your existing recorded tapes and lose your valuable recordings. Only a few people still know how to clean  video heads, without  breaking sensitive wires on the heads. Django might help, if you are nice to him. 

To be sure that this camera head is okay, first use a new tape  to do some not important recordings and play it back, before trying to play existing recorded tapes. If the head is bad, all it will do is damage a new insignificant tape. 

Also, record at regular speed and not extended time, because some tapes will deteriorate and have blue blank spots over a period of time. Editing is also a problem  with some extended recordings.

Do not keep your recordings on the 8mm tapes alone. Keep the tapes as original, but copy the recordings to another device. 

I assume you want 8mm, because you already have some 8mm recordings. But as Mr. T said there are other inexpensive video cameras [4K], that can do a much better job for a longer time.  Because 8mm camera technicians are hard to find. When de camera bruk, you kok duk.   

I could copy to other devices : Beta, VHS, 8mm, scan 120 negatives, 35mm negatives, slides and some other things. But only for family and friends. Because Tanzania don't have much electricity to run me equipment.    

Tola
Amral posted:

Thanks Tola, most of my original tapes are safe, I made copies from then onto DVD and some on VHS also.

I figured I will tape the grandkids now. Eventually I want to digitized everything onto my computer and edit a bit.  I am looking at getting this next

https://www.roxio.com/en/produ...vhs-to-dvd/standard/

Not sure if this is all I need to get started.

I looked at the Roxio on the net and it looks good/reviews for your use.   I use separate machines to play the tape and another to record it. Thru cables with little loss. 

Since most of my old recordings are valuable, I would start the new tape recording machine and count to five before playing the old tape machine. This way I have a few seconds of lead time on the new recording, that could be removed with editing and it gives me better chance of not losing any of the old recording.

Also, since old tapes are stored [IN THEIR CONTAINERS] for long periods, I gently clean the tape with some air on both sides, before placing them in the playing machine[camera]. This is to avoid any dust to clog the tape head. Also, blow some air in the tape head area every now and again to remove any dust.  The tape can accumulate dust and cause the tape head to have snowy features.  Store all recordings  in a cool dry place.  

8mm head cleaners are still available at Henrys in Toronto or B&H in NY.  Run it on play for 10 seconds every now and again to keep the heads clean. Be careful who you get to physically clean your tape heads, because permanent damage can be result if thin wires on the heads are broken. 

In 1978, I recorded our son on two inch industrial tapes and made a mistake of copying them on four hour VHS tapes. Long playing time causes the recording to be on 'thinner' tapes and not very durable. Some of these recordings have blue blank spots. THUS my caution to use only shortest recording time allowed on the camera, most time its one hour for Mini DV tapes and  two hours on 8mm tapes.

One of my old cameras is a Canon XHA1s, that use Mini DV tapes. Airport scanners would leave streaks on blank tapes and I had a  letter from TSA Canada and in the US to have them physically examined. The same will apply to 8mm tapes. If you are buying tapes  by mail, packages are scanned and could damage your tape, so be careful.

I have some blank 8mm tapes, still in packages of four. You can have them, but not by mail. I plan to be in your are in another few months and carry them by hand.

Keep in mind, the recordings you do now with your grandkids, might be kept for 50 or more years. So play close attention to your recordings.

Keep looking for another 8mm camera, because you will always have the tapes and need a machine to play them.

Our  grandkids don't play with my high end camera equipment.  They have Olympus TG 5 cameras  that is child proof/smash proof/ water proof/bullet proof, that they use for photos and  4K video. The new TG6 has a more sensitive sensor for low light. The TG5 is now on discount as the TG6 comes on line.      

 

  

Tola

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