What else besides the Sony DCR-TRV480for converting HI-8 and 8mm

I was thinking about using my capture board with my old camcorder for
this, but in an earlier thread someone suggested I'd get better results
using a digital 8 camcorder like the Sony DCR-TRV480 to convert the old
tapes. However, this model is hard to find as its been discontinued, so
I am wondering what other models out there are capable of hi8
playback/conversion?

Scubajam...

1) I suggest buying a Digital8 Sony camcorder that will play your 8mm
and Hi8 tapes. One high quality unit is the DCR-TRV740. Then you can
simply firewire the tapes into a computer and they are digitized and
ready for editing.

J. Clarke...

That has already been suggested to him and is what he attempted to do do
however Sony has discontinued the entire Digital 8 product line and finding
one in good working order is problematical. The DCR-TRV740 is even less
available than the 480--Sony still lists some B-stock 480 on their US web
site and there may be a few stores that have old stock still on hand.

2) Many don't realize it, but the CODEC on tape for Digital 8 is
EXACTLY the same as the CODEC on miniDV tape for similar quality lens
and CCD's. The only difference is the Digital8 tapes (really just
quality Hi8 tapes) are larger and less expensive. This means the
Digital8 camcorders are usually larger and less expensive than miniDV.
But quality is related to optics and CCD. For example, there is no 3
CCD Digital8 camcorder, so if you want that quality and color
saturation, there's no choice but miniDV. The TRV740 is a 520 lines, 1
megapixel camcorder with excellent resolution.

3) Gotta buy used for what you want. I just purchased my 3rd TRV740,
off eBay. This last one without power supply/charger, battery, etc
(which I already have), for less than $200. Most 740's go for $250 to
$300. But you can also use many other Digital8 units for what you want
to do. Just use the Premium Hi8/Digital8 tapes and not cheap 8mm
tapes. Still under $3/tape at many places.

I started with Beta, went to full size VHS, then jumped to Digital8 for
4 units, and now shoot HD on a Sony HVR-A1U over the past 23 years.
The HD unit uses miniDV tapes. I must say I do like the small size and
storage requirements of the miniDV, but will most likely always have a
Digital8 unit around for the hundreds of tapes in the archives. I use
a new tape for each project and store everything in it's original
format for archive. Now I have a Beta player, of course VHS, Digital8,
and the HD camcorder so I can play back all my archived tapes.

J. Clarke...

480 was the last that was still in production. Any others that you get
unless you luck out on new old stock would be used.

You can get them direct from Sony for $250.

Another option would be the Video Walkman GVD-200 or 800 but they're a lot
of money for a VCR.

Your next best option would be to play from your existing camcorder through
either a mini-DV camcorder or a Canopus ADVC-110.