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Resolved Question

How to deal with 8mm tapes that don't play

Jun 11, 2014 12:13PM PDT

Hi everyone,

My girlfriend recently bought a hi8 camera to be able to play (and transfer to DVD) all her videos of when she was young. The model she bought Sony HandyCam CCD-TRV138.

She tried it out with three different tapes. 1 worked perfectly, great image and everything. Nonetheless, the two others didn't work at all.

These two were not showing any image but snow from times to times, with the sound that goes along with it. We don't understand what can cause some tapes to work and some other to not.

My girlfriend read on the internet that it might be because the tapes were recorded on another camera, but we both doubt it as we believe any 8mm tapes most be able to be played on any 8mm tape reader (or hi8 which are backward compatible). We wonder if it could be the "Sticky-shed syndrome"... but there is no tearing sound when playing the tapes... just snow.

The tapes are mostly Sony 8mm tapes, though there are some other brands in the lot. All of them are in good physical condition, though we can't be sure for the films themselves.

What do you believe could be the possibilities of that. I know that there are many possible answer, but I ask you to tell me what can cause the following symptoms :

1. Hi8 camera being able to read some 8mm tapes, but unable for some others.

2. The tapes unable to be played only show snow with the classical sound that comes with it. No strange noise coming for the tape itself.

Thank you all for your answers

Discussion is locked

RaphAriArteau has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Camcorder
Jun 11, 2014 11:29PM PDT
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Thanks !
Jun 12, 2014 2:56AM PDT

Thanks for tip, I will post it right now !

Thanks a lot !

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Answer
There are a few common answers.
Jun 11, 2014 12:43PM PDT

Since this is so well done, I'll just list them.

0. Look for any "TRACKING ADJUSTMENT."
1. Get it done for you. You wrote there are 2 tapes left. Paying for transfer will be cheaper than...
2. Find another camcorder.

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Already tried that :/
Jun 11, 2014 1:40PM PDT

In fact, there are like 30 tapes, we just tried 3 so far, and on the 30, some are working, and some are not. People are charging a lot for transferring, it's why we want to do it by ourselves.

We already tried in other camcorders... the same. The ones which play play in all camcorder and the ones who don't play don't in all camcorder.

It must be the tape, any other idea ? Thanks for your quick answer !

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What's a lot?
Jun 12, 2014 1:19AM PDT

Simple transfers are about 10 each. So even if you paid for them all that's 300 bucks and a camcorder can be that much. Seems a bargain?

Transfer what you can, then decide what to do next. Buying other camcorders or borrowing is the norm but sometimes you have to decide to stop blowing bucks on old camcorders and just get it done.
Bob