Analogue 8mm video camera

[Helen]

A quick question.

I am in the process of copying my old analogue 8mm tapes to the computer and my camera has packed it in. The tape plays but I get no picture or sound. I have tested the tapes in someone else's camera and they are ok.

I have seen some used cameras for sale on ebay and was wondering if I bought a camera from USA or elsewhere overseas, would I still be able to play my tapes in the camera as we are on a PAL system here in Australia. I don't really know if the cameras or tapes are PAL specific, and I have seen some cameras for sale saying they are PAL.

I don't really want to use the other camera yet as they have their own tapes to transfer to computer and the chance of it dying is high as well. It has played up in the past.

(I think I posted this in the wrong forum)

[Bobby]

Hi Helen. I would think that recorded analog tapes would be PAL or NTSC specific as the sync rates determine the helical scan head speeds. But I don't know, and it may vary by manufacturer, whether common 8mm camcorders can play both formats or not.

But my digital cam 8mm cam (a Sony unit) plays both my old analog tapes (Hi8) and the D8 formats just fine. You would have to check the specs on a unit you purchase, but I would think a D8 unit would do the job.

[Steve Grisetti]

I agree with Bobby. I'm not sure you can use an NTSC camcorder to play back a PAL tape, Helen. Sorry.

[Helen]

Thanks Bobby and Steve

I will stick with Australian sellers then. The USA market had more cameras for sale and a little cheaper as well.

[Helen]

I have now bought a new secondhand camera to carry on capturing.
My hubby asked me if I should capture the tapes in several shorter segments rather than as one big file. I don't really see that this would make a difference when I edit as I am still bringing in the same amount of file but as one file rather than several segments. Am I right in thinking this?
I am also using PE4.0 to capture to an external drive. Is this the best way to go or are there other better ways like using WinDV etc.
Thanks

[Bobby]

Smaller files are just easier to manage on your hard drive (i.e. copying, etc.), but it doesn't make any difference during the editing process.

I use(d) WinDV and would set it to create a new file every 5 minutes. That worked for me - the number of files created were not too small, nor too many.

[Helen]

Thanks Bobby

[Chuck Engels]

And I capture as one big file, I like to split it up in Premiere Elements myself.
It's different for each person depending on what works best for you

[Helen]

Thanks Chuck, I think that is what will work best for me as well