Best camcorders, methods for analog Hi8 digitization?
 

What are suggestions for the best camcorders, software, & method to digitize my analog Hi8 tapes? Best quality video and sound are my priorities, without outrageous file size. I think I know that I want to get either a Hi8 camcorder with S-video output, TBC, and stereo sound, or a Digital8 with the same. Currently using Sony CCD-TRV138, into a VidBox converter, and into my desktop as mpg files, running Windows 11, but quality is not as good as I'd like. 1) Am I better off buying a Hi8 with S-video, TBC, & stereo, or buying a Digital8? (I've read that a Digital8 may cause dropped frames.)
2) Can you suggest the best few models I'd want to look for?
3) Is the VidBox converter adequate? I also have an old firewire card in an old desktop if that is better.
4) Am I okay putting the files into the mpg format. The file size is reasonable and I can burn them to DVDs. However the quality doesn't appear as good as I see on the camcorder viewfinder.
Please help me by pointing me to the best equipment choices and methods, and maybe some pros/cons, without getting too detailed with jargon I may not understand or be able to afford. Quality & transferability are my main priorities. Thank you!

Best camcorders are Sony Hi8 XR with S-Video, Stereo Audio and Line TBC. I have like 20/25?
VidBox is a terrible capture card, try with ATI 600 USB or a Pinnacle 510/710

Okay Thanks. What do the Sony Hi8 XRs cost and what model number is it?
Also, I have opportunity to buy either a TRV308 analog Hi8 or a TRV730 Digital 8 to play/digitize my Hi8 videos through my capture card. Which would give me the best quality transfer and least problems?
Thanks.

My recomendations for Sony Hi8 XR NTSC Camcorders are:

• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TRV65
• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TRV66
• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TRV87
• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TRV95
• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TRV615
• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TRV815
• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TR917
• Hi8 XR - Sony Handycam CCD-TR940

There are also some Hi8 models that also have Stereo Audio output, but you have to check the manual to avoid making mistakes.

I also love the 3000 series, like the CCD-3100 and CCD3200!

All of these have S-Video, Stereo Audio and Line TBC.

Check this page for best Digital8 Camcorders: https://tdb0.wordpress.com/2015/01/3...i8-recordings/

I will go for DCR-TRV730... Be sure to buy a model with Stereo Audio!

Thank you very much! Will do.