CONVERT 8MM TAPES TO DVD & DIGITAL
Twenty years ago the Hubble Telescope was launched into space, Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa and you started holding your 8mm camcorders in the palm of your hand. That’s right, it was only 20 years ago that 8mm tapes (also known as Hi8 or Digital 8) were first introduced to the market. The size of these tapes and the size of the camera that went with them was a major advantage over their full-size predecessors. 8mm camcorders were also capable of recording better audio than VHS and BETA.
Hi8 tapes’ major competition came from VHS-c tapes. VHS-c were the small tapes that fit into full-size VHS adapters, which was convenient for use in the VCRs most people already owned and 8mm tapes did not. But the higher quality and 120-minute+ capacity of the Hi8 tapes (vs. the 45 minute capacity of the VHS-c tape), helped 8mm tapes become successful. However, 8mm tapes were not relevantly more durable than their VHS counterparts in terms of longevity, which means it’s time to convert your 8mm tapes to DVD or digital so they are preserved before it’s too late. They only have a shelf life of 15 years! While you prepare for this project, we recommend storing your 8mm tapes vertically, away from sunlight to keep deterioration from accelerating.
If you have 8mm film reels, you can visit our 8mm film to DVD page
If you have other tape formats, you can visit our video page here!
Everything you need to know
about 8mm tapes to DVD
Common video transfer questions
How long is an 8mm tape?
All 8mm tapes, whether they are Hi8 or Digital8 hold up to two hours of footage. So when you’re converting your 8mm tapes to DVD, at least one full tape always fits onto a single DVD, but it’s possible to fit more if they are not all full or dual layer DVDs are used. If you choose to transfer to a USB or external hard drive, all your 8mm tapes can fit onto a single drive!
Is my tape Hi8 or Digital8?
Hi8 and Digital8 tapes look almost identical to the average user, but they will say on them which format they are. Some cameras also only took Digital8 tapes, so don’t assume digitizing is impossible if you play a tape at home in your camera and it seems blank or garbled. The camera may not be compatible.
How do I watch my 8mm tape?
You’d need to still have your camcorder to watch an 8mm tape these days. Unlike VCRs, there are not cost-effective 8mm decks to buy, but you can either watch directly on your camera using the playback options, or use cables to connect it to a TV and watch from there. Trust us though, it’s much easier to digitize your 8mm tapes and watch them on your computer or a new DVD!
8mm to DVD – From Our Blog
Understanding 8mm tapes
Didn’t get enough info about Hi8, Digital8 or Video8 tapes above? We have more history and technical information about 8mm tapes to DVD here.
Read more about 8mm tapes…
5 Possible Tape Issues
Your 8mm tapes are probably in great shape to convert to DVD, but there a number of common problems with 8mm tapes that we find when digitizing.
Read more about 8mm tape repairs…
Can you save moldy tapes?
Minor mold is still ok for 8mm to DVD! Serious mold requires chemical treatments & can severely damage the audio/video quality of your 8mm tape to dvd transfer.
Read about preserving moldy tapes…
“Last summer I came across my two boxes of stored video tapes, spanning more than two decades of my family’s life from before kids to college graduations. I worried those memories might degrade in those boxes and be lost forever. Fortunately I found EverPresent Throughout the process, the staff at EverPresent was readily available whenever I called. Each person I spoke with was as pleasant to deal with as the next. They promised to be able to transcribe our recordings from three different (obsolete) video formats to modern digital format. I received another courtesy call when my project was finished and on its way to the drop off in Connecticut. The final result was excellent…what a trip down memory lane! I have used EverPresent five times now, each time as smooth as the first. I would heartily recommend EverPresent to anyone interested in preserving their important memories for posterity.”
Warren M.
Farmington, CT
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You can also ship directly to us!
- Consulations from the privacy of your own home
- Perfect for large or complex projects with multiple formats
- Our certified consultants travel across the Northeast
- Free, no obligations estimate
- Speak with our certified consultants over the phone
- Ship to our headquarters in Newton, MA
Standard & custom pricing options
We convert all types of 8mm tapes to DVD or USB. Handwritten or typed labels are digitally captured too.
- Delivered via private website
- High quality transfer to computer
- 3 levels human eye quality control
- Experienced and trained local technicians
- USB drive or CD/DVDs
- Label transcription
- Experienced and trained local technicians
- Private website included
- DVD & USB combos
- Ask about archival DVDs for added security
- 80yr, scratch-resistant, silver/gold alloy
- Medical-grade USBs
A $30 service fee applies to all orders. This service fee provides for safe handling procedures including: intake, item coding, physical & digital storage, quality checks by senior technicians and packaging.
- Betamax, PAL, SECAM formats: add $10
- Umatic/Betacam SP/DVC Pro: $55/tape
$35/tape for more than 10 - Tapes over 2.5 hours: add $10
- Extra DVD or CD: $4 Standard, $8 Archival
- Extra USB: ask your consultant
- Add label transcription to Digital Only: $2/tape
- Private website free for 6 months
WE ORGANIZE AND DIGITIZE ALL YOUR MEMORIES
