Playing old VHS-C tapes

[sz...@hotmail.com]

Hi,

I posted a while back and never got around to this. Now I can join the all-time procrastinators club.

We have a bunch of VHS-C tapes that we can't even watch because our old camcorder broke.

I am too afraid to use those VHS converters that you stick the tape into because I had one almost eat a tape and they just seem too clunky to me.

If I go on Amazon or Ebay to buy an older camcorder that plays VHS-C tapes is there anything I need to consider? Do I need to get a Panasonic brand since our Camcorder was a Panasonic? Are some better than others? Would some produce better output for uploading to the computer?

Eventually I would like to use the camcorder to playback the tapes into the computer and convert everything to DVD's but the first order of business is just to watch our old tapes on the television.

Thanks for any advice on this.

Steve

[Brian]

<sz...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> We have a bunch of old VHS-C tapes that were filmed with an old Panasonic
> Camcorder. That camcorder broke and I know longer have it.
>
> We just want to be able to play them back on our flat screen television
> that has hdmi inputs as well as the old red,green,blue cable inputs.
>
> I am afraid of using the vhs-c to Vhs converters that you stick the tape
> into. I've had a couple of tapes almost destroyed by those things.
>
> For now I would like to just purchase an old camcorder that uses vhs-c
> tapes and do the playback from the camcorder.
>
> I would appreciate any feedback on what type of camcorder I should get.
> Is the format all the same? Will any camcorder be able to play my old
> vhs-c tapes or do I need a specific model like a Panasonic?
>
> Do any of the VHS-C camcorders have hdmi outputs? That would be preferable.
>
> Thanks in advance for any info.
>
> Steve

VHS-C is old technology so you can't buy a video camera that uses this
technology. You may be able to get a second camera that uses VHS-C tapes.
There are some places that offer to convert video tape to a DVD disc for a
cost. You might find them by searching with Google or they could be in our
local phone book.

Failing that using a converter might be your only option. If the video
player is of good quality then there should be no problem. I would advise
you to have your tapes converted to DVD as tapes degrade over time to a
stage where they cannot be viewed. Like I said there are places that offer
to convert tapes to DVD.

You could also try looking at some YouTube videos n this subject o see how
other people convert their old camera tapes.


--
Regards Brian

[David Ruether]

"Brian" <bcl...@es.co.nz> wrote in message news:
674231970393684326.3...@free.teranews.com:

> <sz...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> > I posted a while back and never got around to this. Now I can join the
> > all-time procrastinators club.
> >
> > We have a bunch of VHS-C tapes that we can't even watch because our old camcorder broke.
> >
> > I am too afraid to use those VHS converters that you stick the tape into
> > because I had one almost eat a tape and they just seem too clunky to me.
> >
> > If I go on Amazon or Ebay to buy an older camcorder that plays VHS-C
> > tapes is there anything I need to consider? Do I need to get a Panasonic
> > brand since our Camcorder was a Panasonic? Are some better than others?
> > Would some produce better output for uploading to the computer?
> >
> > Eventually I would like to use the camcorder to playback the tapes into
> > the computer and convert everything to DVD's but the first order of
> > business is just to watch our old tapes on the television.
> >
> > Thanks for any advice on this.
> >
> > Steve
> >

> > We have a bunch of old VHS-C tapes that were filmed with an old Panasonic
> > Camcorder. That camcorder broke and I know longer have it.
> >
> > We just want to be able to play them back on our flat screen television
> > that has hdmi inputs as well as the old red,green,blue cable inputs.

It likely also has a single (yellow) RCA video input, the one
best used with VHS (although an "S" connector would work better
with SVHS and Hi-8).

> > I am afraid of using the vhs-c to Vhs converters that you stick the tape
> > into. I've had a couple of tapes almost destroyed by those things.
> >
> > For now I would like to just purchase an old camcorder that uses vhs-c
> > tapes and do the playback from the camcorder.
> >
> > I would appreciate any feedback on what type of camcorder I should get.
> > Is the format all the same? Will any camcorder be able to play my old
> > vhs-c tapes or do I need a specific model like a Panasonic?

Any VHS-C camcorder/deck should be comparable with any other, as
with VHS, 8mm, Hi-8, Mini-DV, Beta, HDV, etc. The only exception
that I know of (due to critical head alignment) is with LP-mode
Mini-DV, which sometimes could not be played on different gear
from what had recorded it...

> > Do any of the VHS-C camcorders have hdmi outputs? That would be preferable.

No - that is an HD digital connection.

> > Thanks in advance for any info.
> >
> > Steve

> VHS-C is old technology so you can't buy a video camera that uses this
> technology. You may be able to get a second camera that uses VHS-C tapes.
> There are some places that offer to convert video tape to a DVD disc for a
> cost. You might find them by searching with Google or they could be in our
> local phone book.
>
> Failing that using a converter might be your only option. If the video
> player is of good quality then there should be no problem. I would advise
> you to have your tapes converted to DVD as tapes degrade over time to a
> stage where they cannot be viewed. Like I said there are places that offer
> to convert tapes to DVD.

If tapes are properly stored and not played in "pause-mode", and if
they are played on good gear in good condition (with clean heads
that are well-aligned and not too worn), tapes will easily outlast
user-made optical disks (even if those are carefully stored and
used), which are not very durable since their recording medium
depends on the stability of the dyes used (commercial "pressed"
disks, though, do have very long lives, unless scratched) - BUT,
there are user-made optical disk types that do have extended lives
(gold", and especially "stone" disks - but the latter requires a
special writer [not very expensive], and the media for both is not
cheap).

> You could also try looking at some YouTube videos n this subject o see how
> other people convert their old camera tapes.
> --
> Regards Brian

Maybe the best and easiest option is to keep a couple of good VHS
standard players in running condition, and using a cassette adapter
to play the VHS-C tapes in them. BTW, new VHS decks are fairly
inexpensive, and they often include a DVD player...
--DR

[David Ruether]

"David Ruether" <d_ru...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:kq795b$5uj$1...@dont-email.me:

Uh, that should have been, "Any VHS-C camcorder/deck should be
*compatible* with any other... (the spell-checker is not too
bright - but neither is this writer, sometimes...;-). Also Google
"M-Disc" for info on "stone" disks - they are "interesting"...;-)
--DR

[Dan Wenz]

On 6/23/2013 8:45 AM, Brian wrote:
> <sz...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I posted a while back and never got around to this. Now I can join the
>> all-time procrastinators club.
>>
>> We have a bunch of VHS-C tapes that we can't even watch because our old camcorder broke.
>>
>> I am too afraid to use those VHS converters that you stick the tape into
>> because I had one almost eat a tape and they just seem too clunky to me.

Etc.

I use an adapter into which one drops the vhs-c tape (In my case I used
s-vhs-c tapes) and the inserts the adapter, which resembles a full-size
tape cassette, into the player. Possibly one might be available on Ebay??

[Brian]

Some video recorders have problems with these type of adapters. Perhaps you
could tell the him what brand of video recorder you are using as you don't
seem to have any problems in using the adapter.

--
Regards Brian

[sricc...@gmail.com]

Your best bet would be to buy some "donor" vhs videotapes off ebay, or use any old vhs tapes you have that you no longer need, and open up the tapes and put the film into the shells of the vhs tapes. It's not particularly difficult, but can be time consuming, as you need to remove all the film in the donor vhs tapes. Also, don't use scotch tape to put the beginning and end of the vhs-c film into the donor tapes' reels. There is a small piece in the wheel of the reels called a "retainer clip" which holds the very beginning and end of the film (you'll notice that's clear instead of black). My advice would be to buy a brand new vhs-c tape, open it and familiarize yourself with all the little parts so you can learn how to properly take apart the tape and put it back together. Same goes for the vhs tapes. There's how-to guides all over the internet, but again, ignore the part where they all suggest using scotch tape. As for getting all the old film out of the donor tapes, I'd suggest putting a shopping bag over a door handle, put something like a wooden stick into the circle of the tape reel, and just start pulling the tape. It'll keep spinning as you go.