Old video camera tape formats like VHS, Betamax, and 8mm tapes require dedicated players for standard playback, but there are other options so you can enjoy your old home movies. That way you can view memories of old holidays, family gatherings, and other celebrations from past decades.
Since 1999 Capture has been digitising our customers’ memories, which is one of the best ways to watch analogue videotape formats, but there are others as well. We put together this guide on how to watch old video camera tapes to ensure you can watch your vintage camcorder memories no matter what format you have.
Read the rest of this guide to understand all the different formats for old video cameras, how to assess tape condition and compatibility, and 7 great options for how to watch old video camera tapes.
Understanding Different Formats of Video Camera Tapes
Ever since video cameras were invented, companies have been making competing types. The most popular videotape format was VHS, which also spawned compact VHS-C tapes, Super S-VHS tapes, and Super Compact S-VHS-C tapes.
Another popular type of videotape was Betamax, and the videotape format war was VHS versus Betamax. These tapes were made by Sony and used in their popular Sony Handycam models. The video cassettes were smaller than VHS and offered slightly better video quality, so despite not being as popular they are still one of the more popular video formats.
During the 80s and 90s, there were also 8mm videotape formats including the original Video8 that offered only analogue video and audio as well as later versions like Hi8 tapes and Digital8 tapes. While Hi8 players were still fully analogue, the tapes offered a provision for digital audio, while Digital8 went to fully digital video and audio.
These 8mm tape formats were created by Sony, Matsushita (Panasonic), JVC, Hitachi, and Philips as a consortium that branched into many other companies including Eastman Kodak and RCA. 8mm tape formats were smaller, which meant it was easier to capture family memories using smaller, more lightweight camcorders and video cameras. They were even smaller than the compact VHS, or VHS-C.
Finally, in the early 2000s as many people abandoned their best camcorder for home videos and switched to updated digital formats, other video camera cassette options came out. For example, MiniDV was released in 1998 and recorded in the same digital format as Digital8 while MicroMV was introduced as a 70% smaller version in 2001.
Before we look at how to watch old video camera tapes and vintage video footage, it’s a good idea to look at your tape condition to make sure they are playable. That way, you can find out if you need to find another option for what to do with old VHS tapes and other videotape formats.
Blank Tape Checking Service is Availiable at Capture!
Assessing Tape Condition and Compatibility
Videotapes only last so long and how long a VHS tape lasts or a Hi8 tape lasts will depend on the storage conditions as well as the current condition of the tapes. While Betamax, 8mm, and VHS tape repair are possible, it should be completed before watching them no matter what option you choose.
Visually inspect your home video tapes and look for signs of mould, debris, or any imperfections on the magnetic tape itself. You can also look at the crevices and reels on the tapes to see if they are in good condition. If the videotape case itself is damaged, then that could also be a problem.
If you notice mould, dust, or debris then you should thoroughly clean your cassette tapes before using them. If there is physical damage to the case or any other parts, then you’ll want to perform part replacement and complete repairs prior to enjoying your home movies.
If they are in good condition, now you can read on to discover how to play Hi8 tapes, other 8mm tapes, VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, and other videotape formats.
How to Watch Old Video Camera Tapes?
Here are 7 different options for watching old home movies and retro video formats including using a VHS VCR or other tape player, digitally restoring old video footage, using local resources like libraries, or watching on your camcorder.
Option 1: Using a Vintage VCR or Tape Player
The traditional way to watch VHS-C tapes or other camcorder tapes is to watch them on a tape player. This could be a VHS VCR system, Hi8 tape player, Betamax player, or any other player that is designed to play the type of tape you have.
If you don’t have one, then you can buy one secondhand, but if you’re wondering, “Do they still make VCRs?”, the answer is no. That means that you’ll have to buy an older model, but it’s still a great way to watch your home movies quickly and affordably.
You can find tape players and VCRs for sale at online stores and marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, local pawn shops and yard sales, and online analogue format stores like B&H Photo Video.
Option 2: Converting Tapes to Digital Formats
You can convert your videotapes to digital using a videotape or VHS to digital converter. This is convenient and also preserves your favourite home movies in high-quality digital format so that you’ll always have them. Doing it yourself does take quite a bit of time and depending on the type of tape you have you will likely still need a tape player, VHS player, or camcorder.
However, the best VHS to digital converters will convert virtually any videotape format by connecting to the player with RCA cables. Some also connect to your Mac or Windows computer to transfer them directly to your hard drive while others are standalone devices that use SD memory cards or other ways to save your memories.
The best thing about digital copies is that they are not only safe from physical deterioration, but they are also easier to share and watch on any digital device. This is especially true if you upload your home videos to cloud storage, add them to social media, or email them to your account.
Option 3: Watching on a Camcorder
If you don’t have a television tape player, then a VHC, Betamax, or 8mm camcorder can also work to view your retro video technology. There are two ways to do this. The first is only possible if you have a camcorder that has an LCD screen.
For this option, you simply place the tape back into the camcorder and hit the playback button watching it on the screen. While this is extremely easy, it isn’t very comfortable and doesn’t really allow you to share your precious memories with loved ones.
The second option is to plug the camcorder into a television or even a modern projector if you know how a projector works with analogue technology and vintage camcorder systems. Typically, you can use RCA cables or S-video adapters to connect to a television and play your home movies.
Option 4: Local Libraries or Video Rental Stores
If you don’t have a device for VCR playback for analogue video tapes, then you can check out your local libraries or video rental stores. They might have rental devices to play back old camcorder tapes like VCRs or camcorders. Lots of libraries carry these devices for members.
Even if they don’t have old tape players to rent, you might be able to use devices in the library or other resources to convert old video tapes to digital. Some libraries offer this as a service while others have digital converters available for rental.
Option 5: Video Conversion Services
If you like the idea of preserving old video tapes to digital, but don’t want to go through the hassle of doing it yourself with a video capture device, then a video conversion service might be the best option. These services, like Capture, use professional equipment to carefully transfer old tapes to digital in the highest possible quality.
Capture also uses state-of-the-art tracking and security systems to ensure your videotapes are safe throughout the entire process, through every hand, and right back to you. Plus, we offer a satisfaction guarantee for our customers so that you can rest assured knowing that you’ll receive premium digital files of your analogue memories.
There are other transfer services available that can convert your video files, but make sure you weigh the pros and cons, read reviews, and compare and contrast the best companies that digitise home movies before making a decision for your most precious video memories.
Option 6: Digital Video Recorder (DVR) Systems
A DVR system acts as a DVD recorder that can turn VHS into DVD. In some cases, you can use it as a video recorder to record data directly from a camcorder and put it onto a DVR copy, but the easiest way to use this is with a VHS/DVD player and recorder system that plays and records both formats.
Using this type of system, you can watch your VHS videotapes while simultaneously adding them onto DVD copies. Then, you can use the DVD copy to transfer to your computer, flash drive, or simply to enjoy and share on more modern devices.
The main downside of this is that it’s time-consuming and that since VHS tapes were the most popular, they are really the only format that you can still find combined with DVD recorders. Still, if you have VHS tapes then this is a decent option.
Option 7: Online Video-Sharing Platforms
Finally, while it takes specialised equipment that you’ll need to connect to your computer, some software allows you to directly upload analogue videotape formats to online video-sharing platforms like YouTube. You might also be able to use SD cards connected to camcorders or with more modern videotape camcorders you might be able to send directly from the camcorder to streaming or online video platforms.
This is a great way to watch and preserve old camcorder formats, but has similar downsides as DIY converting VHS to digital without a VCR. Still, it’s somewhat streamlined compared to recording to DVD or flash drive first and might be faster than learning some video capture devices.
However, it might not end up with the best quality depending on the type of adapters and cables you use. In some cases, transferring in this way compresses the file type, which can lead to poor-quality results.
Tips for Enhancing Viewing Experience
If you want to know how to watch old video camera tapes in the highest possible quality, then we’re here to help with some tips. First, go through as few steps as possible because the more steps the more likely the quality can deteriorate. For example, if you convert to DVD, then transfer to a computer, and finally add it to a USB flash drive, then there are more areas where the quality could decrease.
Second, use high-quality technology. By using the best VCRs, camcorders, digital converters, cables, and adapters, you can improve the quality of the viewing experience as well as the quality of digital transfer for video cassette tapes.
If you are using a VCR or other tape player and you notice white lines that bounce up and down the screen, try adjusting the tracking on the VCR. You can also clean the VCR and tape heads to optimise the video-watching experience.
As we mentioned before, it’s also best to clean and repair your old video camera tapes before trying to watch, share, or convert them. In fact, not doing so could lead to damage to your playback device, particularly physical damage or mould.
Watch Your Videotapes again
Now that you know how to watch old video camera tapes with 7 different methods, you can choose the option that works best for you. Whether you watch on an old VCR or camcorder that you buy used from a local or online store, convert to digital using DIY converters, choose a video conversion service to transfer to digital for you, watching your most precious camcorder memories.
If you want to preserve those memories forever using a brand that’s been trusted by over 12 million families, choose Capture to convert your videos to digital format. We can transfer most video formats including various VHS and VHS-C tapes, MiniDV and DVC, 8mm tapes, DVCAM, Betamax, and more. Click here to learn about our video digitisation service and preserve your memories today!
*This article is brought to you by Capture HK.
Capture HK is the premier analogue media digitisation company in Hong Kong.
Capture HK's business covers photographs, photo album, slide digitisation, videotapes digitisation, including VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS-C Hi-8, Video8, Digital8, DV, DVCAM, MiniDV, DVC and digital media digitisation, including Secure Digital (SD), Smart Media (SM), MultiMediaCard (MMC) Compact Flash (CF), xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick, USB Drive, CDROM, DVD.