Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I use this player to input family video tapes into imovie. It works perfectly and is simple to use. The screen is has brightness control and is actually better to look at than my imac screen. I would highly recommend this unit for anyone downloading family video to their computer. I would buy this unit again. You will need to buy your own firewire cable or usb cable.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I bought one of these back in 2001 and a second one in 2005. Both still work flawlessly. I use one for each of my editing computers (MACPRO and WINDOWS/MATROX). For video editors like myself it works great when dealing with 8mm/Hi8/Digital-8 footage. I also pass through a VHS deck through it for capture to the computers. When connected via 1394 (firewire) your computer will control it.

If you aren't useing it for NLEs it still makes a great deck to play back the 8mm tapes and even dub VHS to an 8mm format such as digital 8 to help preserve it and also the time based corrector helps stabilize some VHS footage.

Another thing I use it for is connecting it to bullet cameras which I mount on airplanes and cars for action shots. I use the deck to record the video from the connected cameras. The GVD800 is well built and I am still very happy with both of the ones I purchased. Digital 8 is a good format.

It also has built-in editing functions but I haven't used them and it runs for many hours on a battery if you are in the field.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

The Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR has filledthe void for converting my 8mm tapes to DVD. It is everthing I had hoped for in doing the job. My only complaint is that the cassette EJECT button is too stiff and too small for male fingers to operate.I have to use the rubber eraser on the end of a pencil and even that is difficult. [...]

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I used the Sony DIgital Video Cassette GV-D800 to transfer my old Hi8 tapes to my computer. Everything went smoothly. Of course I had to use a Anolog to Digital converter which was an Elgato video capture product.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

GOOD PRODUCTS FOR ME, I also have a PAL version tape need to be play, if you have PAL version player, I would buy again !!

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

GVD-800 D8VW VCR by Sony is easy to operate, feels solid and well build.
It does everything you need to access all your 8 / Hi8 Video tapes and more......

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I'm converting my 8mm analog tapes (20 years old, some of them) to digital (this Walkman feeds into a converter, then into my computer). This player has more functions than I'll ever use, but for my purposes, it plays my old tapes beautifully. I recommend getting this version (with the screen) over the regular video walkman.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I use this product to convert 8mm tapes to DVD. It even digitizes 8mm analog tapes directly to your computer via firewire. The preview screen allows review of the tapes without hooking up to your computer or a t.v. monitor.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

No problems at all yet. Even took some old tapes that had big playback issues on other Hi8 decks/ cameras and finally played them back with no hitches. Very happy with product.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

Exactly as advertised. Easy to download tapes to computer.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I've been dreaming of this VCR for three years. And I'm not deceived. Very easy to use, plug and play. Very high quality product. I wanted this VCR to transfer my old 8mm tapes and to offer this service through my enterprise. This machine feels robust and I'm sure it will last forever. I don't need the editing features, since I use software applications. So I didn't try it. Offers a great variety of connections. Very happy and proud to have it!!

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

Works for me in all that I wanted.
Great

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I bought this to digitize and convert a large archive of Hi8 tapes. Overall, the conversion quality is good, although there may be a slight loss of color saturation. My only real complaint is that the DV stream out from a Hi8 tape doesn't contain timecode. Other conversion/digitization devices I have used will generate timecode which makes capturing the stream a bit more straight forward.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

If you have Hi8 or digital 8 tapes, this unit is the best (and possibly only choice) to get your movies to a computer, to edit. B&H has NEW GVD-800s for a fraction of the cost of used ones you may see elsewhere. Highly recommended!

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I use this product in my video production business for transferring 8mm, Hi8 and Digital 8 tapes to DVD for my clients. It is a great product and does exactly what it should. I will be buying a second one soon from B&H. I am glad that B&H has brought it back. It is obvious that B&H has listened to their customers and felt like they needed to bring it back. Great job B&H. It had been discontinued for a few years.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

We are so happy to finally be able to view our old 8mm and hi8mm tapes! So far (only 2 weeks) the player is working great and picture quality is very good. Wish we could find converter for our mini-DV tapes so we could use this player to also play and edit those as we don't have regular size digital tapes. But most important was to be able to see tapes from 20 years ago. Very happy so far and family excited to watch old videos. Controls easy to use but would have liked to get remote included. Sound very good for size and picture also good for small screen and like not having to always hook up to bigger screen. Very reliable thus far and found we could use battery from old camera to run unit. Would recommend unit to others.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

My GV-D800 is primarily used to play back (for PC capture) my 150+ 8mm, Hi8, and Digital 8 tapes recorded over a 20 year period. This little clam shell unit has performed nicely over the several years I have owned it. For those of us who have moved on to more modern, higher end formats, it is reassuring having something to play these "oldies but goodies" and archive them safely on newer media. Both video editing programs (Pinnacle Studio 9 and Sony Vegas 9) immediately recognized this machine, and interfaces well with them. So far, after a hundred or so hours, I cannot remember having to clean the heads even once. Not bad, considering some pretty old tape has run through it. Digital 8 was a good format, too bad Sony didn't take the format beyond consumer level. They have partially redeemed themselves by offering a good quality machine to play the oldies again and again.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

My Hi8 and Digital 8 camcorders are long gone and unworthy for repair. This gadget lets me do the editing of tens of tapes I have not yet touched.
Looked for a VCR like this for a long time.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I hooked this DVCR up to my iMac and it worked seamlessly with iMovie. Now I can edit all my old Hi8 tapes I've had stored. I have 'mad love' for this product so far. Easy to use, small footprint, makes it happen.

Comments about Sony GVD-800 Digital 8 Video Walkman VCR:

I own two of these (1 for each NLE - PC and MacPro) and one is over 6 years old. I mostly use them to capture Hi8, Digital-8 and 8mm footage to my NLEs. However there are several uses for these units:

For starters, you can use it as a VCR to playback and record the various 8mm formats to and from your TV/Satellite/VCR instead of having to use your camera all the time which is somewhat of a hassle, not to mention the wear and tear on your camera. The GVD800 has a 1394 Firewire connection so it can be remotely controlled by your computer and also has component and S-video In/Outs so it has a versatile hookup.

It has Time base Correction so you can use it as a pass-through from a lesser device (VHS VCR) or for dubbing from other devices to the high quality Digital 8 format.

It has editing functions as well.

Since it can be battery operated, I also use it for a record device connected to bullet cameras I mount on vehicles for high speed and action shots.
So, you can take it on-location to record or view footage as well and the optional batteries provide many hours of operation.

I have never had any problems from these units. I recommend this device whether you are a consumer, wanting an easy way to deal with your 8mm/Hi8/D8 tapes from your camcorder or a videographer needing a deck to work with these versions of tapes your clients may bring to you.