8mm vidcap question

[Thunderbuck]

I've got an archive of old 8mm tapes that I am very eager to digitize as best as possible, but I've run into some snags and I could use some input.

When I met her, my (now) wife had an analog Hi8 Sony camcorder that she'd used for years. She used to work in the high Arctic, had traveled through Europe not long before she met me, and had shot considerable footage of both. We took video of our first vacation together in 1997, and went on to shoot a lot of tape on our children after they were born.

That first camera gave up the ghost a few years ago. Concerned, and wanting to preserve the tapes for future digitizing, we bought a Sony DCR-TRV460 camcorder. This was one of the Digital8 cameras that could also play back the analog-format Hi8 tapes, and even output them to Firewire. I figured this was an easy way to get all that video archived.

The results were disappointing, unfortunately. While a few tapes were okay, most had significant issues. On many tapes, there were massive digital artifacts. They showed major pixellation (with huge blocks, no less) and seemed to "skip", if that makes sense. Other tapes had hundreds of fine vertical lines and no audio (including that first vacation video that I'd REALLY like to get back).

Obviously, the tapes themselves may have deteriorated, though they have been kept in reasonable archival conditions and haven't been played much. I have a suspicion that the camcorder really isn't that good at digitizing analog tapes, though, and I'm looking for another solution.

1) Sony made some very well-regarded "8mm Walkman" devices, the GV-D200 and the GV-D800. Decent used units seem to be available. They're pricey, but if I have a reasonable expectation either could work I'd consider it (I might get one anyway, since they apparently also have analog inputs and digitize for those half-decently, too). Does anyone out there have any experience with either of these devices?

2) Possibly the lowest-risk option: I get my hands on a half-decent Hi8 camcorder and see if the tapes in question still play okay on an analog deck. If they do, I find myself a digitizer and transcode from there.

If anyone out there has any guidance on 8mm video transfer, I'd really appreciate it right now!

[paganinio]

This is not something you want to DIY. Get professional help in a shop. Wouldn't wanna damage the trans-arctic live footage in Europe.