Camcorder 8mm playback Compatability?

[Andy]

I have two working 8mm camcorders. Does anybody know if a tape recorded,on
one should play back correctly on the other ?. The reason I ask is that I
found on one the left hand side adjustable moving tape guide was loose along
with the its locking set screw. I managed without any electronic test gear
to get this camcorder to record and playback OK by mechanical adjustment.If
this recorded tape is played back in the other camcorder, I get two bands
of noise bars with a locked frame.I understand most modern VHS machines have
automatic tracking,which corrects any errors. Do 8mm camcorders have this
same system.Any help please?

 

[[email protected]]

Andy:
Duh.....really now.... OF COURSE it should play back correctly on
another 8mm camcorder.
Two things have to happen.... the "recording" camcorder has to be in
proper alignment.... AND.... the "playback" camcorder has to be in
proper alignment. If all if OK then any tapes that are recorded will
play back properly on any 8mm camcorder that is in proper alignment
(interchange). The alignment is critical and the tape guides must be
set correctly with an alignment tape... and usually an oscilloscope to
optimize the video head RF envelope.
What you have now is a machine that can play back it's own tape (which
is not that hard to do) but is NOT in proper interchange alignment and
those tapes can not be played correctly on a properly aligned
machine...... it is making non-standard tapes .... which makes it
useless.
electricitym
.. . . . .. . .

 

[Sofie]

Andy:
Are you really seriously asking this question.? ?
If tapes from one 8mm camcorder could not be played back on another one then
I wouldn't think that they would sell too many of them. Both machines must
be properly aligned and adjusted in order to be compatible with each other
and the millions of other 8mm camcorders out there.....
This is why most service shops have alignment tapes, oscilloscopes, and
other test equipment... and of course the proper training and procedures.
You might want to go the http://www.repairfaq.org/ to look over some of the
useful information regarding VCR head alignment.... you can't do this in a
haphazard way if you want compatibility with other machines.

 

[eddumweer]

Due to the problem of many 8mm camcorders, the chassis has some arms which
are not properly secured and misalign after a long time of working.

I've realigned many in the 90's.

Greetings Peter

 

[les]

I have two working 8mm camcorders. Does anybody know if a tape recorded,on
one should play back correctly on the other ?.

The ONLY exception is if one is analog, and the other digital 8mm.
Then you would have a problem.
We are assuming he is asking about 2 analog machines.
Don't forget Sony made and makes these. IMO they are pretty good.

Les

 

[Mike Berger]

There are a couple of circumstances where this might not work.

* Are they both analog or both digital? Analog 8mm decks can't
read digital tapes.

* Is the recorded tape a compatible format? A standard 8mm
analog deck can't read Hi-8 tapes.

No, you can't assume an 8mm tape will work on any 8mm camcorder.

 

[Andy]

thanks Mike,
they are both analog. The reason I asked the question was that I have
repaired a lot of VHS machines, and having set them up as per the service
manuals ,they were'nt all compatable .I understand on most modern VHS
machines have automatic tracking where any tape from any machine is played
OK. I do not know enough about 8 mm camcorders i.e do they have auto
tracking on playback
Andy

 

[Andy]

thanks Les they are Analog ,I have answered Mikes query if you can help
Andy

 

[sofie]

Andy:
The operator controls for "automatic" or even manual tracking on any VCR or
Camcorder CAN NOT compensate for mis-adjusted roller guides or mis-aligned
video heads or other alignment issues.
With very few exceptions full interchange between VHS VCRs, or in your case
between 8 mm camcorders can be achieved with proper alignment and adjustment
of the recording machine and the playback machines and any other properly
aligned machine..... then the automatic or manual tracking controls can
compensate for the left over minor differences between the recorded tape and
the playback machine.

 

[Andy]

Sofie ,
thanks alot. What form of tracking control do 8mm camcorders have?
Andy

 

[sofie]

Andy:
Most models of 8mm camcorders have no "user" control of tracking.