I did a lot of research on the net about 3/4 years looking for a
digital camcorder which would both play my old analog video tapes
(recorded on a Samsung camcorder) and also convert them to digital
info to be inputted to my laptop (in my case a Mac Powerbook using
iMovie, tho it could well have been a Windows XP PC using Moviemaker).
My 'research' also included asking my local Sony store (which aren't,
in fact, owned or run by Sony) which Sony digital 8 camcorders would
do that task.

I was told that only the TRGV460E and the TRV480E models (plus a third
model whose number I can't recall) would do what I wanted - they were
billed as being "backwards compatible" - and I bought a TRV460E. It is
fine, although it has recently been playing up.

Because of that I decided to scout around (on eBay and the net
generally) for another PAL (I live in the UK) TRV460E or,
alternatively, a TRV480E. Scouting around also included looking
through various Google groups and I was astonished to find that -
appatently - a whole range of Sony camcorders, including (this from
the rec.video.desktop newsgroup) these models. DCR-TRV240, DCR-TRV340,
DCR-TRV740, DCR-TRV840, DCR-TRV320, DCR-TRV520, DCR-TRV720, DCR-
TRV820, DCR-TRV350, DCR-TRV360.

Apparently they all have a "signal convert function" which does
exactly what I want: play my old analop tapes and input them digitally
into a computer. So the range I might have chosen from is a lot bigger
than I realised.

But have I misunderstood something? Can anyone set me straight? Once
again: all I need is a digital camcorder with Firewire (i.e. iLink)
which will play ANALOG Hi8 tapes and let me input them into iMovie/
Moviemaker for editing. Your views and advice are very welcome as I am
looking to replace my TRV460E but I want to be damn sure I don't get
something I don't want or need. Thanks.

Although I have not had this requirement myself I understand that any, or
certainly some of the Sony digital 8 camcorders will play both analogue and
digital tapes and of course output into your video card through firewire or
AV sockets.

Digital 8 did not turn out to be a very successful format and I believe
manufacture has now been discontinued but there should be used models out
there available. Perhaps all the models mentioned.

In 22 years of providing independent video facilities I have only once ever
been given a digital 8 tape for processing. Good job I never bought a camera
or deck to now join the masses of other obsolete equipment cluttering up my
place. Anyone interested in VHS/SVHS and U-Matic equipment and tapes?

"pfgpowell" wrote

But have I misunderstood something? Can anyone set me straight? Once
again: all I need is a digital camcorder with Firewire (i.e. iLink)
which will play ANALOG Hi8 tapes and let me input them into iMovie/
Moviemaker for editing. Your views and advice are very welcome as I am
looking to replace my TRV460E but I want to be damn sure I don't get
something I don't want or need. Thanks.

Hi. I'm in the same boat. I have a lot of old 8mm and Hi-8 analogue tapes.
I can add to your list the DCR-TR7000E.
I used one of these for many years to import DV into Premiere, from my
analogue tapes. It worked well until the firewire port broke.
Like you I then got a TRV460E, which continues to work well.
Good luck in your hunt for a replacement. I am pretty sure that the later
Digital8 camcorders more often than not would NOT playback 8mm and Hi8 tapes
through the DV port., but you'll have to Google the specs of each one to
find out for certain.
hth