Very useful but expensive

This unit is very nice. it reads all of the 8mm cassettes. it readily hooks up to a computer via firewire to digitally record 8mm, Hi-8, and Digital8. With a unit like this, you dont need a analog capture card or some sort of external Analog-Digital converter.

this is the cheaper (ha!) model without a LCD viewscreen. my needs for captureing tapes to my computer or DVD recorder via firewire do not require a screen.

i've never done this, but it is also a portable unit powered by the same batteries that power my old Hi-8 camera. very flexible. you pay for what you get.

i've been using it about twice per month for the last year to capture and edit old home movies.