Filming with a 20-year-old Digital 8 camera

Filming with a 20-year-old Digital 8 camera

Filmed with a 20-year-old Sony Handycam, Griffin explains interlacing, pixel aspect ratios, IEEE 1394, and the quirks of shooting and editing in standard definition.

Features of the DCR-TRV320 Sony Handycam—

  • Records standard-definition, interlaced video (720x480i) onto Digital 8 tapes

  • 25x optical zoom, 18x digital zoom, SteadyShot digital image stabilization

  • Swivel-mounted 2.5-inch LCD monitor

  • FireWire interface (IEEE 1394)

  • Built-in NightShot infrared lamp

To connect this old camera to my modern iMac Pro, I have three adapters in sequence:

Amazingly, it works! Zoom recognizes it as an available webcam, and Final Cut Pro X imports successfully—though I find I need to record onto a tape to keep the camera from auto-shutting off.

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Griffin Hammond