How to Repair an 8 mm Camcorder

By Greyson Ferguson

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There are two types of 8 mm camcorders available for home users, analog and digital. Both cameras use the same size of videotape--8 mm wide--but the main difference is the way the cameras save data onto tape. The digital 8 mm records digitally with 525 lines of resolution, while the analog 8 mm records at 400 lines of resolution. Because both types of 8 mm camcorders record in the same manner, the two run into the same issues. Likewise, both types of camcorders are corrected in the same way.

Step 1

Completely charge the 8 mm camcorder's battery. If the camera continues to turn off while you are attempting to record video, it is because battery power is nearly depleted. The audio recording, night shot and camera light also do not work when the battery is about to die.

Step 2

Clean off the lens of your 8 mm camcorder. If the lens is dirty, spots appear on the recorded image. You may even see large fingerprints on the image. Clean the camera lens with the same kind of cloth you use on a pair of glasses.

Step 3

Open the tape deck on the 8 mm camcorder. Spray a few shots of compressed air into the open deck. As dust enters the deck, it prevents the camera from recording onto the tape. You may often find black spots on an image when reviewing the footage. Removing the dust corrects this issue.

Step 4

Insert the cleaning tape into the tape deck and press "Play" on the 8 mm camcorder. The cleaning tape has a special fluid present on the tape that plays through the inside of the camera and removes excess dirt, dust and other debris from the interior. This extends the life of the camera and corrects mechanical issues preventing the camera from recording, such as tapes automatically ejecting after you insert the tape into the deck or the camera refusing to record or play.

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