why won't a digital 8 handicam play my old 8mm tapes?

Answer 1

Because they use different formats.
Your current handicam is in digital format and your older 8mm tapes are in analog format.
You may be able to find someone that will copy your 8mm to digital format.

Answer 2

no longer your variety. each and each 3 hundred and sixty 5 days, Sony would pop out with 2 distinct yet similar digital-8 fashions. the numerous distinction (and infrequently the in undemanding words distinction) became that the more effective expensive variety became backwards properly matched so it ought to play 8mm and hi-8 tapes. you'll have needed to purchase the DCR-TRV240. that is too previous due now, because the completed 8mm family individuals is not any longer being made and they have not made a backwards properly matched variety because 2003.

Answer 3

SONY invented the Digital8 format to be an easy transition from 8mm. All digital8 cameras were supposed to be able to play back 8mm and Hi8 tapes. Then, for some unknown reason, the only Digital8 model that Sony makes today does not play back the older formats. Sony still sells a very cheap Hi8 camera which will play back 8mm and Hi8. I use it to copy all of my old 8mm tapes to DVD.