I got this hi8 video camera from my father. i want to make a movie and edit it. but it doesnt have the usb plug so i could plug it into my pc. do you have any suggestions. also im 15 and i dont really have money and my parents are probably not going to help me out. please any suggestions or handouts.

well first off, hi8 is an analog format, meaning no usb ports or firewire either. the only way to edit with this camera is to get a Pinnacle breakout box/edit software kit or something similar. It'll run you about $200, though.

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Studio+MovieBox+DV+version+9.htm

You could find someone with a stand-alone DVD burner, hook up the Hi-8 to it and burn a DVD of your footage. Then use the DVD to import to your computer (assuming your computer has a DVD player). Of course, I really don't know how to capture clips from a DVD. I'm sure there's some way or some software that can help.

Or you could just do linear editing and hook the Hi-8 up to a VCR. Play your scene, hit record on the VCR, pause the VCR when scene is over, que up the next scene on the Hi-8, play it, unpause the VCR...repeat. Wow...I've forgotten what a pain this is.

Christmas is just around the corner too.....maybe Santa will hook you up....

i would try one of these but i just found a new problem. when i tried to record something no picture recorderd and you coulded see anything through the eye part of the lcd. then when i played it back all that came up was the sound . anybody know whats wrong with it/

Obligatory "was the lenscap on?" http://www.stevenrichards.com/images/smiley_pac.gif

(Yup, I've done that)

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Does the camera have manual exposure settings, and if so was it turned all the way down to let no light in?

no

Is it possible that the camera is just plain broken?

What's the model number, btw?

model number CCD-TRV118.............I HOPE ITS NOT BROKEN

Get a head cleaner and clean them.. then record something...

Try seeing if there's a live feed. Plugin the output cables into a TV and see if you can see what the cam sees. Then pop in a tape and record that... then play it back

If you have no feed, no lense cap and nothing recorded... then there's no coffee...