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:

• Belkin FireWire 4-pin to FireWire 800 (9-pin) + FireWire 800 cable

• Apple FireWire 800 to Thunderbolt 2

• Apple Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C

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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