user12763: A long time ago I had a HI-8 camera. Now I would like to create home movies I can share digitally. Does anyone know a simple an hopefully inexpensive way to transfer these tapes to my computer?

user6226: "HI-8" is an analog format. You will need a hi-8 player or camera with outputs and an analog to digital converter. Consumer grade devices are typically finicky -you get what you pay for. I've used several of the 60-$80 level in the past and had various issues. Such as: not detecting the source, poorly written drivers, very buggy software, low quality capture.
Here's a list of comon some common devices to help your research:
http://vhs-to-dvd-converters-review.toptenreviews.com/
Mostly these come with a software to allow capture and create a digital file. Some also allow you to burn to a DVD / blu-ray. 
A better quality box might be something like this (I haven't tried this unit):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/349146-REG/Grass_Valley_602029_ADVC_110_Bidirectional_Media_Converter.html
You will need to get software sperately. Most editing software Premiere Pro, etc. Allows you do capture from a source. You will need to have some knowledge of what codec / wrappers, video aspect; to get a good result. 

12763: <p>A long time ago I had a HI-8 camera. Now I would like to create home movies I can share digitally. Does anyone know a simple an hopefully inexpensive way to transfer these tapes to my computer?</p>
 6226: <p>"HI-8" is an analog format. You will need a hi-8 player or camera with outputs and an analog to digital converter. Consumer grade devices are typically finicky -you get what you pay for. I've used several of the 60-$80 level in the past and had various issues. Such as: not detecting the source, poorly written drivers, very buggy software, low quality capture.
Here's a list of comon some common devices to help your research:</p>

<p><a href="http://vhs-to-dvd-converters-review.toptenreviews.com/" rel="nofollow">http://vhs-to-dvd-converters-review.toptenreviews.com/</a></p>

<p>Mostly these come with a software to allow capture and create a digital file. Some also allow you to burn to a DVD / blu-ray. </p>

<p>A better quality box might be something like this (I haven't tried this unit):
<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/349146-REG/Grass_Valley_602029_ADVC_110_Bidirectional_Media_Converter.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/349146-REG/Grass_Valley_602029_ADVC_110_Bidirectional_Media_Converter.html</a></p>

<p>You will need to get software sperately. Most editing software Premiere Pro, etc. Allows you do capture from a source. You will need to have some knowledge of what codec / wrappers, video aspect; to get a good result. </p>
