What is the best way to back-up my videos recorded in Video8 format?

Question

I have several videos recorded in Video8 format. I want to have a back-up of these videos but I'm not sure what's the best way to do it. I don't want any loss in quality but at the same time do not want to spend too much. The following are the options that I am considering:

1. Store in hard disk. What format would be best?

2. Convert to DVDs. If I need to edit the video, would there be significant loss in quality when I rip the DVD?

Answer 1

You can try the all-in-one DVD and video software, meet all your needs. It converts DVDs and videos to play on iPod touch/classic/video/nano, iPhone, Zune, PSP, video capable MP3 players, video capable mobile phones, and Pocket P.C., etc.

http://www.dvdtoipod.us/dvdvideoconverte...

Answer 2

I wouldn't do anything that involves playable DVDs - you're converting to a very lossy format and that's going to degrade the quality if you ever decide to edit it.  

Hard disks are just about the most cost effective storage medium now, but I don't like them for long-term archives since you're putting all your eggs in one basket - if your HD develops a fault you'll lose the lot!  If that's the route you choose, pick a lossless codec to do the encoding.   You'll use more disk space that way but it retains the quality.  My preferred way of doing it would be to capture the video using a DV codec and then write it back to a MiniDV tape.  You'll need to recapture the video if you want to edit it, but at least you've got a reliable backup.