Camcorder rescue blog
Guides for rescuing your old footage.
Plain-language explainers for the formats and workflows that come up when you start digging through a box of old tapes. Written for people who don’t want to learn what a transport stream is — they just want their footage to play.
What is AVCHD, and why won't your files play?
AVCHD is the format that Sony, Panasonic, and Canon camcorders saved video as for almost a decade. The files are still there — modern devices just don't know what to do with them. Here's what's actually going on.
MTS vs M2TS: what's the difference, and does it matter?
Both extensions show up on AVCHD camcorder footage and on Blu-ray rips. They're almost the same thing — but the small differences explain why one extension shows up before you import and the other shows up after, and why neither plays on a modern Mac.
How to get video off a Mini-DV tape in 2026
Mini-DV is digital, but the digital lives on tape — which means you have to capture it before you can do anything with it. A practical, no-nonsense walkthrough of what hardware you need, what software still works, and what to do once the file is on your computer.
Welcome to the CamcorderRescue blog
A short intro to what we publish here — practical guides for getting old camcorder footage off dying media and into formats that will play for the next 30 years.