Digital8 camcorders were the next generation of video recording offerings to replace Hi8 as the best-in-class and offered consumers a first look at true digital recording capabilities on a tape.
Most Digital8 camcorders can use the same tape media used in Hi8 camcorders. Digital8 uses a digital recording device that adheres to the industry standard Digital Video (DV) codec to record digital video. The recording device writes at 2 times the speed of an analog Hi8 recorder, so the 8mm tape recording lengths are shortened from 120 to 90 minutes on average.
Because the Digital8 camcorders use the 8mm tapes, most Digital8 camcorders can playback a Hi8 tape on the camcorder. This can be a nice feature if you have a large library of Hi8 tapes.
A drawback for the Digital8 camcorders and tape formats is that Sony is the only manufacturer of this technology. Sony introduced the technology at the same time it and several other manufacturers like JVC, Panasonic and Canon introduced another digital recording technology: MiniDV. Sony targeted the entry-level consumer market for Digital8, but the product never found acceptance in the professional market or with other manufacturers.
Whether you’re looking for a kid-friendly Digital8 camcorder, or the latest and greatest from Sony, we’ve got what you need, and nobody beats our prices.
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