AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

Can Hi8 tapes be used in a Digital8 camcorder

Post Reply
Old 19-06-2005, 4:15 PM   #1
neilgoding
Guest
Posts: n/a
Can Hi8 tapes be used in a Digital8 camcorder

Hello,

I am wondering to get a digital8 camcorder which I know uses simular dapes to hi8 but can hi8 tapes be used in recording the newer format? also how better is the quality of digital8 to hi8

Thank You

Neil
  Quote
Old 20-06-2005, 12:14 PM   #2
Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ilford, Essex
Experience Points:
4,983, Level: 16
Points: 4,983, Level: 16 Points: 4,983, Level: 16 Points: 4,983, Level: 16
Activity: 0.4%
Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 6
Posts: 414
Hi Neil,

I went from Hi8 to Digital8, before eventually moving to MiniDV.

You are wrong to say that they use similar tapes. In fact, they use indentical tapes! So if you've a load of tapes that you haven't used yet, you'll be able to carry on using them in the Digital8 camcorder. My Digital8 camcorder is able to play my old Hi8 tapes. Not sure if this is the case with all models, but worth checking out.

As far as the diference in quality between the two is concerned, on paper, Digital8 is a higher resolution, so should be better. Quite how noticable this diference is in reality is hard to say.

I'm currently going through all my old Hi8 tapes, putting the footage onto DVD. To be quite honest, whilst they are not as good as my MiniDV tapes (which are better than Digital8), they are still pretty good and to the casual observer, I doubt few would notice the difference.

Hope this helps.
  Quote
Old 20-06-2005, 5:04 PM   #3
Distinguished Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Rainham Essex
Experience Points:
29,391, Level: 41
Points: 29,391, Level: 41 Points: 29,391, Level: 41 Points: 29,391, Level: 41
Activity: 46.6%
Activity: 46.6% Activity: 46.6% Activity: 46.6%
Thanks: Gave 174, Got 1,418
Posts: 12,729
If you want to be able to play your old analogue Hi8 tapes/recordings in the new camcorder then a Digital8 cam is ideal, just check that the model you get can play the Hi8 tapes as most models can't!
If however you want to get just an upgrade, and am not bothered with playing the old tapes then I strongly recommend getting a miniDV cam as they are far smaller and therefore IMO you are more likely to carry it around.

As for quality, well I've never owned a Hi8 or D8 cam. I went from the older video8 to DV which was a massive jump in quality. Be aware though that all consumer digital camcorders are going to be fairly poor in low light conditions.

Mark.
  Quote
Old 20-06-2005, 5:45 PM   #4
neilgoding
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for that, does that mean I can record the digital 8 footage onto an old hi8 tape just in the argos book it says you can get with hi8 tapes or digital8.

Thanks
  Quote
Old 21-06-2005, 5:06 PM   #5
Distinguished Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Rainham Essex
Experience Points:
29,391, Level: 41
Points: 29,391, Level: 41 Points: 29,391, Level: 41 Points: 29,391, Level: 41
Activity: 46.6%
Activity: 46.6% Activity: 46.6% Activity: 46.6%
Thanks: Gave 174, Got 1,418
Posts: 12,729
Dedicated Digital8 tapes are meant to be of a higher quality than Hi8 tapes. However I think you would be hard pressed to notice a difference between the 2 tapes, and as Hi8 are cheaper I would say go with them. If you do get droppouts etc then pay the extra for the Digital8 tapes. Due to this I would suggest playing around and filming things you don't mind loosing, just to see if there is a difference.

Mark.
  Quote
Old 21-06-2005, 6:27 PM   #6
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Manchester
Experience Points:
2,946, Level: 12
Points: 2,946, Level: 12 Points: 2,946, Level: 12 Points: 2,946, Level: 12
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 8, Got 7
Posts: 296
Bear in mind that Digital8 cameras record at a higher tape speed than Hi8 ones.

While you'll have no problem using a Hi8 tape in a Digital8 camcorder, the running time will be reduced by about one third - i.e. a 1 hour Hi8 tape will give you about 40 minutes of Digital8 recording.
  Quote
Old 21-06-2005, 8:19 PM   #7
Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ilford, Essex
Experience Points:
4,983, Level: 16
Points: 4,983, Level: 16 Points: 4,983, Level: 16 Points: 4,983, Level: 16
Activity: 0.4%
Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 6
Posts: 414
Quote:
Originally Posted by sput2001
Bear in mind that Digital8 cameras record at a higher tape speed than Hi8 ones.

While you'll have no problem using a Hi8 tape in a Digital8 camcorder, the running time will be reduced by about one third - i.e. a 1 hour Hi8 tape will give you about 40 minutes of Digital8 recording.
Ah yes, I forgot about that - All my Hi8 tapes are 90 minute tapes, which, when used with my Digital8 Camcorder, lasted 60 minutes.

I used Sony Super HME Hi8 tapes with both my Hi8 camcorder and my Digital8 camcorder and can't say that I ever suffered from drop outs, but then they're pretty good quality tapes in the first place.
  Quote
Post Reply

Powered by  
 Latest popular product prices
Kodak PlaySport Zx5 
7 prices from
 £79.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Sony DCR-SX45E 
4 prices from
 £189.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Toshiba Camileo H30 
1 price
 £107.00 Click to show/hide the offers

Samsung SMX-F50BN 
4 prices from
 £119.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Panasonic SDR-S70 
7 prices from
 £116.00 Click to show/hide the offers

Panasonic HX-DC1 
7 prices from
 £123.95 Click to show/hide the offers

JVC GZ-HM30 
7 prices from
 £144.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Sony DCR-SX21E 
2 prices from
 £149.99 Click to show/hide the offers

 Updated February 11th at 11:30am. Prices include delivery.


Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off