What is Digital8?

Until recently, MiniDV tapes were expensive and only available at specialty electronics stores, so Sony developed the Digital8 format as an affordable alternative. Digital8 camcorders use Hi8 tapes instead of MiniDV tapes. A 120-minute Hi8 tape can hold 60 minutes of Digital8 video. Initially the cheaper, easily available Hi8 tapes gave Digital8 camcorders a significant cost advantage; however, MiniDV tapes have improved dramatically in price and availability, making the bulkier Digital8 camcorders and tapes less attractive.

Sony still offers a wide variety of affordably priced, high-quality Digital8 camcorders — Hitachi has offered Digital8s as well — and the format has modernized to stay competitive. Digital8 camcorders record digital video using the same DV codec as MiniDV cameras, and Digital8 camcorders also include i.Link (Sony’s trade name for FireWire) ports. Digital8 cameras generally offer equivalent video quality to MiniDV cameras of similar price. If you already have a lot of old Hi8 tapes and you are on a tight budget, a Digital8 camcorder may be worth considering. Digital8 camcorders have an analog mode, which means they can read the analog video recorded by your old Hi8 camcorder.

Keep in mind that Hi8/Digital 8 compatibility only goes one way: Hi8 camcorders cannot read Digital8 video.