Comparison between Mini-DV and Hi 8 digital?

[(vikm)]

Does anyone have any first hand experience using both? How does the digital Hi 8 stack up to the Mini-DV?

Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

[Racer X]

I beleieve that last time I checked, miniDV was typically 500-525 lines of horizontal resolution, and digital 8 was 400 IIRC. (same as analog S-VHS) This was from a Digital Video trade magazine (DV) that i read at work.

[anonymouse1]

Mini-DV is the standard. Hi-8 is, IIRC, older technology, not as universally used.

[(vikm)]

Cool. Thanks. I always forget to wiki stuff... always!

[Racer X]

Digital 8 was a bridge. Most Digital 8 cameras can play analog Hi 8 tapes, so the older content from a Hi 8 camera can still be digitized through the new Digital 8 camera. that was its original appeal.

[(vikm)]

This is what brought this up for me...

A friend is going to be filming some wildlife stuff for someone in the future and he has an option to use this old but nice Canon L1 that he is told is digital but from what I've read shows as Hi 8.

http://www.soadv.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CANL1&Category_Code

His other option is to buy something "modern" (mini DV) and shoot with it instead. Free is good (as in the first camera) but if the quality is going to be ok on the L1 then he may just use it.

Thanks again for the help.

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote Racer X]Digital 8 was a bridge. Most Digital 8 cameras can play analog Hi 8 tapes, so the older content from a Hi 8 camera can still be digitized through the new Digital 8 camera. that was its original appeal. Most don't do that anymore!
Only the highend Sony Digital8 will do that anymore.
MiniDV is what you want!

BGnR

[davester]

The Digital 8 file format is identical to the MiniDV format. Only the media packaging is different, so the resolution of the two is identical. The main difference you will find is that the Digital 8 were generally lower end camcorders than MiniDV camcorders, so the lenses and sensors from a Digital 8 camera would probably provide a lower picture quality.

The L1 is not Digital 8. It is analog Hi-8. The quality will probably be really nice since this was a very expensive high end cam with great lenses and sensors. However, the resolution is lower than the Digital 8/MiniDV format and you'll have to go through the hassle of converting tapes to get the video onto your computer.

[Mike V]

I agree with Davester.

Digital 8 is more or less the same as Mini-DV except for the actual tape.

However the only reason to go Digital 8 is if you have old Hi-8 tapes you need to play.

Otherwise Mini-DV is by far more universally available and supported.

Back in its day the L1 was great, but I'd never use it now.
The extra hassle of an analogue format is not worth it.

[Racer X]

My numbers came from optical resolution tests, not based on what the sensor was capable of.