Using Camcorders - Video Formats: 8mm, SVHS-C, HI-8, and Digital8
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8mm
This came out to help fill the need for longer recording times.These tapes are smaller, but have the capability to record 2 to 4hours. Four hour recordings are supported by Sony through their LPmode. Sound quality has improved in this format. This format can alsobe played directly through your VCR and then transferred to a VHS tape.The video resolution is the same as in the previous formats, around 250lines, but the color consistency improves. One downside is that these8mm tapes do not have an adapter to use for the VCR. They must beviewed from the camcorder through cables attached to your VCR.
SVHS-C
This format is the same as VHS-C with better resolution--400 lines,as opposed to 240-250 lines. This seems to be an attempt by JVC tocreate its own proprietary corner of the market. Regular VHS VCRscannot play back these tapes, so you’ll need and S-VHS VCR with anadapter. Playback can be done through the camcorder.
HI-8
This format is the same as 8mm but with a higher resolution (400lines). These tapes cannot be played in a regular VCR, because there isno adapter. All HI-8 camcorders can play and record in the regular 8mmformat. Regular 8mm camcorders cannot play recorded HI8 tapes.
Digital8
This format is frustrating for the new user. It increases thequality of video and audio, and allows you to view the footage justlike all the others. Now if you own one of these and are happy with it,God bless you. I used one of these in an attempt to shoot some footageof the Air and Sea show, and was happy with the quality of the videowhen I played it back through the cables attached to the VCR. I wasalso pleased with the audio quality. I wasn’t thrilled with the factthat I had to set the camera up on top of the VCR, then use the cameratouch buttons to play, rewind and fast forward, but it was juststraight shooting, so no big deal.
When it came time to capture the video and edit it on my computer, Ihad to go back to the lab and use the old VCR cables into the FireWireconnection, wait, wait, and wait some more, burn to CD, take the CDhome, upload files, and edit. The Digital8 camera that I was using didnot have a FireWire port, so I started thinking, “what’s the point?” Itseems to me that the camera was promising one thing but deliveringanother. Then I realized that it was capturing the video digitally, itjust couldn’t put it out digitally without the FireWire. So in a senseit was “digital”--just not in a very useful sense.
Digital8s can also play back analog 8mm and HI8 tapes using theregular AV connections, but cannot convert the analog 8mm and HI8recording through to a computer via the IEEE-1394 port. Only Sony makesthese camcorders, which might tell you something. One plus (I guess) isthat this camera allows you to take still shots in the middle of yourfilming, although I honestly have no idea why you would want to dostill pictures if you have a video camera. Maybe these freeze framescould help with storyboarding--but that's another article.
Next: MiniDV and Importance of FireWire >>
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