Hi8 & Digital 8 tapes were introduced in the era just prior to complete digital formats taking over the film and video industry. During the time frame of Hi8 and Digital 8, consumers saw a preview of what was possible by improving picture and sound quality for the home video recording market. It was also part of the evolution of the 8mm video format that helped create more efficiency by providing a smaller size to the videotape. Despite these qualities and conveniences, converting Hi-8 videos to DVD is the smartest move in order to preserve any captured memories for the future.
Hi-8 Competing with S-VHS
Hi-8 was released as an upgrade to the Video8 format that had already been out since the mid 1980s. Originally, Video8 was made to rival VHS-C in creating more portability by being only half the size of a regular VHS tape. Both Video8 and VHS-C were popular in the camcorder market through the 1980s and into the early 1990s.
When Hi-8 was released, it was intended to increase the lines of resolution on Video8 tapes and compete directly with the new S-VHS format that came out in 1987. Both Hi-8 and S-VHS offered 400 lines of resolution as an intended major video evolution in the late 1980s. That's because those lines of resolution rivaled TV broadcast signals and were on par with a laserdisc.
The problem with Hi-8 (and S-VHS) was the lack of color quality. This eventually led to a decline in sales for S-VHS, despite still barely surviving to this day. Hi-8, however, still sold well up until it finally received an improvement with Digital 8 in the late 1990s.
When Hi-8 was released, it was intended to increase the lines of resolution on Video8 tapes and compete directly with the new S-VHS format that came out in 1987. Both Hi-8 and S-VHS offered 400 lines of resolution as an intended major video evolution in the late 1980s. That's because those lines of resolution rivaled TV broadcast signals and were on par with a laserdisc.
The problem with Hi-8 (and S-VHS) was the lack of color quality. This eventually led to a decline in sales for S-VHS, despite still barely surviving to this day. Hi-8, however, still sold well up until it finally received an improvement with Digital 8 in the late 1990s.
Digital 8 at the Cusp of the Digital Era
You can consider Digital 8 to be the last real tape format upgrade before the digital era took over in the camcorder market. By the time Digital 8 tapes came out in 1999, MiniDV camcorders were already on the market as part of the digital revolution in home video recording. Regardless, Digital 8 was able to hang on alongside the MiniDV market for a while thanks to both having the same quality level of picture and sound.
Ultimately, MiniDV (as a digital videocassette) managed to become more of a standard up until recently when DVD camcorders started becoming the norm. That was perhaps because there was a misconception of Digital8 being inferior to MiniDV.
By the mid 2000s, it became impossible to find either Hi8 or Digital8 tapes. You might be able to find them in specialty stores today, though the demand is very small. This doesn't mean you may not have a bevy of those tapes stacked away that hold recordings of countless personal events. You need to get those transferred to a digital source before deterioration sets in.
Ultimately, MiniDV (as a digital videocassette) managed to become more of a standard up until recently when DVD camcorders started becoming the norm. That was perhaps because there was a misconception of Digital8 being inferior to MiniDV.
By the mid 2000s, it became impossible to find either Hi8 or Digital8 tapes. You might be able to find them in specialty stores today, though the demand is very small. This doesn't mean you may not have a bevy of those tapes stacked away that hold recordings of countless personal events. You need to get those transferred to a digital source before deterioration sets in.
Convert Video to DVD
Here at Click-Scan-Share, we can transfer any old video format with exacting care and at very affordable rates. When you bring in your old Hi8 and Digital8 tapes, we'll transfer them to a gold DVD that will last you for generations.
Contact us if you have any questions about your old tape formats, our transfer process, or to ask about our other, photographic services.
Contact us if you have any questions about your old tape formats, our transfer process, or to ask about our other, photographic services.
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