[MacDV] 8mm & Hi8

[Claire Hart]

Replying to my own post...

Here's a paragraph I found on the internet which explains it:

Super VHS, Super VHS-C, and Hi8 are the improved versions of the
above three formats. Where VHS and 8mm create 240 lines of
horizontal picture resolution, SVHS and Hi8 create 400 lines.
  These super models cost about $500 more than their counterparts,
but the cost is worth it if you wish to do serious
teleproduction. Although the super camcorders can record and
play regular tapes, if they record a super tape, it can only be
played back on a super machine. Also, in order to make a super
recording, you must buy the more expensive super tape to feed
your camcorder. Remember that you are always free to copy your
super picture (perhaps using your camcorder as the player) onto a
regular VHS tape (recording on a regular VHS recorder) for
distribution.

Claire


On Jul 17, 2004, at 10:28 AM, Claire Hart wrote:

> I just bought an 8mm camcorder on ebay in order to be able to watch, 
> and possibly convert to DV, many home movies we filmed with a camera 
> that was since stolen.  In fact, we had one camera, an 8mm, which was 
> stolen.  We bought its upgrade, a Hi8, at a garage sale, thus allowing 
> us to use the same spare battery, recharger, remote, etc.  So half of 
> our cassettes are 8mm and half are Hi8.  This camera is a ProScan, 
> which was made by Hitachi for Circuit City for only two years.
>
> After searching a while, I found the same camera on ebay, and it was 
> labeled as a Hi8 camcorder.  Upon taking it out of the box, I found 
> that it had the "8" on the side, rather than the "Hi8".  I have not 
> yet tried Hi8 cassettes in it, but I know that my 8mm ProScan had an 
> "8" on the side, and my Hi8 ProScan had a "Hi8" on the side.
>
> Can I play Hi8 cassettes in an 8mm camcorder?  I've been searching on 
> google for the answer to this question, but the forums are usually 
> answering the question going the other way (can I play an 8mm in a 
> Hi8, which is "yes").  Also, many people are also asking the 
> compatibility between 8mm, Hi8, Digital8, miniDV, etc., and that is 
> not my question.
>
> I could just go pop in a Hi8 into the camcorder and try it, but i 
> don't want the camcorder to eat the tape in the process.
>
> Thanks for your advice.
>