[MacDV] Re: 8mm & Hi8

[illovox at comcast.net]

on 7/17/04 8:42 AM, Claire Hart at hart at arn.net wrote:

> 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.

For all of the ins and outs, Clair, I am afraid you got rooked.  Buying a
Hi8 recorder and getting a regular 8 means you will only be able to record 8
quality, not in Hi8, though some regular 8 units can play back Hi8 tapes at
regular 8 quality resolution...

Run