Digital 8 compresses video using standard DV compression, but records it in a manner that allows it to use standard Hi-8 tape. The result is a DV "box" that can also play standard Hi-8 and 8 mm tapes. On playback, analog tapes are converted to a 25 Mbps compressed signal available via the i-Link digital output interface. Playback from analog tapes has limited video quality. New recordings are digital and identical in performance to DV; audio specs and other data also are the same.

camcorders record on highly affordable standard Hi8 or 8mm tapes They're less expensive than comparable DV tapes.Digital recording acquires much more information than analog, Digital would be 500 lines of resolution vs. Hi-8 analog would be approx. 400 lines of resolution. Digital8 compression enables you to capture a full hour of high resolution Video on a standard 2 hour (120 mimute) Hi-8 tape.

Digital high-resolution camcorder format found predominantly on Sony camcorders. It is backwards compatible with 8mm and Hi8 formats.

uses the same compression and editing protocols as DV. Digital 8 records video using DV compression onto Video8 or Hi8 tapes, but running up to twice their normal speed.

Digital recording format using traditional 8mm tapes. Digital 8 camcorders can view 8mm and Hi8 tapes, but Digital 8 recordings can't be viewed on an 8mm or Hi8 camcorder. Resolution: 500 lines. Recording time: maximum is 240 minutes.