Hi8 camera with only RCA output?

[TheDani]

I know there are entry-level Hi8 cameras, and some 8mm cameras that are backward compatible with Hi8 tapes, which only have RCA (composite) outputs. But is there any PAL Hi8 camera — one that fully supports Hi8 recording and playback — that only has RCA output, without an S-Video port? If it exists, can you give examples of brands/model numbers of the cameras?

[aramkolt]

To get the full benefits of Hi8's resolution, you need S-Video, so I kind of doubt they'd make Hi8 devices that lacked it.

I'm mainly curious about what sort of application you'd have where you'd want fewer output options other than perhaps making a historical timeline that shows differences between models?

[TheDani]

Mainly because I had a Samsung VP-L8000U, which is Hi8 backward-compatible only. I noticed that the Samsung VP-L800 (not the L8000U) seems to have better options and maybe higher specs. I'm just wondering - does the VP-L800 actually have S-Video output, and is it a full Hi8 camcorder, not just backward-compatible or Hi8 entry-level?

I’m a bit confused right now. The boss of Foto Erik AS in Haugesund claims to have a full Hi8 camera that only uses RCA. But you’re saying that such a model doesn’t exist - in other words, it’s a fantasy camera. Anyway, thank you for the clarification.

[aramkolt]

I was wrong, apparently there was at least one model (even made by Sony) that lacked S-Video output and I suspect other manufacturers to save costs probably also produced camcorders without S-Video output.

There's a thread here where the original poster was as confused as me as to why Sony would release a camera that couldn't output to the full spec of Hi8:
https://www.reddit.com/r/camcorders/comments/1iu46ja/sony_ccdtrv43_hi8_camcorder_witho...svideo_output/


The model they discuss is the CCD-TRV43 which is a Hi8 camera that apparently lacks S-Video output and can play regular Video8 tapes.

My guess is it's more handicapping the playback ability rather than the recording ability, so my thought is that if you played a Hi8 recording made on the TRV43 on a camera or deck that has S-Video output, it should have an apparent resolution boost vs playing the same recording on the TRV43 just because of the S-Video.

For actual capture purposes, there's no downside to using S-Video and it should be used if possible, though the biggest benefit will probably be on first generation tapes that have fine patterns/detail.

[dellsam34]

Even for regular Video8 tapes you would want a Hi8 camcorder with S-Video to get better video output, not sure why you would want to output Hi8 recordings over composite? Are they that expensive compared to low end ones? If you can't afford one you can always send your tapes to a place to get them transferred properly for a fraction of the cost, unless you have a massive collection of tapes.

[TheDani]

So in other words, it’s extremely rare to find a full Hi8 camera like the Sony CCD-TRV43 that only has RCA output. He mentioned that it was much cheaper for them to buy one RCA camera with full Hi8 cassettes, but he also stated that the purchase was purely for private use, not for business.

[Alwyn]

I noticed that the Samsung VP-L800 (not the L8000U) seems to have better options and maybe higher specs. I'm just wondering - does the VP-L800 actually have S-Video output, and is it a full Hi8 camcorder, not just backward-compatible or Hi8 entry-level?

Here's the manual for both of those (assuming you mean the L800 and L800U, not L8000U):

https://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/200312/20031209143814984_L800-UK.pdf

The L800 has S-Video Out and Hi8 recording. The L800U does not have S-Video Out, Hi8 recording or playback ability.