Currenty, I have a sony HI8 (old I know) and I always used tapes from CC, BB...etc. I would usually get the least expensive HI8s they had. Then I read in one of the threads that you could use any 8mm tape. I found some 8mm (3M D8-112) tapes at a local computer swap for a $0.50 a piece. So far they seem exactly the same, but the camera just doesn't show that they are HI8 in the view finder.
Now for my question. I'm thinking about buying a miniDV cam, so what type of miniDV tapes can I use? I haven't looked at a tape up close but they seem like they are about the same size as a standard 4mm DDS tape, like these I have a bunch of these tapes (DDS3 and DDS4) as that's what my tape backup drive uses. It would be cool if I could use these in a miniDV cam....
Anyone know?
Try StreamFab Downloader and download from Netflix, Amazon, Youtube! Or Try DVDFab and copy Blu-rays! or rip iTunes movies!
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8
Thread
-
-
You sure about that? I think you might have read that you can use any kind of tape in a Digital8 camera, not a Hi-8 camera. I know that's correct about Digital8 but not sure about Hi-8.
-
Originally Posted by MrMungus
Got 3 tapes used already.... (I bought 6 from the guy, and can get plenty more and new in the 3M wrapper)
I don't know if they will do digital because I have a HI8, but I know they do analog just fine. -
hi-8 and 8mm use the same tapes. in your case, with a hi-8 camcorder, it can use hi-8 tapes and record them in hi-8 format, or it can use regular 8mm tapes, and it will record in 8mm format. there is no difference between the two except that hi-8 will produce a little better quality.
the same goes backwards. if you have an 8mm recorder, you can use hi-8 tapes in it, but it will only record in 8mm format.
as for your mini dv question, i am almost certain that the 4mm tapes will not work. you need a minidv cassette. -
Originally Posted by sitlet
-
dont worry about the memory chip. i believe only a select few camcorders actually use that chip. and they are the high end studio camcorders. i believe its used for the timecode or to store pics or something like that.
-
stiltman, you WILL be recording in lower res if you continue to use those standard 8mm tapes instead of true Hi8s. Hi8 is noisy enough as it is and standard video8 is a lot noisier, barely better than VHS. I'd keep spending the money on true Hi8 tapes until you upgrade.
BTW the lack of the "Hi8" indicator is your cam telling you that it's recording lower res (somewhere around 250 lines vs close to 400 for Hi8 IIRC).I have nothing profound to say, so I'll just mention some things I really like (in no particular order): Tivos, Audis, Isuzu Troopers, Canon camcorders, Macs. -
Hi8: 420 lines, better color reproduction, CD sound quality
8mm: 230-240 lines
Similar Threads
-
Question about capturing Doctor Who VHS tapes
By fatcharlie in forum CapturingReplies: 30Last Post: 3rd Apr 2011, 23:42 -
Dumb question on improving video for capture from VHS tapes
By lewist57 in forum CapturingReplies: 13Last Post: 2nd Jul 2010, 11:26 -
Question about captured VHS Tapes
By lucgallant in forum CapturingReplies: 5Last Post: 25th Apr 2010, 21:57 -
Dumb question on DVC vs HD DV tapes
By arcorob in forum MediaReplies: 4Last Post: 17th Mar 2010, 20:12 -
Newbie question: cannot view/capture older DV tapes
By sinbarambam in forum Camcorders (DV/HDV/AVCHD/HD)Replies: 5Last Post: 9th Jun 2008, 07:48