If
you are in the market to acquire a new camcorder for point and shoot video
acquisition but have a heavy investment in analog Hi8 or 8mm video cassettes,
or S-VHS VTRs, players and other hardware, Sony has introduced a new format
into the digital video capture and editing mix that addresses some of
these issues with Digital 8. Digital 8 may be a viable alternative to
the true DV flavors. Digital 8-based Handycam camcorders give you the
capability to convert all of your 8mm footage into digital format without
having to buy a FireWire card. Granted the FireWire card may be cheaper
than a Digital 8 format camcorder, but the FireWire card doesn't capture
video. You can experience a lot of the capability of DV without having
to buy new equipment. If you have already invested in digital hardware,
your choice is clear, go with a DV camera. If you haven't invested in
digital hardware, you can experience some of the benefits of DV with Sony's
Digital 8.
Just like with the miniDV camcorders, the Sony Digital 8 Handycam camcorder
provides you with digital-to-digital transfer via an iLink (aka FireWire
or IEEE1394, interface) which gives you a high speed two-way digital link
between camcorders or an editing deck or an IEEE1394 equipped PC, (such
as those from Sony, Compaq, or Apple). Because you are transferring your
data digitally, you retain image and sound quality that DV is known for.
Sony's Digital 8-based camcorders also feature analog inputs, enabling
you to convert your existing 8mm or VHS-C footage to digital for editing.
This is a great feature for those who have compiled lots of analog 8mm
or Hi8 footage. With the iLink interface, you can make digital copies
to another Digital 8 camcorder, a DV recorder, Sony's line of professional
DVCAM editing decks, or any other device that incorporates the IEEE 1394
interface. Digital 8 uses the same compression and editing methods as
DV. Digital 8 enables you to record up to one hour of video on a 120 minute
8mm cassette. Digital 8 is compatible with 8mm and Hi8 videocassettes,
which are less expensive than miniDV tapes (which currently start at around
$20)
Digital 8 features include up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution; a
460,000 CCD imaging device; a Digital Component Recording system that
Sony claims divides the chrominance (or color) signal into separate R-Y
and B-Y signals using a color bandwidth that carries three times as much
information as analog-based NTSC video; time based correction; an error
correction system that detects missing video data in the captured video
and fills in the data to provide a seamless looking video. Sony's Digital
8 records in 12-bit or 16-bit PCM, CD-quality audio, capable of producing
a wider frequency response than analog.
So where does the Digital 8 fit into the grand scheme of DV? For the most
part, Digital 8-based camcorders fit a niche where the video editor wants
to get into a lot of DV's capabilities but doesn't want to sacrifice the
current investment in other analog-based hardware. If you have a lot of
footage on 8mm or Hi8 cassette and want to convert it to digital, one
of Sony's four Digital 8 models may fit the bill for you. The Digital
8 Handycam camcorder could serve as a useful point and shoot camera or
in certain situations where it is more prudent to acquire footage with
a much less expensive device. With prices starting at $899, the price
of entry into the digital video world is pretty cheap.
Follow the links to view a list of features from the four Digital 8 Handycam camcorders offered by Sony.
The Sony Digital 8 Handycam camcorder models: