What is an 8mm Video Tape?

The 8mm format is derived from a high-quality video format for cameras developed jointly by Japanese video product manufacturers more than 10 years ago. This format uses metal tapes, and also adds many different features proposed by Panasonic, making the tape cassette very small, so the camera can also be made small. However, since the small cameras had generally adopted the VHS-C format at that time, the introduction of the 8mm format did not receive much attention from Japanese camera manufacturers. At the same time, the name 8mm is in line with Kodak s idea of updating the Super 8 home movie film, so it first introduced the 8mm format camcorder. Kodak's move caused a storm in Japan. The following year, Sony introduced its first handheld camera model, competing for the 8mm format. As a result of the 8mm competition with VHS-C, the two sides are evenly matched.

8mm format

This is a new Sony Sony digital video format that uses Hi8 metal video tapes to record analog and digital. It complements each other with a theoretical resolution of 500 lines.

8mm is divided into two types, one is VIDEO 8 (V8) and the other is VIDEO HI8 (HI8). We can consider the latter as an upgraded version of the former.

The formats of V8 and HI8 are 8mm video tape standard and HI8 video tape standard, and other standards are basically the same. And we will compare it with VHS through its specific parameters.

1 In terms of video: PAL color and CCIR standard video signals are used to make the video replay. The images are clear and vivid, the colors are gorgeous, and the horizontal resolution reaches 400 lines to reproduce detailed and clear images. Far beyond the 200-300 line of VHS.

2 In terms of recording: a rotary dual head / FM system is used. With such an AFM high-fidelity recording system, it naturally brings us realistic and vivid sound effects, making people feel that the sound recorded by the original camera can be so good! By comparison, the 8mm format also far exceeds VHS.

3 Video tape: High-quality metal video tape, in order to make the best of 8mm and Hi8 video recording system. Consistent high-density recording, long-term memory performance and smooth transport structure bring more detailed and pleasing images, and the life span is greatly increased. Compared to

The advantage of the 8mm format: people have entered the era of thin, light and short cameras, without having to travel around with heavy VHS cameras and shoot outside. 8 mm video tape standard and HI8 video tape standard are used in the recording of images, which makes the images leap! The sound recording uses a new high-fidelity recording system (AFM) to ensure the natural appearance of the original sound. And 8mm technology video tapes have a longer life.

Disadvantages: post-editing is inconvenient and cannot be twisted with a home computer, so the usage rate is greatly reduced! The use of analog signal recording makes the data recording a certain loss.