- Sony introduced Digital8, also known as D8, in 1999. This digital video recording and play-back format combines analog Hi8 technology with digital technology and uses the same cassettes as traditional Hi8 recorders. Multiple video recording manufacturers worked together to develop the digital video format, also known as DV, in 1995. MiniDV cassettes use DV technology in a smaller physical format than original DV cassettes. Both formats developed as professionals and consumers desired a digital format for video data.
- MiniDV tapes provide 60 minutes of recording time in standard play mode or 90 minutes of recording time in extended/long mode. Additionally, MiniVD cassettes can work alongside storage solutions such as memory cards; so they are able to store additional information than is the case with the cassette alone.
Because Digital8 tapes record at twice the speed of other formats, a tape that can hold 120 minutes will only hold 60 minutes of video in standard play mode. If a user chooses extender or long play using Digital8, he can record 90 minutes of video data. - Both formats have comparable sound and video quality. However, users may experience greater video resolution when viewing a video from a MiniDV source on a larger television than they may experience when viewing data from a Digital8 source on the same sized television set.
Furthermore, technologies allow users to record and play back video and audio data. Digital8 and MiniDV formats support connecting to a computer through standard IEEE 1394 PC connectors. - According to Media College, Digital8 technologies are backwards compatible with Sony's prior 8mm formats. This means that Digital8 camcorders can play video data from an 8mm tape. Furthermore, Digital8 replacement tapes and recorders tend to be cheaper than comparable accessories and devices that use MiniDv technology. Because users can also use 8mm tapes in Digital8 devices and 8mm tapes are frequently even more affordable than Digital8 tapes, consumers could save more money using this method.
However, MiniDV tapes are smaller and more lightweight than Digital8 tapes. Because of this, an user can store more MiniDV tapes than Digital8 tapes in the same amount of space, and MiniDV recorders tend to be smaller than Digital8 recorders. Additionally, users can store non-video data on a MiniDV tape with the correct software. - Multiple manufacturers create camcorders that support MiniDV format, including Sony. Because of this, consumers have a wider range of camcorder choices that use MiniDV technology. However, consumers, as of July 2010, only will be able to find Sony D8 camcorders. Japanese electronics corporation Hitachi entered the market with Digital 8 video recorders in the early 2000s and, according to a press release from the company, manufactured at least four of the devices. However, Hitachi no longer manufactures camcorders that use this format. Instead, the company now focuses on camcorders that use Hard Drive Disk, Blu-Ray or DVD technology.