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Technology
Update: Sony's Digital 8
by
John Virata
 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 i.Link (aka FireWire or IEEE-1394, interface) which gives
you a high speed two-way digital link between camcorders or
an editing deck or an IEEE-1394 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 i.Link
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 offerred by Sony.
The Sony Digital 8 Handycam camcorder models:
Sony
DCR-TRV 103/110
Sony
DCR-TRV 310
Sony
DCR-TRV 510
Sony
DCR-TR7000
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