Digital8 - technical definition

A digital video recording and playback format that uses the same cartridges as 8mm and Hi8 analog systems, but uses twice as much tape. Introduced by Sony, Digital8 camcorders and players compete with MiniDV units, but have the advantage of playing 8mm and Hi8 analog tapes.

Digital8 resolution is 500 lines, which is similar to the DV/MiniDV format (8mm is 270 lines of resolution; Hi8 is 400 lines). Digital8 uses the same video compression standards as DV, but records them in a different physical format. See Hi8 and DV.