--- You wrote: >From what I've read, Digital8 uses the same tapes as old analog 8mm and Hi8 camcorders while the miniDV uses a different, smaller tape format. --- end of quote --- Digital 8 runs at higher speed, I think twice as fast as Hi8 analog, so you get 1 hour of digital video on a standard Hi 8 tape instead of 2. If I understand correctly, the digital encoding is exactly the same on both tapes. so you get the same, same compression etc. so the quality is the same in Digital 8 and miniDV.
The only reason I can see to buy Digital 8 is if you have a mess of 8 or Hi8 tapes that need conversion and don't have a working player for them. Straight Hi8 camcorders are very cheap right now, and cheaper still if bought used or on ebay, if you just needed one for playback. The miniDV cameras and tapes are much smaller than the 8mm. Many miniDV cameras are at least as inexpensive, maybe cheaper, than similarly equipped Sony combination machines. I went for the Canon zr-40, now available in the $400 range, since does the real time analog/digital conversion from my old Hi 8 machine. The results are excellent. It's also a fine camcorder. As far as I know, any camcorder with firewire output will work fine with a firewire equipped Mac of at least 300 mhz G3 (minimum requirements for iMovie in os 9.x.) There are a few problems with certain cameras with control of the camera from the computer (rewind or pause or something) but these aren't major concerns in transferring video. Hope this helps. Rich -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
