What are all the digital formats?
MiniDV is the consumer format, the one that you’re almost certainly going to be using if you’re a reader of this FAQ. MiniDV cassettes are small, cute and can record an hour in standard format. MiniDV tapes cost from $ 14 to $ 20 each. MiniDV cameras cost from around $ 1,000 to $ 4,500. There is a 90 minute slow speed format, but I don’t recommend using it; the one time I tried, unusable video was the result. HDV is the high-definition form of MiniDV. The tape’s the same, but the image quality is significantly different. The even higher level of compression means that aspects of this format are disappointing to many people. We will consider this in a later section of the FAQ. Digital8 is Sony’s consumer grade format. All consumer Sony camcorders from 1999 on will use it.
MiniDV is the consumer format, the one that you’re almost certainly going to be using if you’re a reader of this FAQ. MiniDV cassettes are small, cute and can record an hour in standard format. MiniDV tapes cost from $ 14 to $ 20 each. MiniDV cameras cost from around $ 1,000 to $ 4,500. There is a 90 minute slow speed format, but I don’t recommend using it; the one time I tried, unusable video was the result. One interesting fact about DV is that MiniDV tapes have been in short supply for some time. This problem seems to be easing, but if you have an important project you’re about to embark on, buy the tapes for it before going on location. This isn’t like 8mm or VHS cassettes, that you can get at any grocery market. Curiously enough, the high-end camera store I bought my XL1 at almost never has tapes available. I’ve had the best luck at consumer electronics stores such as Good Guys, Fry’s Electronics and Circuit City. But be aware that stock of tapes is very inconsistent. Generally, y
