8 is Enough

When it boils down to affordability and high quality video, like-minded amateur videographers and budget-conscious professionals turn to the 8mm and Hi8 formats. 8mm's affordable price tag and Hi8's superior resolution make them attractive formats for both for hobbyist's and prosumers alike. This year we look at 11 Hi8 and 27 8mm camcorders in this buyer's guide.

8mm camcorders are now incredibly affordable. Hitachi and Samsung both have 8mm models priced under $400. For $400 though, you don't get important options like image stabilization or an external microphone jack. Although 8mm camcorders do not offer the resolution of Hi8, they are definitely the best choice for ultra-low-cost video. In fact, 8mm has become so popular that the full-size standard VHS format is in danger of extinction.

Hi8's prices are also falling as fast as retailers can mark them down. Sony's CCD-TR940 Hi8 camcorder is priced under $800, but at that price you sacrifice features such as an LCD screen. The better equipped Hi8 camcorders still retail for more than a $1000. Canon's ES4000 with Rewritable Consumer Time Code (RCTC) is still $1199, while Sony's RCTC Hi8 camcorder (The CCD-TRV99) costs $1399. This year's developments contain some exciting additions, so let's take a look at 1998's 8mm and Hi8 …