Digital is also the clear choice if you're after the highest image quality. And digital wins hands down if you do a lot of video editing. In fact, digital editing on a computer may be the best reason to get a digital camcorder. But apart from the digital-analog dilemma, you still have to decide among competing formats within each type. They offer generally good to excellent picture quality at either SP or LP recording speeds.
Blank tape is expensive and difficult to find, however.
We only tested one, and found its picture quality excellent. Like MiniDV, it's relatively easy to link D8 to a computer for editing. Unlike MiniDV, D8's SP speed lets you record at only half the stated minutes on a tape. Hi8, an 8mm variant with the potential for the best picture quality, may become a format without much reason for being because of the popularity of digital. The picture quality is good at SP speed.