The digital standard also happens to be a noticeable step up in quality even from Hi-8, which was until now the highest quality for home video. Digital recording permits a greater colour bandwith for greater accuracy in colour rendition. To complicate the choice, Sony has recently come out with a competing format, Digital8, which records digitally onto standard 8mm cassettes. The quality is similar to miniDV, and it provides the advantage that, if you already have analogue 8mm tapes, you can play them on the Digital8 camcorder. Ultimately, this format loses out on the fact that the larger tape makes for a bulkier and heavier camcorder.
Size matters a lot in camcorders.
If you are travelling, one of Sony's camcorders, while not huge, is something you will notice hanging around your neck. You can't slip it into a pocket or a belt pouch like you can one of JVC's slim cams. You will end up using it much less, and miss out on great recording opportunities when it is not there. Ultimately, I think Digital8 will prove to be a dinosaur. Sony is repeating its mistake from the days of Beta versus VHS, except this time it has a format that is clearly inferior.