is Data8 tape ok to use in Digital8 video cameras? at DVinfo.net

Aaron Fitzgerald · November 20th, 2010, 12:31 AM

Hello all, I have asked this before with no luck, but from what I am aware Sony no longer sells/makes Digital 8 or Hi8 tapes now, and even other brands are hard to find and now very expensive in Australia, $24 for a 60 min Hi8 tape!!, so I would like to know if I can use sony/other brand Data8 112 metre or 160 metre data8 tapes in my camera?

Data8s come in both metal particle and metal evapourate, so did Hi8 tapes, and of course a digital 8 camera can record to both types of tapes.

I am asking to find out if these tapes can be used because ironicaly these data 8 tapes are very common in Australia at computer shops and sell for about $1.50!! each! oppossed to hard to find VIDEO 8mm tapes of sorts, that are in excess of $20-odd??

thanks Aaron

Robert M Wright · November 20th, 2010, 01:03 AM

I don't know what the shipping would cost to Australia, but B&H sells reasonably priced Hi8 tapes:

Hi8 Tapes at B&H

Jim Andrada · November 20th, 2010, 05:42 PM

Not sure whether they would work or not, but tape is not tape is not tape, so...

Usually head and tape characteristics have to be balanced - magnetic characteristics of the media can vary widely.etc.

Since I don't know the actual specs of the various tapes and heads I can't say for sure - they might work OK or they might not work at all or they might work somewhat poorly - which would be my guess. But it's purely a guess. And for all I know there might be some feature on the cartridge that would even prevent them from being inserted and loaded in a camera.

November 20th, 2010, 12:31 AM	#1
Aaron Fitzgerald Tourist Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 4	is Data8 tape ok to use in Digital8 video cameras? Hello all, I have asked this before with no luck, but from what I am aware Sony no longer sells/makes Digital 8 or Hi8 tapes now, and even other brands are hard to find and now very expensive in Australia, $24 for a 60 min Hi8 tape!!, so I would like to know if I can use sony/other brand Data8 112 metre or 160 metre data8 tapes in my camera? Data8s come in both metal particle and metal evapourate, so did Hi8 tapes, and of course a digital 8 camera can record to both types of tapes. I am asking to find out if these tapes can be used because ironicaly these data 8 tapes are very common in Australia at computer shops and sell for about $1.50!! each! oppossed to hard to find VIDEO 8mm tapes of sorts, that are in excess of $20-odd?? thanks Aaron

November 20th, 2010, 01:03 AM	#2
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	I don't know what the shipping would cost to Australia, but B&H sells reasonably priced Hi8 tapes: Hi8 Tapes at B&H

November 20th, 2010, 05:42 PM	#3
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Not sure whether they would work or not, but tape is not tape is not tape, so... Usually head and tape characteristics have to be balanced - magnetic characteristics of the media can vary widely.etc. Since I don't know the actual specs of the various tapes and heads I can't say for sure - they might work OK or they might not work at all or they might work somewhat poorly - which would be my guess. But it's purely a guess. And for all I know there might be some feature on the cartridge that would even prevent them from being inserted and loaded in a camera.