On Sat, 29 Dec 2001 23:49:14 GMT, homeplate@futureangels.com (Stephen C. Smith) wrote:
>On Sat, 29 Dec 2001 23:29:14 GMT, d_ruether@hotmail.com (Neuman - Ruether) wrote:

>>Uh, ya got thet ree-versed...! ;-)

> The salesperson told me that the Digital 8 had been around longer and that
>they're phasing out those models in favor of the Mini-DV. The Mini-DV were also more
>expensive and to me seemed to have more high-end features.

D-8 arrived much later, as a "crossover" format to ease
Hi-8 users into digital (the cameras will play back
Hi-8 analogue tapes, record/play digitally). If anything,
there are more models available now in D-8 then ever
before, with some megapixel models now available...

>>The running time is the same for both...;-)

> The salesperson showed me Digital-8 tapes that were 120 minutes while the
>Mini-DV were 60/90.

D-8 tapes are Hi-8 tapes - these record 120 minutes
Hi-8, or 60 minutes (90 LP) in DV. Find a more
knowledgeable salesman...;-)

>>Are you aware of download times for video of viewable
>>quality...? Almost anything will get you started...

> Yes, I'm aware. I've seen streaming video on plenty of sites doing the same
>thing I want to do.

On 'phone modems, I never bother to view videos - the
download times are painful...;-)

> I take it you don't have any opinion on Digital-8 versus Mini-DV?
> Stephen

Not for a beginner - good enough gear is available
in either format, and they are the same in terms
of signal-handling for editing and compressing
(though top-end 3-chip Mini-DV is likely to be better
than the alternatives...).