There are multiple 8mm tapes that relate to the PAL or NTSC format and the differences can be a little confusing. In addition, there are VHS, Super 8 film, and 8 mm film to consider that are completely different from 8mm cassettes.
Kodak released the first analog 8mm video format in 1984, which was followed by Sony introducing the Video 8 format. Video 8 was originally called Handycam, which was a name also used for Hi8 tapes and Digital 8 video cameras that came a little later. These were all used as names to differentiate from the Sony Betamax format and these 8mm video formats were introduced to make it easier to use a camcorder with a smaller cassette as opposed to using full-size VHS video tapes for camcorders.
Basically, Video 8, Hi 8 tapes, Digital 8, and 8mm cassettes are all similar camcorder tapes with different specs and definitions. However, after recording, you would have to view them using an adapter on your specific 8mm camcorder or 8mm tape player. They were competitors of the VHS-C, a compact VHS tape that served a similar purpose but could easily play on a VCR with a VHS adapter.
Finally, 8mm film and Super 8 film reels are not tape cassettes like Video 8. Instead, they use a reel-to-reel projector instead of a cassette box with magnetic tape.
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