Analog8 playback w/Digital8 cam looks sharper but also grainier...

2 Jun 2005 5:52 AM

Doc

I've been experimenting with playback of analog 8mm tapes through a Sony
TRV240 Digital8 camcorder. As advertised it does in fact play the tapes
through any of the outputs - S-Video, Firewire or analog. However what I've
discovered is that while the image looks sharper than the output of an
analog 8 playing the same tape, the snow or noise in low light conditions
looks more pronounced than the same material output through an analog cam.
Of course, with a brightly lit subject, the Digital8 cam yields a clearly
better image.

I wonder if all things considered, on more poorly lit subjects, I'm better
off capturing the output from an analog cam since it softens the graininess,
though the overall image isn't as sharp.

Btw, why doesn't the analog camera playback as well as it apparently
records?

2 Jun 2005 1:16 PM

Richard Crowley

"Doc" wrote ...
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> I've been experimenting with playback of analog 8mm tapes through a
> Sony
> TRV240 Digital8 camcorder. As advertised it does in fact play the
> tapes
> through any of the outputs - S-Video, Firewire or analog. However what
> I've
> discovered is that while the image looks sharper than the output of an
> analog 8 playing the same tape, the snow or noise in low light
> conditions
> looks more pronounced than the same material output through an analog
> cam.
> Of course, with a brightly lit subject, the Digital8 cam yields a
> clearly
> better image.
>
> I wonder if all things considered, on more poorly lit subjects, I'm
> better
> off capturing the output from an analog cam since it softens the
> graininess,
> though the overall image isn't as sharp.
>
> Btw, why doesn't the analog camera playback as well as it apparently
> records?

It appears that the D8 camcorder has a better playback frequency
response (ability to reproduce fine detail). Doesn't seem all that
unusual since it is a subsequent generation and progress marches
on. Of course this is a two-edged sword as it reproduces the
video noise along with the desired picture detail.

Ironically, even as electronics improves, the quality of the camera
(image pickup) part of camcorders may be going south. This is
observed even in DV camcorders as "featureitis" takes over and
fundamental image quality takes a back seat to bells & whistles
like megapixel still imaging, etc.

There are certain camcorder models (no longer made) that in
hindsight were at the apex of performance while newer models
are disappointments (i.e. Sony TRV900 vs TRV950, etc.)

While none of the 8mm (analog or digital) camcorders were noted
for extraordinary camera performance, it wouldn't surprise me if
your "vintage" analog 8 may have a better camera than the D8 :-(