This new device used a tape that has a width almost 35% smaller that VHS and Betamax tapes. Video8 made use of an all-new metal composition vide cassette that removes the trouble of short running time. In 1986, Panasonic made an entry by releasing its full-sized VHS/S-VHS camcorders version that record up to 3 or 9 hours of video time. It was a success to many videophiles, university TV studios and industrial videographers.
Camcorders continued to evolve significantly over time and the digital era was an exception. The DV and miniDV were launched in the mid-1990s. The cassette tapes for these devices were even smaller than their Video8 predecessors. The miniDV also featured a more enhanced audio and video quality. Digital8 and MPEG2-based DVD camcorder were the succeeding variations of the DV. Currently, an entry-level camcorder will cost you about US$100. sony digital camera
