A Guide to the Different Types of Consumer Format Video Tapes
Before the age of streaming and digital recording, video tapes were the main way people recorded and watched home movies. Over the years many types of video tapes were created for different devices and purposes. Each format had its own size quality and use. This guide will walk you through the most common types of consumer video tape formats that were used in homes around the world.
VHS Tapes
VHS stands for Video Home System.
It was the most popular video tape format for many years.
VHS tapes are large black rectangular cassettes that were used in VCRs.
People used them to record television shows watch movies and store home videos.
They became common in the late nineteen seventies and stayed popular through the early two thousands.
VHS C Tapes
VHS C stands for VHS Compact.
These tapes are smaller than regular VHS tapes.
They were mainly used in camcorders.
You could play them in a regular VCR by using an adapter.
The quality was the same as standard VHS but in a smaller package.
S VHS Tapes
S VHS stands for Super VHS.
These tapes offered better picture quality than regular VHS.
They were used by video enthusiasts and for semi professional work.
They looked similar to VHS tapes but required an S VHS VCR for playback.
Betamax Tapes
Betamax was developed by Sony around the same time as VHS.
The tapes were smaller but had better picture quality.
However VHS became more popular because of longer recording times and wider support.
Betamax was used mostly in the early years of home video.
Video Eight Tapes
Video Eight also called 8mm was a small tape format used mainly in camcorders.
It became popular in the late nineteen eighties and into the nineties.
It offered better portability than VHS C.
These tapes were not compatible with VCRs and needed special players or camcorders for viewing.
Hi8 Tapes
Hi8 was an improved version of Video Eight.
It provided better video and sound quality.
It became a popular choice for people who wanted higher quality home videos.
Some professional camcorders also used this format.
Digital Eight Tapes
Digital Eight also called Digital8 was the digital version of Hi8.
These tapes recorded video in digital format and offered clearer images and sound.
They were used in digital camcorders and could also play older analog 8mm or Hi8 tapes depending on the device.
MiniDV Tapes
MiniDV stands for Mini Digital Video.
These tapes were very small but recorded in digital format.
They became popular in the late nineteen nineties and early two thousands.
Many consumer and professional camcorders used MiniDV.
The video quality was a big step up from analog tapes.
MicroMV Tapes
MicroMV was one of the smallest video tape formats ever made.
It was developed by Sony and used digital recording.
However it did not become very popular and had a short life in the market.
It was replaced by other digital formats and memory card based camcorders.
Summary
Here is a quick list of the most common consumer video tape formats
VHS
VHS C
S VHS
Betamax
Video Eight
Hi8
Digital Eight
MiniDV
MicroMV
Each format had its own strengths and purpose depending on the time and the type of device used.
If you have old tapes stored away these could be valuable memories worth preserving.
You can digitize them with Scan5's video transfer service in Chicago.
Give us a call at 773-934-0982 for a quote.
