[1] The Digital8 format is a combination of the earlier analog Hi8 tape transport with the digital DV codec.

Digital8 remained largely a consumer or amateur product (Among the exceptions was the 2001 film Hall of Mirrors.)

This is likely a reflection of Sony's design and market objectives for Digital8 format: to serve as a lower cost upgrade path for current customers (from analog 8 mm), by leveraging existing manufacturing infrastructure of 8 mm video equipment, and offering a familiar media format but with digital capabilities.

Furthermore, Digital8 was released some time after MiniDV, giving the rival DV format a lead in the professional market.

By 2004 Sony, the format's original backer, was the only company still producing Digital8 equipment, and had no plans to develop new Digital 8 cameras.

This is most likely because the larger, bulkier Digital8 cassette was perceived as an inferior technology, even though the Digital8 and DV formats offer indistinguishable A/V performance.

In the early years after Digital8's introduction, Sony sold a product line with coverage from entry level to high-end consumer.

All models with analog playback can play Video8/Hi8 recordings made at either SP or LP speed.

Although the 1/4" CCD models are fully capable of taking a still photo, that is a secondary function and they lack the Sony Memory Stick feature to off-load the JPEG images.

Most of the entry level and later models focused on features such as better quality still pictures (see below), off-loading the same via Sony Memory Sticks, and more programming selections.

The 1999 TRV-310, for instance, has the 1/4" CCD, a 3.5" LCD screen, an f1.4 lens, variable shutter speed settings, manual focus, and other professional controls.

Lossless digital editing can be achieved when utilizing the FireWire port between two similar Digital8 cameras.