(
Standard
Definition video formats) Following is a summary of earlier SD analog and digital formats, which provided up to 480 lines of resolution in the North American market (576 lines in other countries). Captured on camcorders and uploaded to the computer or transferred via cassette, these formats wound up reaching everyone via the Internet, DVD or TV (broadcast, satellite and cable). There were often one or more format conversions between the video capture and final viewing format. See
DTV and
codec examples.
More Encoding Variables in Digital Video
Unlike analog formats, which were tied to specific NTSC and PAL resolutions and frame rates, there are many more encoding variables in digital formats, especially in HD formats (for more details, see
video format). For high-definition video formats, see
HD formats.
Analog SD Formats
Early standard-definition video was analog, and various formats emerged, as follows:
Betacam/Betacam SP
Professional 1/2" videotape version of Sony's Betamax consumer format. Betacam SP improved resolution. See
Betacam.
Betamax
First consumer 1/2" videotape format from Sony. See
Betamax.
Hi8
High-resolution 8mm videotape from Sony. See
Hi8.
VHS
Most popular consumer 1/2" videotape format, developed by JVC. See
VHS.
Video8
First 8mm videotape format to compete with VHS and Betamax in the late 1980s.
Digital SD Formats
For digital HD video formats, see
HD formats.
D-1
Highest-quality uncompressed 3/4" videotape for mastering. See
D-1.
D-3 and D-5
High-quality uncompressed 1/2" videotape formats for mastering. See
D-3 and
D-5.
D-9 (Digital-S)
High-quality 1/2" videotape that uses DV encoding. See
D-9.
Digital8
Digital version of Sony's Hi8 8mm videotape. See
Digital8.
Digital Betacam
Digital version of Sony's Betacam 1/2" videotape. See
Digital Betacam.
DV and MiniDV
Widely used videotape format from consumers to professionals. It was later followed by tapeless DV camcorders. See
DV.
DVCAM
Sony's variant of DV videotape technology. See
DVCAM.
DVCPRO
Panasonic's variant of DV videotape technology. See
DVCPRO.
DVD
The standard SD optical disc. See
DVD.
XDCAM
Sony's tapeless camcorder format. See
XDCAM.