Is XR an essential feature of Sony camcorders?
 

Sony camcorders got XR (extended resolution) from 1998 onwards. According to Wikipedia, "Video8-XR and Hi8-XR offers a modest 10% improvement in luminance detail." Should I look exclusively for XR-equipped camcorders when digitizing Video8/Hi8 tapes?

To be more specific, does playing (non-XR) recordings on XR camcorders give a better signal than playing them on non-XR camcorders? Or is XR only relevant when actually recording?

(Video)Hi8 XR was only relevant for recording, not playback. A TBC equipped camcorder and decent capture device would be more beneficial for digitizing.

From page 58 of the Sony owners manual linked: "When video tape recorded by this XR camcorder is played back by a conventional 8/Hi8 camcorder or when video tape recorded by a conventional 8/Hi 8 camcorder is played back by this XR camcorder, the playback picture quality is in the normal quality of the 8/Hi8 camcorder."



https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/W000/W0001264M.pdf

Interestingly, this YouTube video demonstrates that XR somehow has much worse colors. :rolleyes:

That may very well be a difference in camera sensor rather than the tape format itself though, and we also don't know if he captured it from a XR camcorder or not. (His comment only says he captured using "firewire and windows movie maker".) I suspect he didn't use the same camcorder for capturing though as the TBC in the Sony Hi8 camcorders tend to straighten the lines under the head switch point, while on the capture that's not the case. Been meaning too do a proper test of it at some point, testing an XR recording in a XR camcorder + a late-model Sony hi8 or d8 model for comparison to see if there is any difference, but haven't gotten around to it.

I've never managed to find much info on XR beyond the fact that it "increased resolution".

Well that'd be stupid and would make the comparison worthless.

I am very curious as well. I hope to see your comparison someday. :)

Smells a bit like VHS-HQ or Dolby HX.

One of those sort of improvements, personally I wouldn't worry to much about it but I guess if you have a stack of tapes recorded with it, it might be worth capturing with a compatible device.

All of my Hi8 footage from 1998 to 2004 was recorded on a Sony CCD-TRV65 with XR capability. I've been wondering if I'm getting the most out of the tapes because, although the same camcorder is still working in 2021, captures from it up through last year don't look quite as sharp as they did through a slightly different older capture device from Matrox. So is it my Matrox MXO2 mini, or is my TRV65 somehow gotten softer in its old age? Anyway, these thoughts are why I'd love to find another XR capable Sony camcorder to compare, or even a deck. But laziness, cheapness, and the fact that all the captures I got look quite good and I doubt re-capturing so many tapes would be worth the effort keeps me from trying too hard. But still. You know how it is when you're concerned you could get SLIGHTLY better images. LOL

As far as the utility of XR, surely Sony wouldn't just say something was better without it being at least a bit better. That person's YouTube video linked above shows a Hi8 with XR looking desaturated, and that is DEFINITELY not my experience with the TRV65 with XR! If anything, I have to turn the saturation down some when editing to keep it in spec. Mine tended a little red/yellow and maybe 10% too saturated. It also enhanced the luma too much like so many consumer camcorder and VCRs, so that gets pulled back in editing as well.

So anyway, I say all this as a way to put in my vote for you to find a proper XR camcorder if your tapes were originally recorded in XR. And if anyone knows of a XR enabled deck that works, I'd be interested.

Here's a XR enabled video from the TRV65 from 2000: https://youtu.be/bFpyosMHuPI
Here's one from 1998 in 16:9 anamorphic: https://youtu.be/egwXjVNb9bY

I think it’s more like S-VHS ET vs true S-VHS, Although XR has nothing to do with tape. It’s still undoubtfully better to capture XR recordings with a XR capable camcorder.

Duplicate, delete.

Could you point me to the duplicate thread? I didn't manage to find any other thread about XR specifically via Google.

He just meant that he made a duplicate post 2 minutes after his original.

There is nothing to find about XR, It’s a proprietary enhancement from Sony like the x.v Color, You just have to find an XR camcorder if you want to take advantage of the extra sharpness, Otherwise you get a regular picture.

That guy is clueless, his captures are worthless, Uses composite, de-interlacing, windows movie maker, weird resolutions, shitty capture devices...etc. Besides you can't make comparisons using youtube harsh compression.