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The only sure way is to try the tape in a player that can read it. You may be able to find a friend, neighbor or local videographer who has some legacy 8mm gear who might let you try the tapes. Video8/8mm was the most widespread and popular, Digital8 the least.
Hi8 recording required the use of Hi8 tape, so if the tape is not marked Hi8, it is very unlikely to be a Hi8 recording. Hi-8 was sensed by a deep hole in the cassette near the write protect tab.
The X in the pattern below is the Hi8 hole - shallow if 8mm tape, deep if Hi8 tape. (The W is the write protect sense hole.) However, Hi8 tape could be use to make a standard video8 recording so this is not an assured indication for a Hi8 format recording.
O W
X
O
Digital8 was introduced in about 1999 so any recordings made before that date would not be Digital8.
Digital8 recommended using Hi8 tape, but use of standard 8mm tape was also permitted, so that is not a reliable indicator that the recording is not Digital8 format. (But Digital8 was not very popular and was relatively short lived.)
IMO the best bet is get a Digital8 unit that can play all three formats. (Note: not all Digital8 camcorders had that capability - check the manuals/specs before you get one). It should offer better playback quality, and firewire capture if that interests you. (Buying used for an auction site is hit or miss, there is risk, many folks end up with unusable gear.)
I use a Sony GV-D200 Walkman for 8mm, Hi8, and D8 playback but camcorders are usually lower cost on the used market.
Good luck in your quest.
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