The 5 Best Places You Can Still Buy Hi8 Tapes

If you are still living in an analog world and are wondering if you can still buy Hi8 tapes, then you’ve in luck. I’ve been shooting videos for 30 years and compiled a list of the best places you can still buy Hi8 and Video8 tapes.

You can still buy Hi8 tapes at online retailers, but since they are no longer being manufactured the demand exceeds the supply, so they are getting more expensive by the day. You cannot buy Hi8 tapes at retail stores. A 2-pack of Hi8 tapes costs anywhere from $10 to $80 or more depending on the retailer.

When shopping for Hi8 tapes you want to buy from a reputable retailer as these are not common items for purchase anymore. Make sure they are still brand new and in the wrapper. Also when searching be careful to make sure they are Hi8 and not Video 8 tapes if you are still shooting with a Hi8 camcorder

The Best Places to Buy Hi8 Tapes and Video8 Tapes

Since you can’t find Hi8 tapes in retail stores here is your best option for buying them. Unfortunately, I found only 5 websites still offering Hi8 tapes on a consistent basis.

#1 Amazon.com Hi8 Tapes For Sale

Amazon does sell H8 video tapes that are still “new” in the wrapper, as well as just about every other type of video tape including Video8, VHS, MiniDV, even Betamax video tapes.

But don’t expect to find the same price you used to pay for Hi8 tapes back in the 1990s. The price has gone up due to scarcity, but hey some tapes are still Prime-eligible. This is what makes it our favorite place to buy video tapes.

The most common types of Hi8 tapes found on Amazon are Sony, Fuji, TDK, and Maxell. There’s a wide selection of Hi8 tapes for sale on Amazon so take a look.

Amazon Hi8 Tapes For Sale
Hi8 Tapes For Sale on Amazon.com

The prices may be higher on Amazon compared to eBay but they do offer Prime shipping on many of them, and you don’t have to wait for an auction to end, plus you get Amazon’s amazing return policy with most items.

#2 eBay Hi8 Tapes For Sale

eBay has quite a selection of Hi8 and Video8 tapes for sale, even VHS or any other video and audiotape format you can think of. Prices tend to be as good as they can be on eBay with a wide range of sellers. You can search eBay for Hi8 tapes by clicking here.

#3 Hi8 Tapes at Walmart.com

Walmart does sell Hi8 and VHS tapes on the Walmart.com website through 3rd party sellers, you can’t walk into a Walmart store and expect to find Hi8 tapes on sale.

I found most sellers on the Walmart website to be more expensive than eBay or Amazon, but some are very competitive with the prices on Amazon or eBay so choose which is best for you.

#4 Hi8 Tapes For Sale on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a great way to find local deals or connect with sellers that will ship their product to you. Just be careful dealing with any sellers that ship to you and make sure you are protected if they don’t deliver on their end of the deal.

#4 Hi8 Tapes For Sale on Google Shopping

Google Shopping turned out to be a reliable source for finding Hi8 tapes for sale. If none of the other sources above worked out for you then try this:

If you type something into the Google search box, then click the Shopping tab you’re now in Google Shopping where you can see multiple retailers selling just about anything – including Hi8, Video8, MiniDV, and VHS tapes.

image of google shoppinh

Are Hi8 and Video8 Tapes Still Manufactured?

It was reported in 2016 by https://apex.aero/ that Sony had resumed production of Hi8 tapes. According to Wikipedia the last Hi8 and Video8 tapes manufactured were made back in 2007 and 2008 (Wikipedia).

It turns out that the airline industry has been using Hi8 tapes to record and play in-flight movies for decades. Literally, thousands of airliners still have Hi8 tape players for in-flight movies, which could have created enough demand for Sony to start manufacturing Hi8 tapes again.

The small size and superior recording capability of the MiniDV tape format in the early 2000s lead to the decline of the 8mm videotape platform. This is why the remaining Hi8 and Video8 tapes are so expensive and hard to find now, the last remaining ones were manufactured over 10 years ago and are no longer produced.

Why Shoot Video in Hi8 in the 2020s?

Hi8 tape is an analog format that shoots in 480p resolution, which is decades-old technology.

So why would anyone shoot in this ancient video format when your phone can shoot in HD?

Turns out there’s a resurgence in older technology simply because it’s different than what is available today.

This might be best said by this YouTube video by Danilo Allen.

Additional Resources