Media Format Guide
Uncertain about the dozens of media formats out there? Compare these images of some of the most common with the media in your collections. Click to enlarge the view. Still confused? Give us a call- we can help.
Obsolescence Ratings Explained:
Current: Format will be in active use over the next five years.
Vulnerable: A current but highly proprietary format.
Threatened: Well-maintained playback equipment or software still available; physical media itself is unstable, or has less integrity than other available formats, or a more popular or updated format will be replacing this one in a short period of time.
Endangered: Playback equipment or software available; manufacture of playback equipment has stopped; equipment/software support and/or stock becomes unavailable; production quality of available stock drops.
Critically endangered: Small population of aging playback equipment or software; little or no equipment engineering or manufacturing support; anecdotal evidence to indicate that fewer working machine playback-hours remain than total hours of media.
Extinct: Very few playback machines or software exist at specialist laboratories.
Audio, Analog,
"Compact Cassette";
Status: Threatened
Audio, Analog
"1/4 reel-to-reel"
(spot length reel);
Status: Endangered
Audio, Digital,
"CD/Compact Disc";
Status: Current
Audio, Digital,
"DAT/Digital Audio Tape";
Status: Threatened
Audio, Digital,
"DAT/Digital Audio Tape";
Status: Threatened
Video, Analog,
"VHS/Very High Standard";
Status: Threatened
Video, Analog,
"VHS/Very High Standard";
Status: Threatened
(cassette bottom detail)
Video, Analog,
"Betacam (oxide)";
Status: Endangered
Video, Analog,
"Betacam (oxide)";
Status: Endangered
(cassette bottom detail)
Video, Analog,
"BetacamSP (metal)";
Status: Threatened
Video, Analog,
"BetacamSP (metal)";
Status: Threatened
(spine labeling detail)
Video, Analog,
"Umatic/ 3/4 inch";
Status: Endangered
Video, Analog,
"Umatic/ 3/4 inch";
Status: Endangered
(cassette bottom detail)
Video, Analog,
"EIAJ/ 1/2 inch";
Status: Critically Endangered
Video, Analog,
"EIAJ/ 1/2 inch";
Status: Critically Endangered
(alternate view)
Video, Analog,
"Quad/ 2 inch"
(spot length reel);
Status: Extinct
Video, Analog,
'
"Quad/ 2 inch"
(spot length reel);
Status: Extinct (detail)
Video, Analog,
"1 inch/Type C"
(> 66 min reel);
Status: Endangered
Film,
"16mm"
(Triacetate);
Status: Endangered
Film,
"16mm"
(Triacetate - Detail);
Status: Endangered
Video, Analog,
"BetacamSP"
(Large Shell);
Status: Endangered
Video, Analog,
"BetacamSP"
(Large Shell - Detail);
Status: Endangered
Video, Digital
"D1"
(76 min load);
Status: Critically Endangered
Video, Digital
"D1"
(76 min load - Detail);
Status: Critically Endangered
Video, Digital
"D2"
(64 min load);
Status: Endangered
Video, Digital,
"D2"
(64 min load - Detail);
Status: Endangered
Video, Digital,
"Digital Betacam"
(aka "Digibeta");
Status: Current
Video, Digital,
"Digital Betacam"
(aka "Digibeta" - Detail);
Status: Current
Video, Digital,
"DVCam"
Status: Current
Video, Digital,
"DVCam"
(Detail);
Status: Current
Video or Data, Digital
"DVD"
("+R" Disk);
Status: Current
Video or Data, Digital,
"DVD"
("+R" Disk - Detail);
Status: Current
Film Gauge Sizes,
35mm/16mm/S8mm/R8mm
(top to bottom);
Status: Endangered
Video, Analog
"Hi8"
Status: Critically Endangered
Video,
"Hi8"
(Detail);
Status: Critically Endangered
Video, Digital,
"MiniDV"
(aka "DV25");
Status: Current
Video, Digital,
"MiniDV"
(aka "DV25" - Detail);
Status: Current
Film, Acetate,
"Super 8mm"
(50-ft reel);
Status: Endangered
Film, Acetate,
"Super 8mm"
(Detail);
Status: Endangered
Video, Analog,
"SVHS-C"
(Super VHS Compact);
Status: Endangered
Video, Analog,
"SVHS-C"
(Super VHS Compact - Detail);
Status: Endangered