You will get the best picture if you can connect using the HDMI connection. A High Def
Camcorder, recorded in HD, will still give you a slightly better image than a Standard Definition and some cropping may occur. But for best results try to match components.

There is no adapter to covert a 8mm tape to VHS (1/2 inch) tape players. The formats are completely incompatible. If you can, get a Digital 8. These camcorders will also play back 8mm and Hi 8 tapes. This would allow you to plug into a stand alone DvD recorder or connect to a computer and capture your footage.

Sporting events means fast, ever changing action. The camera you need to get this shot is a D-SLR. The Nikon D40x package would be a good choice. It comes with 2 lenses. One for close up shots and one for getting in close to the action from far away. You can also add more lenses as your needs grow. The D-SLR camera gives you complete control in manual mode and full auto mode, just like a compact (point and shoot) when you want it. You can also change the sensitivity of the sensor (ISO) to freeze the action as it happens. This also helps make more stable pictures. D-SLR cameras are also much faster when you push the shutter button and have rapid shot to catch the full range of motion.

The two choices were Widescreen (16:9) and Standard (4:3). Once you have shot the video in Widescreen it is forever in Widescreen. Played back on a standard set you will either get a tall looking picture or, on some sets, a letterbox effect. You can mix Wide and Standard on one disk by changing the format ratio before recording.