Are expensive HDV tapes really necessary?

M

meta4

Well-known member
I'm about to purchase a whole lot of miniDV tapes for my soon-to-be-delivered A1.

I know I can use any miniDV, but the question is...should I?

The miniDV HD tapes that claim higher quality are way more expensive (probably not worth it?)

I'm also wondering which panny tapes use their new S-AME coating, I've heard that's the best.

Thanks
 
Here's the deal: with tape, the potential of dropouts exists. With better tape, you're supposed to get fewer dropouts. With lower quality tape, the potential of dropouts should be higher.

Not that it always works out that way, but that's the way it should be.

With HDV, dropouts are far more devastating than they ever were with DV. With DV, a dropout might corrupt a few small blocks on a frame. With HDV you're looking at losing a half-second of your footage (on the Sony version) or having corruption smear through 1/4 second of your footage (on JVC). Don't know what happens to Canon when they get a dropout.

If what you're shooting is important, then prudence would dictate that you use the best tape you can get your hands on. Every aspect of what you're doing -- every dime you pay for actors, props, sets, wardrobe, locations, equipment rental, time, energy, money, effort -- it all comes down to what gets recorded on that tape.

So do you really want to go saving an extra dollar on that tape?

That's up to you, obviously. But if I were shooting HDV, I wouldn't consider using anything but the best tape I could get my hands on.
 
I've mostly been shooting on cheap DV tapes with no problems, but in theory the HDV tapes are far more resistant to dropouts. As Barry said, if you're shooting something important where you won't get a second take, why take the risk of a half-second dropout in order to save a few dollars?

Otherwise though, $2 DV tapes are probably good enough... I've shot dozens of them with no dropouts so far. Sooner or later it is going to happen though, and you don't want it to destroy footage you can't replace.
 
What causes dropouts and is there any way to avoid it?

Do the Canons only take Canon tapes?
 
Dropouts happen for all sorts of unpredictable reasons. It can be due to a tiny fleck of oxide flaking off the tape, for example. When that bit of magnetic material falls off, the data that was on that bit goes too. Or it can happen repeatedly if a bit gets stuck to the record head or something. Dust can cause it too.

It's not that dropouts are all that common, it's just that the severity of a dropout is much worse with HDV because if any dropout hits, an entire group of pictures gets impacted.
 
I've experienced a few dropouts with the XL-H1, but they've only been of the playback variety. Strangely enough, these "dreaded HDV dropouts" have been corrected on second or third playback passes with all the frames recovered and captured. In other words, that 1/2 second pause known as an HDV dropout will often not be there playing the tape back a second or third time.

Just practice good tape hygiene and you'll be fine. (stick with one brand)

I recommend using good quality DV tapes like the Panasonic MQ's. (as low as $5 a tape) No problems for me thus far.
 
Just bought 20 panny MQ's as a matter of fact!


Also, as far as changing tape brands - it really only exists when one of your brands is Sony, doing some research I found a chart that shows all brands are *dry* but sony is *wet*. This wetness cuases gumming up when followed by a *dry* brand. But you should have no problems switching from Panny to JVC or Fuji (they are all nearly identical)


The Panny MQs are good because they have a higher density of magnetic material on the tape, and have a smoother surface (saves heads over longer time)
 
Last edited:
No way! Really?! (guess I should check the date of my information)


Next you're gonna tell me we have phones that don't need wires! (haha, I'm slow)
 
Ok Shannon

Glad to meet you on this forum bro.

Would you like to tell us what brand of tapes you use?

I have used the basic sony tapes and panasonic and they have worked out fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top