DV Tape Media - What's the best?

D

direktor

Member
There's a debate between my friends and I over what is the best MiniDV tape to use for the DVX100A; the Panasonic PQ and MQ tapes or Sony's Excellence line of tapes.

I've used both in my DVX and I am unable at this juncture to tell any differences. I used the DVM63MQ and the Sony Excellence DVM 60EXL. I guess I am still new to videography to be able to tell the differences.

I know that Panasonic suggests only using the Panasonic tapes for the DVX. I am not sure about that personally. The Sony tapes are really awesome, but so are the Panasonic tapes.

I guess I am looking for someone out there who has used both or some other tape that can make a firm recommendation. I have a few short films I want to shoot soon and I would like to nail down a tape and the costs for the budget.

Thanks!
 
Re: DV Tape Media - What's the best?

Never ever mix your tapes in your DVX. Always use the same brand tape.

With that in mind, I only use the MQ...
 
Re: DV Tape Media - What's the best?

Hello Guys,

I have just looked again at the tape that came with my camera and it is a DVM63MQ, but it has also ME inside a box. What does that stand for?

The other tapes I have used don't say anything about PQ or MQ, so I don't really know if they are MQ or PQ, but it does have an ME inside a box above DVM60, just like the DVM63.

Does anyone know if it is an MQ or not?

Thanks in advance

Fidel.
 
Re: DV Tape Media - What's the best?

Hi guys, I think I found the tape.

It is either this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...AAYDVM60EJ&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=177607
or this one http://www.adorama.com/PCDV6010.html?sid=10912740214323324

I can't find anything on the f****ng tape. Just DVM60, and on top of that ME inside a box.

The thing is that I started using those tapes before. And now, I am still using the DVM63MQ. Is that going to cause any problems?

Please, could someone answer this question! I have been trying for a very long time and no one has seemed to answer this. Please! I need to know what to do.

If no one knows about this, can someone give a pointer where I may find the answer to this?

Thanks in advance

Fidel.
 
Re: DV Tape Media - What's the best?

Thanks man. I have already decided to do that.

But, can you just switch from one tape to another? Don't you have to clean the head before doing that?

I am ordering a big pile of DVM63MQ ones.

Thanks once again.

All the best

Fidel.
 
Re: DV Tape Media - What's the best?

Same situation here, buying a used DVX and the previous user ran sonys through the cam for 60 hours now. Says nothing bad, no glitches what so ever. I was wondering is it possible to switch after doing Barry's method of head cleaning? If not how much would professional cleaning cost, i am very tempted to run those panasonics in there.
 
Re: DV Tape Media - What's the best?

yeah, I bought about 20 panny pq's, but I'm thinking of switching up to the MQ after I exhaust those bad boy's, I'm wonding if this is all just paranoid thinking. but better safe than to be without. remember that in a bid you can alway's link up another camera through the firewire and record to it. I saw a cheap canon out of box special for like $200 at best buy, good for a deck and small enough that it could be attached to your tripod as an external recorder in a bind
 
Re: DV Tape Media - What's the best?

bump,

same situation as warmstepvision, can someone confirm that barry's cleaning method is good enough to switch model of tape, or do you think a 100 dollar pro cleaning is the way to go.

Thanks,

David
 
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