Mini DV tape brands

Guillaume Guite

Guillaume Guite

Member
Are every DV tape brands suitable for my DVX100A? The guy at the store where I bought my cam told me not to use Sony tapes because they can cause damage. Is it true or was it just an excuse to sell me more expensive "pro" Panasonic tapes?

Are some brands better than others? What about Fuji and Maxell?

Thanks
 
the guy at your local store may not be the most informed guy in the world
but if you use a panasonic camera i would put panasonic tapes threw it.
i only use pana tapes in my hvx-200, and i only use sony discs in my xd-cam

ian
 
The main thing is to choose a brand and then stick with it. Different tapes use different coatings with subtly different moisture levels, and popping in brand x after using brand y can cause a build-up of gunk on the heads... and dropped frames.

Panasonic tapes work fine for me.
 
hahaha..... good description gco.... i heard that if u spit on a panny tape and stick it in the dvx it'll go in smoofer.. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH
 
I use mostly Maxell in my DVX. I have never had a bad tape from them and that says something right there. I would steer clear of JVC everyone that I have ever used has been crap.
 
I use Pana professional series tapes as they are cheaper online from B&H than regular consumer-grade tapes are in retail stores.
 
gco said:
Pana is dry lube.
Sony is wet lube.
using both = goo-lube on you tape head.
Click to expand...

I used Sony tapes with my DVX100 when I first bought it. Did I cause any damage to the heads through my ignorance?
 
victororozcojr said:
What kind of Panasonic MiniDV tape should I use? I want the all-around best.
Click to expand...

If you are going to re-use the tapes many times go with the Pana Master series, however if you use them once and archive them and pull them out a year later just use the pro series.

It makes no difference to the quality of the image whether you use the cheap Pana Linear series or the Mastering series tape. All that is required for DV is that the tape be in good condition so that the digital signal can be recorded cleanly. As far as I know, the only advantage to using the more expensive Master Series tapes is that they can be used over more often. (Tape experts feel free to correct me on this).
 
i started with the panasonic master tapes. found myself in a situation where i needed tapes, and the only ones i could get that day were sony. next thing i know, i get the blue screen of death. in a shoot. not good.

had to run a head cleaner on the heads to knock the problem out.

i won't make that mistake again. :)
 
victororozcojr said:
What kind of Panasonic MiniDV tape should I use? I want the all-around best.
Click to expand...

I agree with beziermask in recommending the panny master series. Panny recently replaced the MQ series with the AMQ tapes in Canada, which are "Advanced Master". They are supposed to be even better than the MQ tapes, but I haven't noticed a difference. The product code is AY-DVM63AMQ in case you want to research them.
 
can someone include a link to the BH photo store to which Panasonic Mini-DV tapes they reccomend , and for what kind of shooting (price is kind-of an issue)
 
[SIZE=+0]The key is to stick to either wet or dry don't switch back and forth. Find the one for you and don't change. That is what was told to me and I has worked. I use Sony tapes in a 100b. due to availability and client requirements.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]A.G.[/SIZE]
 
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