What kind of tape to use to label camers and lenses?

J

JPschmidt

Active member
I have seen in many tutorial videos for labeling cameras A, B, C, etc. and the lenses some colorful tape used --

is this just gaff tape? or is there a less residue intense tape being used to label these?

Thanks!
 
Gaff tape is used occasionally, and it does come in several colors. The other option is console tape (write-on paper tape used by sound engineers). It only comes in white, though. Just be sure not to use it to label long-term, and not to label on/near screens, glass, or moving parts.

Whatever you do, avoid electrical tape. That stuff gets really nasty. And avoid masking tape, too.
 
Thanks for the replies -- what had me curious about the gaffers tape is any sort of residue left over? Some gaff tape got left on my XLR over a shoot and when I took it off a week later, it needed to be cleaned thoroughly.

Is paper tape any better about that?

Thanks again for the quick replies
 
Any tape is going to leave residue over time, especially if it is subject to drastic temperature swings (that include very warm/hot temps). Gaffer's tape shouldn't leave traces after only a week unless it was cheap tape. I've left console tape on my sound board for weeks and it removed without a trace. That said, labels to camera equipment should be replaced often, and never left on after a shoot.
 
Awesome :) thanks for the reply.

I definitely planned to take it off at the end of each day of shooting, but just wanted to check. Thanks for the input all!
 
Gaff tape will leave a residue after awhile, blue tape or 3M scotch-blue will not leave a residue and I am used to seeing that used more then anything, but then again its been over a decade since I have been on a set. So......
 
Gaff tape isn't magic, it won't leave NO residue...but as someone who's made the mistake of grabbing a roll of electrical tape instead of gaff tape and putting that on my camera, let me say that RELATIVELY SPEAKING gaff tape is magic

I know, I'm stupid. haha
 
C2V said:
The other option is console tape (write-on paper tape used by sound engineers). It only comes in white, though.
Click to expand...

Also know at your local art supply store as "white artist tape". Reeeaaaallly useful stuff! I use it to label drives, my mixer, lots of other stuff.
 
how about a paint marker? i've used those on batteries. and ive yet to see any smearing or residue. of course it is more or less permanent...
 
I'll pick up a roll of gaffers tape and the white artists tape to try out.

The paint marker sounds great for batteries (I currently use an electronic labeler and that works fine) but would want to avoid it on cameras the avoid potential resale value going down for some people
 
Gaffers tape is the primary camera tape used. It is a real cotton tape with a synthetic adhesive that doesn't leave a sticky residue. Gaffers tape also comes in a variety of colors and tape widths. Console marking tape can be used as well. This is a paper tape that can be marked on with a sharpie. It's a more temporary paper tape. Here's a great source for gaffers tape and console marking tape. http://www.thetapeworks.com
 
Why avoid electrical tape?

Camera department uses gaff and paper for work (like marking something as being NG, or labeling mags, etc.), but whenever we 'mark' gear with colored tape for identification purposes, we use electrical tape. Red for A camera, B for blue, and usually Yellow or Green for C camera. It's very very common here in Hollywood. What's wrong with it?

Residue is not an issue, use more tape to get it off. (adhesive gets adhesive off the best).... and we don't ever mark lenses; we mark the lens cases. But I don't see why you can't, if there is room on the barrel for such. Things we put electrical tape to 'identify' would be tripods, heads, mattebox, FF, accessories, batteries, and etc. We mark them to keep track of who's junk is who's. Don't want B camera to steal A camera's stuff, thinking it's theirs.
 
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