Worried about tapes..!

R

Robstene

Active member
Hello...

I'm filming a friends Wedding tomorrow and have been looking forward to it.

I've had my DVX100b since new - and now has only about 37 hours on it.

I've been using TDK tapes pretty much all this time, as untill NOW I didn't realise there was a difference..?

I thought I'd try and find some Panasonic tapes today and googled around to see where I could get some from (In the UK) and have read some threads regarding talk about 'wet' and 'dry' tape heads..!

Now I'm worried which tapes to use. I've just spent £20 on 5 SONY Mini DV tapes along with a Cleaning Tape : Can I use these...I'm just paranoid I'm going to do something JUST before the wedding tomorrow and ruin the big day!??!

Any expert advice would be greatly appreciated..

Many thanks..

Rob
 
this isnt exactly expert advice but sony tapes are wet lubricated and i believe the TDK tapes are dry
eitherway every company uses different chemicals in their dry or wet lubrication and it is always best to run a head cleaner through first before switching to tapes.
the best thing to do is find tapes that are in the price range and quality you want to use, and also have access to them frequently, sticking with the same tape makes it easier on your dvx and would make its life alot longer as for the heads anyways
 
Thanks a lot mate...

So I think I'll run the sony mini dv cleaning tape through for about 10 seconds and then use these 5 sony tapes...

Any one else think this will be ok??

Thanks again...
 
I have logged about 156 hours on my DVX and I've used a variety of tapes and I have never cleaned the heads. Am I in trouble?
 
Has anyone ever seen those "3 CCD" tapes that are around now. Anyone know if there's any merit to them.

They say that they're made specifically for 3 CCD cameras, but I have yet to hear from anyone that's used them.
 
I thought buying head cleaners were a bad idea. Aren't you just supposed to take them in to have cleaned? Plus I live in the Northern California area, so does anyone know where I could have it cleaned?
 
Mixing brands is a no no. There is a thread on dvinfo that talks about it, but there are 3 tape makers and lots of rebranding. Sony. TDK. Panasonic. (or at least these are all different). DO NOT MIX.
Tapes basically come in thick (good under 60 mins) and thin (bad longer than 60 mins), stick to the good ones.
Do not use head cleaner unless it is an emergency. Think of it like cutting off your hand when you are snakebit in the wilds. Better than death, but sucks.

Stick with the brand you have been using. Every year or 500 hours, send in your Pany for cleaning to the authorised Panasonic guys in Commerce, CA - Digitronics. Ask for Eric, he's the man.

Go buy some more TDK tapes and sell the sonys, unless you are dropping the brand, and then send in your camera for cleaning and then never swap again.
 
If you use the search link at the top right of this page...You will find Piles Upon PILES of threads talking about tapes and what to use and what not to use! Use the search engine people!
 
Barry Green has a do it your self tutorial and he recommends a cleaning every 50 hrs, so if one wants to take it in professionally, is Digitronics the only business? I read about these guys in forums ago, but there must be others.
 
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