MiniDV Tape Brands...Preferences?

[DougieBalls 0]

I gentleman I know who runs his own video production company recently gave me one piece of advice he implored me to follow over any other he gave me:

 

When starting out with a brand new camera, pick one particular brand of tape and use it exclusively. This is because the lubricants on the different brands of tape are different and can affect the heads of a camera quicker, thus impacting dramatically the quality of the recording.

 

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Furthermore, anyone have any preference to brand? I've had really, really great luck with TDK in years past, so I see no reason to change now unless someone can give me a good argument.

[CamDiver 5]

It stands to reason that you would be better off sticking with the tape brand made by the camera brand company, Sony Tapes with Sony Cameras etc. I don't think the manufacturers are going to produce their own tapes that would in any way be detrimental to the opperation of their cameras. Totally the opposite, they're after life long users. If you change camera brands change for the appropriate tape.

 

All the best,

Mark.

[woz 0]

I am not sure matching the camera and tape brand really matters - after all don't Sony, JVC, Panasonic etc. all purchase bulk tape from the same sources :?: . Maybe I am cynical but I don't see Sony having a tape manufacturing facility when that can purchase and re-brand from TDK, Fuji, Memorex etc.

 

That said I have tried to stick to the same brand for all my cameras, thats Sony (yeah kinda dumb after my ealier comments I know :!: ). Just they were the first brand I bought in bulk and have always worked fine with a <0.5% failure ratio.

[richorn 0]

Stick with the manufacturers tape. Although many of them do buy the same "bulk" stock, Sony for example really does have the most reliable stock for Sony products.

 

And remember you get what you pay for in most cases. If you look for the "bargain" tape, it can end up costing more in the long run... My tape costs this year were about $50,000. I just received a report showing how I can save 12k a year, by changing brands. I returned my own report showing the difference in maintenance costs the last time that was attempted here.

 

For me, reliability and quality are more important. Sony for the Digibeta decks, Panasonic for the D5's, etc.

[Drew 0]

The lubricant problem was prevalent during the 90s when mini-DV and DV tapes first came out. It was really Sony using wet lubes vs the rest using dry. After consumer complaints, Sony followed the industry. There isn't any detrimental effect to equipment for changing tape brands.

Personally I use Sony DVCAM or Pana MQ tapes. Never had a dropout in my u/w gear, had 1 major one with Pana on a Pana DV100, ruining the best clip I've ever shot topside.

[Nick Hope 151]

I've had dropouts all over the place over the years with 4 different DV cameras. Panasonic was very cruel to me. Now I use Sony mini-DV but even they are far from trouble-free.