Just a quick and general question: does anyone find that the type of mini-dv tape you use in your camera makes a difference in finished product? Does anyone have brand loyalties, or feel that 'premium' and 'gold' label dvs work significantly better?

Just curious to see what others have found!

Thanks.

Some people get problems (head clogs, dropped frames) when they mix brands of DV tape. This used to be a problem but Sony and Maxell reformulated their tapes several years ago. I don't know if it's still a problem.

Recording is digital so you either get full quality or a dropout of some sort. Many people use the cheapest mini-DV tape and never experience dropouts.

80minute tapes may increase your chance of dropouts (they are a bit thinner than 60-minute tapes). Recording in LP mode can definitely cause problems.

A simple search on this site will turn up more than you ever wanted to know about the subject.