I'm new to all of this, so please bear with me.
I have just received my first miniDV camera Wednesday, and now I need tapes.

I have a couple of questions now.
1). What brand do you use, and what would you say is the best?
2). Is there any other tapes that are a "wet lubricant" other then Panasonic?
3). Is there really a difference in the quality on some tapes, compared to others?

Thanks,
~Gabriel~

A lot of these issues get re-hashed over and over, and nobody really knows anything. I would just keep a lot of tape stock on hand (because you're in trouble if you run out) and get whatever's cheap (miniDVs are <$3 online). Other factors are way more important than what tape you use (and we don't really know if brand X is significantly better).

Factors like:
checking your tapes after you shoot them
not screwing up (i.e. label your tapes)
letting the camera temperature equalize

having good content
etc.

2- Panasonic uses dry lubricant I believe... Jan Crittenden used to say otherwise, but was misinformed.

3- Picture quality is the same. miniDV records 1s and 0s on the tape. Error correction ensures that those 1s and 0s are read back correctly.

Thanks, Glenn. Sounds great. Thanks for correcting what I said about the Dry/wet lubricant. I think I'll use the Panasonic's that I have on hand.
is it sony that is the only wet lubricant? I believe that is what I just read.

Thanks,
~Gabriel~

They are all fine.

Just use each tape twice. Once to record, once to playback. Then store it. New shoot = new tape.

They are all fine.

Just use each tape twice. Once to record, once to playback. Then store it. New shoot = new tape.

Thanks, Jimmy! I like the way you worded that. :D I think its time that I go out and start shooting now.

Thanks everyone!
~Gabriel~