is anyone using 83 minute tape? and if,have you had any problems?
thanks

Havn't used it yet, but I am switching over to it from the Panasonic 63 minute tapes. I just found that 63 minutes is cutting it close for some weddings with long-winded reverands.

I doubt you'll have any issues if you use the same brand of tape. The only issues that I have ever heard of with tapes is when you switch from one manufacturer to anouther (due to the librication/oils in the tape that can gum up at tape head).

just my 2 cents.

Ryan

I don't know about other brands, but just FYI, any Panasonic tapes longer than 63 minutes are physically thinner. In theory, a thinner tape may have a slightly higher risk of drop outs due to stretching, or getting eaten by the tape mechanism. In practice, I haven't read of anyone complaining of it, though, and I'm not saying don't use them (for longer events I might try 83 min AMQ tapes myself one of these days), but be aware they ARE different from the shorter tapes.

Alan
I use the 83 min tapes all the time and I hardly get drop-outs. I use the Panosonic AY-DVM83MQ. I have used a lot of 60 min tapes from different manufacturers, however, I prefer the AY-DVM83MQ. I use it to shoot weddings(especially during the ceremony when you have to keep the cam rolling).
Its not physically thinner than your average 60 min tapes. It last a little longer than 83 mins. I don't remember having drop frames and its never been eaten by the tape mechanism while using it. The images might be a little bit better than other $4 tapes. Some of my 83 min tapes have been re-recorded more than 7 times and I havn't notice any lost of quality. The case for the tape is very durable and good for storage (its almost air tight). The only down side to this tape is the Price. However, its worth it. This is just my opinion.
Eb

Its not physically thinner than your average 60 min tapesPete is talking about the tape being thinner, not the cassette. The fact that the tape is thinner is how they mange to fit more of it into a cassette of the same size.

I just took a quick look on the Panasonic web site and could only find DVM (miniDV) tapes of 33,48, and 63 minutes length in the AMQ line. I've heard that the AMQ would replace, rather than augment, the MQ's and since I don't see an MQ offering on the web site, that may well be true -- but the B&H web site still shows 83 minute MQ's in stock. In any case, yes, the actual tape itself is what I was referring to and the tape stock is physically thinner in the 83 minute lengths.

I've been using the PQ-83's for about 4 years now, in my GL-1, XL1s, and now XL2, never had any problems.

BTW, try a search on this subject, there's lots of Q&A's right here:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/search.php?searchid=719365