Hi all:
Good to be back on the list after a long time!
Finally got to use my new PD150 on shoot, and have some fun learning on it. *WOW!* Great cam!
So far, I've been shooting on Sony Pro series Mini DV tape in DVCAM mode. But a friend of mine mentioned in passing that I could use mini DVCAM tapes - except that I can't seem to locate any Mini DVCAM tapes anywhere at my local suppliers!
Do mini DVCAM tapes really exist? *LOL* If so, can anyone mention some tape stock identifiers so that I can ask Sony for the specific stock? (Also: How much does a mini DVCAM tape cost? Does it come with IC/without IC just like the MiniDv tape?)
Thanks all!
Ram

Tape Resources and other suppliers can sell you those $30 mini-DVCAM tapes if you wish. They appear to be a bit more rugged and made of better material.

But they won't give you a better image and for most purposes, are a waste of money unless you are shooting for a network or some other org that might pay attentiion to appearances.

They do come in chip/no-chip versions.

Mike, thanks:
Found somebody who's willing to supply mini DVCAM tapes, but they're forbiddingly expensive. I think the broad consensus is to simply use Sony Premium miniDV and shoot DVCAM, like you suggested - a lot of the work I'm doing right now is going to be for distribution on VCD/DVD/VHS, and so the image conscious network thing doesn't apply *LOL*!
Best,
Ram

Yeah, I would go with the mini-DV. The only difference as far as I know is tape-speed and build quality.

I was wondering what you all think about TDK brand mini dv tapes? Would you use these as a quality tape when shooting in dv cam? I found these at Costco, an Eight pack for 27.99. These tapes are 60 minutes each.

I do not recommend switching tape suppliers. Furthermore, I think the company most likely to make the best tape for a camcorder is the manufacturer of the camcorder.

Tape is cheap. Heads aren't.

Sony mindDV tapes are $3.74 each in 5-packs from one of our sponsors, http://www.pro-tape.com/

Thanks Mike,
I'll check them out!

Now to add something kinda off topic...Is there a difference in the final result in the myriad different types or variants of mini DV, pro grade, etc. I know only 1's and 0's are being recorded, but is there a difference between the "good" stuff vs the cheap stuff? Except maybe for the chip, I don't see how it can make a difference, unless it is not unlike cheap CD-Rs whereas the CD-R media would fall apart after a few months?

Not for NLE applications there is not.

Tape is one of the most discussed topics here. Use the search function and read what many, many members have to say on the subject. There really isn't any generic mini DV tape, but most people stick with either Sony, Panasonic or Fuji. A minority use TDK, Maxell and a variety of other lesser known tapes.

Jeff, I guess what I'm referring to is the different variants of the same brand tape, i.e Sony "Excellence" vs "Premium". Are there any differences between these two types? I guess Mike has answered this question.

Hi again all:
My tape supplier is offering me the PDVM 40 Sony MiniDVCAM tape for use with my PD150 (at about USD 24 per piece - ouch!). Question is: On DVCAM mode, the PD150 records about 2/3rds of miniDV tape time: 40 minutes on a 60 minute tape. But how much tape time do I get in DVCAM mode with a 40 minute miniDVCAM tape? Logic suggests that the mode/tape speed is a camera hardware function, and that I should therefore get about 26-28 minutes on this tape, but I'm not sure. Anyone?
Thanks and best,
Ram

DVCam tape is labeled with the expectation that it will be used in a DVCam machine. If used in a DV machine, it would give 60 minutes of recording.

So what Sony MINI DV tape would be the best to use in the PD150 recording in DVCAM?

The least expensive will work just fine.

Reading one of the posts:

'use Sony Premium miniDV and shoot DVCAM'.

What does that actually mean? I use mini dv tapes but whats shooting in DVCAM?

Also, do you lose any quality using the long play option on a tape?

Trent, remember these are all zeroes and ones being recorded so that the material of the media will not really have an impact on the video quality, with the exception of maybe drop outs, if using a real bad tape. DV and DVCAM are formats and MINI DV is the physical type of tape(media). So they are saying if you buy the DVCAM tapes, shoot using DV (setting on the cam) in order to get more shooting time on the DVCAM tape.

The loss in quality, I'm not too sure about, but it may deal with the change of bit rate or the increase of compression applied to the video. I guess using LP, may utilize a higer compression rate in order to fit more video.

The DV format (including DVCAM) uses 5:1 compression. The tape length is the same, but the speed the tape moves across the video heads changes. If you slow the tape speed down, you can record longer. However, tracking and playback on different machines can be problematic. It is best to avoid LP speed if at all possible.

Jeff how then can the data rate stay the same if the tape is playing slower? Not being a smarta$$, I'm curious...If the file size will ultimately be the same how can the data rate not change if the physical tape is moving slower?

The tracks that contain the data are written closer together. The guard bands (blank space between tracks of data) become narrower. That is what make tracking more problematic. The head must now nearly perfectly align with the data track. Even slight misalignment can cause error correction to kick in and degrade the picture

Great explanation, I got it now. Sorry for postulating inaccurate data, but it made sense...right? Anyway, thanks Jeff. Lastly, wouldn't narrower=greater possibility of dropouts

Yes, the greater the likely hood a spec of dust would cover a data track as opposed to a guard band.