Panasonic tape at DVinfo.net

Don Palomaki · May 31st, 2007, 10:16 AM

Anyone tried the Panasonic AY-DVM63HD tape?

Compared to their AY-DVM63AMQ?

Bill Pryor · May 31st, 2007, 01:58 PM

I haven't seen those anyplace, including B&H and the Panasonic web site. Must be very new. Where did you find them?

Edward Randolph · May 31st, 2007, 02:34 PM

I haven't seen the HD tapes but I've been using the AY-DVM63MQ with great results in my DVX100 and now the XH-A1.
They were down to about $4.50 each. Unfortunately, when I tried to order 50 yesterday, I kept coming up with "Discontinued" or a price of $8.25 each. So, I just said goodbye to a long term love affair and ordered the AY-DVM63AMQ from Tapeandmedia.com for $6.89 each. It's supposed to be better, right?

Bill Pryor · May 31st, 2007, 02:37 PM

Yeah, the specs on the AMQs are better. I think I read someplace else they were going to replace the MQs. Guess that's happened. Under 7 bucks is a very good price for the AMQs. I've been paying just under 9 locally.

Don Palomaki · May 31st, 2007, 05:25 PM

DBL Distributing had some of the HD in stock. But not many. They also have a few of the new Lenmar LIC950G in stock.

Mike Gorski · May 31st, 2007, 06:12 PM

What tapes do most of you guys use when shooting HD with the A1? I would assume you use a cheaper tape for SD but of the same brand?

Don Palomaki · June 2nd, 2007, 05:44 AM

There have been other threads on the subject. Seems Panasonic AMQ, MQ, and Sony's HD tapes are the favorites in the other threads.

Floris van Eck · June 3rd, 2007, 03:50 PM

I have been using Panasonic DVM63MQ and have had not a single drop-out in 6 months. I now switched to the new DVM63AMQ because I cannot find the DVM63MQ in stores anymore. I really like the Panasonic tape stock.

Bill Watson · June 3rd, 2007, 03:59 PM

Am I missing something here?

I'm just using standard mini DV tapes like the Pana DVM60SE. My HD video looks good so far. No drop outs on capture.

What's the advantage of the HD tapes?

Bill Pryor · June 3rd, 2007, 04:24 PM

The AMQ tapes have an HDV/DV on the box. There's no difference in quality of the image. Tape is, basically, tape. However, you want the best you can get because of the possibility of dropouts or other problems. By far the biggest number of problems I've seen over the years have come from cheap tape.

A friend of mine shooting with the XH A1 is using Sony's DVCAM tapes because that's what he had been using with his old camera. He's had no trouble at all but is switching to the AMQs because they're cheaper and reputed to be as good.

I've always been a believer in good quality tape, but I don't think when a manfacturer puts HD or HDV on a miniDV tape it really is different tape. They all have the cheap stuff and the good stuff. I think they just relabel the good stuff and charge more. I could be wrong, obviously. So far, the AMQs seem to be perfectly OK for shooting HDV or DV and the price is very good.

Don Palomaki · June 3rd, 2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

What's the advantage of the HD tapes?

Mainly tighter quality control, and perhaps a slightly better formulation of the magnetic and lubrication layers, resulting in fewer drop outs and other tape read errors. Potentially important for HDV - because the compression scheme used can make a drop out much more apparent.

Tape is cheap compared to the price of a shoot, especially one that cannot be repeated. Each user has to decide their comfort point as far as tape cose adn performance goes.

Wynn Bradford · June 3rd, 2007, 07:11 PM

Don they are great, and Pro-Tape in Austin has a good stock of them. I think they are 6.50 each. They come in boxes of 5.

Wynn B

May 31st, 2007, 10:16 AM	#1
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Panasonic tape Anyone tried the Panasonic AY-DVM63HD tape? Compared to their AY-DVM63AMQ? __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

May 31st, 2007, 02:34 PM	#3
Edward Randolph New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, AZ Posts: 20	Panasonic Tapes I haven't seen the HD tapes but I've been using the AY-DVM63MQ with great results in my DVX100 and now the XH-A1. They were down to about $4.50 each. Unfortunately, when I tried to order 50 yesterday, I kept coming up with "Discontinued" or a price of $8.25 each. So, I just said goodbye to a long term love affair and ordered the AY-DVM63AMQ from Tapeandmedia.com for $6.89 each. It's supposed to be better, right?

May 31st, 2007, 05:25 PM	#5
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	DBL Distributing had some of the HD in stock. But not many. They also have a few of the new Lenmar LIC950G in stock. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

June 2nd, 2007, 05:44 AM	#7
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	There have been other threads on the subject. Seems Panasonic AMQ, MQ, and Sony's HD tapes are the favorites in the other threads. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

June 3rd, 2007, 07:11 PM	#12
Wynn Bradford New Boot Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 17	Pro Tape Don they are great, and Pro-Tape in Austin has a good stock of them. I think they are 6.50 each. They come in boxes of 5. Wynn B

May 31st, 2007, 01:58 PM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I haven't seen those anyplace, including B&H and the Panasonic web site. Must be very new. Where did you find them?

May 31st, 2007, 02:37 PM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Yeah, the specs on the AMQs are better. I think I read someplace else they were going to replace the MQs. Guess that's happened. Under 7 bucks is a very good price for the AMQs. I've been paying just under 9 locally.

May 31st, 2007, 06:12 PM	#6
Mike Gorski Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA Posts: 163	What tapes do most of you guys use when shooting HD with the A1? I would assume you use a cheaper tape for SD but of the same brand?

June 3rd, 2007, 03:50 PM	#8
Floris van Eck Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 993	I have been using Panasonic DVM63MQ and have had not a single drop-out in 6 months. I now switched to the new DVM63AMQ because I cannot find the DVM63MQ in stores anymore. I really like the Panasonic tape stock.

June 3rd, 2007, 03:59 PM	#9
Bill Watson Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Noosa Queensland Australia Posts: 248	Am I missing something here? I'm just using standard mini DV tapes like the Pana DVM60SE. My HD video looks good so far. No drop outs on capture. What's the advantage of the HD tapes?

June 3rd, 2007, 04:24 PM	#10
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	The AMQ tapes have an HDV/DV on the box. There's no difference in quality of the image. Tape is, basically, tape. However, you want the best you can get because of the possibility of dropouts or other problems. By far the biggest number of problems I've seen over the years have come from cheap tape. A friend of mine shooting with the XH A1 is using Sony's DVCAM tapes because that's what he had been using with his old camera. He's had no trouble at all but is switching to the AMQs because they're cheaper and reputed to be as good. I've always been a believer in good quality tape, but I don't think when a manfacturer puts HD or HDV on a miniDV tape it really is different tape. They all have the cheap stuff and the good stuff. I think they just relabel the good stuff and charge more. I could be wrong, obviously. So far, the AMQs seem to be perfectly OK for shooting HDV or DV and the price is very good.