What about using blank DVcam tapes in the JVC? I have a load of 40mins left over from my last cam, I remember Sony going on about how much better quality these tapes were compared to standard DV back when Dvcam was new?

The same with me, and quality is the same. You won't lose image quality just because you're note using the most expensive tapes, this is a digital process. It's like using different CD media to record music, doesn't matter which one you use quality will be the same. The difference between consumer and pro tapes is the life of the recorded stuff. Panasonic has 2 types of tapes for the pro market, the Professional and the Master. The master is their most expensive DV tape, but they say it's the best solution to archieve material.

I used TDK tapes on my PD150, never had a problem... but the last one I used was damaged, fortunatly I used it for some tests. I won't trust TDK again.

I know there are alot of different opinions on the matter and a few good points have been expressed.

1 - It is definitely a big no-no to mix tape brands with any camera. It has less to do with wet/dry lube, and more to do with proprietary lube. It has been well known in the industry for years that Sony adds a proprietary lubricant to all of their tape. Sony tape works really well in Sony products. Panasonic tape works well in Panasonic products, etc.

2 - The effectiveness of Sony tape can be disputed because some people have been using it since day one without problems. However, since August there have been a few reports of head clogs and dropouts with Sony tape on both the HD100 camera and HD-BR50 deck. I cannot remember any reports of similar problems with JVC or Panasonic tapes. The law of averages tells me that Sony tape should be avoided if you are a new owner of the HD100. If you have already started with Sony, then by all means continue and keep a head-cleaner close by.

3 - Cheap tape vs Expensive Tape: There is a difference and a danger in using cheap tape, and it won't be apparent until it rears its ugly head and bites you in the arse. The expensive "pro" or "master" quality tapes have extra layers of coating to prevent "flaking." This means they are more robust.
Your cheap tapes may be fine on day 1 when you review your footage, but by the time you rewind and play back to digitize, you may lose some information the 2nd time round.


IMHO, I would stick with one of the two tapes JVC recommends on page 8 of the manual. I've been using the JVC tape since day one without a problem, and they are half the price of Sony "Reds."