Anyone tried Fuji tape? at DVinfo.net

Michael Buendia · November 21st, 2002, 02:39 AM

does anyone know the difference bewteen the standard fuji dvm60 and the Fuji DVM60x5B (japanese writing on tape)? are both of these tapes "dry tapes"? if fuji makes panasonic tapes is there a problem going back and fro?

mb4

Frank Granovski · November 21st, 2002, 03:08 AM

http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

Probably the same..., I wouldn't advise switching back and forth (to be on the safe side). Fuji has made some of the tape for Panasonic, some of the time. It seems now that Pana is making there own, for now. (I heard there are 5 tape factories, at this time.)

Michael Buendia · November 21st, 2002, 02:06 PM

are you still using fuji tapes or have you changed brands? what head cleaner would you recommend? panasonic?

mb4

Frank Granovski · November 23rd, 2002, 03:31 AM

I'm still using Fuji in my 2 DVL9500s. Since I cleaned my heads about 3 years ago? and switched to Fuji, I haven't had to clean my tapes since. In the MX300 cam I gave away to a family member, I only used Panasonic (with no problems). With the MX300 I still have, I have a fuji tape in it---and will be sticking with Fuji.

Regarding head cleaning tapes, it doesn't make a difference which brand you use. I have a JVC cleaning tape and a Pana cleaning tape. The real trick is to clean your heads once---like for 5 seconds---and stick with one good brand. I believe Fuji is the best. But this is my opinion, based on a tape test (a shootout / scientific test I read), other stuff I read, and with my own experience.

The thing about Fuji is that the quality is always high and always the same. Some other brands aren't always the same (and sometimes are not high quality).

I've read horror stories about Maxell and TDK, horror stories on switching/mixing tapes, (and I have my own horror stories from personal experience). The very worst tape that I have used is JVC tape. This is my BIG horror story! I've had no problems with Panasonics in my cam (the MX I gave away), but I have had problems with other cams I've used, with Panasonic tape. Sony tapes have also given me problems a few years back (with other people's cams), but I used the PD100A with Sony DVCAM tapes, and had no problems.

William Kucharski · August 17th, 2003, 09:57 AM

It's fairly difficult to find, but Fuji came out with their "DV131" line of non-memory DVCAM tape a while back, but given tape lubricant incompatibilities and such I've been too chicken to try it and have stayed with Sony.

However, given my recent Sony DVCAM dropout problems, I'm wondering if the Fuji is worth a try or if it's just relabeled Sony stock.

Anyone know? Anyone tried it? Any reviews?

I swear by Fuji H471S for SVHS and their M221MP Hi8 line always served me well, but given that DV131 seems to be really rare (a google search turned up one U.S. web source) I thought I'd ask...

Bill Pryor · August 17th, 2003, 02:45 PM

I used nothng but Fuji Betacam SP tape for about a dozen years and never had a problem. Since going to DVCAM just over 3 years ago, I've been using nothing but Sony DVCAM tape. In several hundred hours of DVCAM tape in 3 different cameras I've never seen a dropout (mostly full size cassettes, but I use the DVCAM 40's in the TRV900).

You might check with www.thetapeguys.com. Good prices, and if you call up and ask Ray League about different tape, he won't BS you.

Robert Mann Z. · October 27th, 2003, 10:58 AM

my last two orders came in with no 5pack cartons...i just spoke to my distributer fuji will no longer sell them that way, they are now being sold loose...

this does somewhat effect us, i can see how some of you don't care..

i think this might be a cost savings thing, however the price has not come down...

Frank Granovski · January 1st, 2004, 06:14 PM

Your "distributer" is full of hogwash, in my opinion.

Brian De Leenheer · January 24th, 2004, 10:26 AM

I am using Fuji tapes in my DV953 and they are marked DVM60AME E. I see some tapes for sale on ebay and they are advertised as DVM60CME E. Any idea if these are different and if so, what the difference is? Thanks for any help.

Brian

Paul Jason · January 24th, 2004, 11:43 AM

I use the Fuji dv tape in my GS100k. As far as I can tell from the Fuji site, They only make one type of tape and it comes in two different links 60 min and 80 min. Maybe Frank will see this thread and share some of his knowledge about this great tape.

Frank Granovski · January 24th, 2004, 05:15 PM

Fuji tape is all the same. Packaging in different countries may have different codes.

Ron Lucas · February 25th, 2004, 07:00 PM

Lately, my XL1s and GL2 cameras have been getting more dropouts on my Fuji tapes. I don't reuse my tapes; they are allways brand new.

I've read good things about the Panasonic MQ series tapes, and would like to switch to them permanently.

I've also read I should clean my camera before switching brands, so is the normal 5 second cleaning tape enough?

Since they are both 'dry' tapes, is this really an issue?

Thanks,
Ron

Frank Granovski · February 25th, 2004, 09:53 PM

Good one. You're going from Fuji to Fuji-made Pana. :-))

Ron Lucas · February 25th, 2004, 10:02 PM

I guess I'm not sure how to compare the Fuji tapes to the two Panasonic tapes (PQ or MQ). If someone were to confirm that the Fuji tapes are similiar in quality to the Panasonic MQ, then I might not change. But if they are more like the PQ, then I would change to hopefully get better results.

Ron

Frank Granovski · February 25th, 2004, 11:40 PM

In my 1st MX cam I used Pana tape. With the rest of my cams, Fuji. I haven't had problems with either. If Pana tape costs more than Fuji, why switch? If they're cheaper, why not? None of the pro's I know have had problems with Fuji, and they had learned about Fuji from the school of hard knocks, or so it seems. However, I do have some other friends who have been switching back and forth between Sony and Pana for years, because of problems; but these problems were most likely due from swithing and mixing, mixing and switching. So, things go around for them, including the buying of the latest/greatest cam---never satisfied and always looking for greener grass...and, of course, they never seem to get anything done. :-)) Thankfully, they all have day jobs not related to the video industry, so that they can stay in the game. :-))

November 21st, 2002, 02:39 AM	#1
Michael Buendia Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: los angeles, california Posts: 71	Anyone tried Fuji tape? does anyone know the difference bewteen the standard fuji dvm60 and the Fuji DVM60x5B (japanese writing on tape)? are both of these tapes "dry tapes"? if fuji makes panasonic tapes is there a problem going back and fro? mb4

August 17th, 2003, 09:57 AM	#5
William Kucharski Tourist Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Louisville, CO Posts: 4	Anyone tried Fuji DVCAM tape? It's fairly difficult to find, but Fuji came out with their "DV131" line of non-memory DVCAM tape a while back, but given tape lubricant incompatibilities and such I've been too chicken to try it and have stayed with Sony. However, given my recent Sony DVCAM dropout problems, I'm wondering if the Fuji is worth a try or if it's just relabeled Sony stock. Anyone know? Anyone tried it? Any reviews? I swear by Fuji H471S for SVHS and their M221MP Hi8 line always served me well, but given that DV131 seems to be really rare (a google search turned up one U.S. web source) I thought I'd ask...

October 27th, 2003, 10:58 AM	#7
Robert Mann Z. Skyonic New York Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 614	fyi to fuji minidv tape users my last two orders came in with no 5pack cartons...i just spoke to my distributer fuji will no longer sell them that way, they are now being sold loose... this does somewhat effect us, i can see how some of you don't care.. i think this might be a cost savings thing, however the price has not come down...

January 24th, 2004, 10:26 AM	#9
Brian De Leenheer New Boot Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Waterdown, Ontario Posts: 13	Fuji DVM60AME or CME?? I am using Fuji tapes in my DV953 and they are marked DVM60AME E. I see some tapes for sale on ebay and they are advertised as DVM60CME E. Any idea if these are different and if so, what the difference is? Thanks for any help. Brian

February 25th, 2004, 07:00 PM	#12
Ron Lucas New Boot Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 24	Going from Fuji to Panasonic DV Tape Lately, my XL1s and GL2 cameras have been getting more dropouts on my Fuji tapes. I don't reuse my tapes; they are allways brand new. I've read good things about the Panasonic MQ series tapes, and would like to switch to them permanently. I've also read I should clean my camera before switching brands, so is the normal 5 second cleaning tape enough? Since they are both 'dry' tapes, is this really an issue? Thanks, Ron

November 21st, 2002, 03:08 AM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm Probably the same..., I wouldn't advise switching back and forth (to be on the safe side). Fuji has made some of the tape for Panasonic, some of the time. It seems now that Pana is making there own, for now. (I heard there are 5 tape factories, at this time.)

November 21st, 2002, 02:06 PM	#3
Michael Buendia Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: los angeles, california Posts: 71	are you still using fuji tapes or have you changed brands? what head cleaner would you recommend? panasonic? mb4

November 23rd, 2002, 03:31 AM	#4
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I'm still using Fuji in my 2 DVL9500s. Since I cleaned my heads about 3 years ago? and switched to Fuji, I haven't had to clean my tapes since. In the MX300 cam I gave away to a family member, I only used Panasonic (with no problems). With the MX300 I still have, I have a fuji tape in it---and will be sticking with Fuji. Regarding head cleaning tapes, it doesn't make a difference which brand you use. I have a JVC cleaning tape and a Pana cleaning tape. The real trick is to clean your heads once---like for 5 seconds---and stick with one good brand. I believe Fuji is the best. But this is my opinion, based on a tape test (a shootout / scientific test I read), other stuff I read, and with my own experience. The thing about Fuji is that the quality is always high and always the same. Some other brands aren't always the same (and sometimes are not high quality). I've read horror stories about Maxell and TDK, horror stories on switching/mixing tapes, (and I have my own horror stories from personal experience). The very worst tape that I have used is JVC tape. This is my BIG horror story! I've had no problems with Panasonics in my cam (the MX I gave away), but I have had problems with other cams I've used, with Panasonic tape. Sony tapes have also given me problems a few years back (with other people's cams), but I used the PD100A with Sony DVCAM tapes, and had no problems.

August 17th, 2003, 02:45 PM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I used nothng but Fuji Betacam SP tape for about a dozen years and never had a problem. Since going to DVCAM just over 3 years ago, I've been using nothing but Sony DVCAM tape. In several hundred hours of DVCAM tape in 3 different cameras I've never seen a dropout (mostly full size cassettes, but I use the DVCAM 40's in the TRV900). You might check with www.thetapeguys.com. Good prices, and if you call up and ask Ray League about different tape, he won't BS you.

January 1st, 2004, 06:14 PM	#8
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Your "distributer" is full of hogwash, in my opinion.

January 24th, 2004, 11:43 AM	#10
Paul Jason Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 163	I use the Fuji dv tape in my GS100k. As far as I can tell from the Fuji site, They only make one type of tape and it comes in two different links 60 min and 80 min. Maybe Frank will see this thread and share some of his knowledge about this great tape.

January 24th, 2004, 05:15 PM	#11
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Fuji tape is all the same. Packaging in different countries may have different codes.

February 25th, 2004, 09:53 PM	#13
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Good one. You're going from Fuji to Fuji-made Pana. :-))

February 25th, 2004, 10:02 PM	#14
Ron Lucas New Boot Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 24	I guess I'm not sure how to compare the Fuji tapes to the two Panasonic tapes (PQ or MQ). If someone were to confirm that the Fuji tapes are similiar in quality to the Panasonic MQ, then I might not change. But if they are more like the PQ, then I would change to hopefully get better results. Ron

February 25th, 2004, 11:40 PM	#15
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	In my 1st MX cam I used Pana tape. With the rest of my cams, Fuji. I haven't had problems with either. If Pana tape costs more than Fuji, why switch? If they're cheaper, why not? None of the pro's I know have had problems with Fuji, and they had learned about Fuji from the school of hard knocks, or so it seems. However, I do have some other friends who have been switching back and forth between Sony and Pana for years, because of problems; but these problems were most likely due from swithing and mixing, mixing and switching. So, things go around for them, including the buying of the latest/greatest cam---never satisfied and always looking for greener grass...and, of course, they never seem to get anything done. :-)) Thankfully, they all have day jobs not related to the video industry, so that they can stay in the game. :-))