80 minute DV tapes at DVinfo.net

Ted Springer · October 8th, 2003, 02:42 AM

I have seen some Panasonic 80 minute DV tapes for sale. Do they work as advertised, or are they evil? I have heard that the DVX100 can not handle 80 minute tapes? True?

Frank Granovski · October 8th, 2003, 02:46 AM

Aren't 80 minute miniDV tapes thinner?

Don Bloom · October 8th, 2003, 06:12 AM

I don't know if the DVX100 can handle them but I've been using them in both of my 150's AND older VX1000 for over 2 years and haven't experienced any problems. I only use them for the longer Catholic Full Mass Ceremonies so I can do preceremony, ceremony and post ceremony with out worrying about running out .
For shorter wedding ceremonies, I use 63 minute tapes.
But that's just me.
Don

John Britt · October 8th, 2003, 06:46 AM

Don't know if this helps, but the DVC80 user manual specifically says "Do not use 80-minute mini DV cassette tapes." Of course, they don't bother to tell you why...

Ken Tanaka · October 8th, 2003, 10:48 AM

John,
That's also noted in the DVX100 manual. I found its mystery, and the fact that Panasonic sells alot of 80 min consumer DV tapes, rather funny myself.

Krishna Narayanamurti · February 12th, 2004, 08:14 AM

I was about to start a new thread until I found this one.

Anyone tested out the 80 min Panasonic tapes in their DVX100 (or DVC80) yet? I used the 80 min panny tapes extensively with my GL-2 and never had problems. Found that tape length very useful and was hoping to be able to still use those tapes in my new DVX100a, but like the rest of you, noticed the warning in the manuals.

Ken Tanaka · February 12th, 2004, 10:21 AM

Note that the newer DVX100A's manual also features this warning not to use 80 min. tape cassettes.

Krishna Narayanamurti · February 12th, 2004, 03:38 PM

E-mailed Panasonic tech support to ask them what the deal is w/ 80 min tapes in DVX. Will post back when I get a response from them.

Krishna Narayanamurti · February 14th, 2004, 04:38 AM

>>
Hello,

The 80 minute tape will not harm any camera but optimum performance
with them can not be guaranteed. It actually has nothing to do with the
camera model itself but with the tape.

The 80 minute tape is somewhat thinner than other tapes and so its
performance is subject to more possible variability. However, if you use
them and have no problem, then that is fine.

Regards,

Panasonic Technical Support
<<

Frank Granovski · February 14th, 2004, 05:50 AM

That's what I've read over the years: 80 minute miniDV tape is thinner, thus not as reliable as 60 minute tapes. Haveing said this twice, I've never used 80 minute tapes, nor 3 hour VHS tape. :-)

Jeff Donald · February 14th, 2004, 06:12 AM

Unless you have a specific application that requires the 80 minute tapes I would avoid them. The thinner tapes are more prone to stretching. Frequent fast forwarding and rewinding increase the likelihood of stretching the tapes. Even though the tapes may not show initial signs of stretching, it may effect their archival properties. I would not, under any circumstances, reuse (record over) 80 minute tapes.

Stretched tapes can cause contamination on the heads, poor audio and video performance, and are more likely to be damaged (eaten) by the camera.

Boyd Ostroff · February 14th, 2004, 09:51 AM

I used the 80 minute tapes in my VX-2000 several times when taping long operas a couple years ago. However after that I decided to stick solely to Sony tapes due to concerns over mixing brands. I didn't have any problems with the 80's however.

Frank, is there really a 180 minute VHS tape? The longest that I've seen is T-140. Again, these come in handy for distributing copies of performances on a single tape.

Jeff Donald · February 14th, 2004, 10:24 AM

BASF used to market a T-210 VHS tape. I'm not sure they still do, with the decline of VHS use.

Frank Granovski · February 14th, 2004, 12:23 PM

3 hour (SP) VHS tape is common here in Vancouver, and has almost replaced the 2 hour ones on store shelves---including Fuji. :-) / :-(

Krishna Narayanamurti · February 14th, 2004, 01:33 PM

i think 200 mins is BASF's longest VHS length offered now (at least through my tape supplier).

never tried the 200's but do use the 180's for clients of an Indian culture show I tape every year at UCSB that always runs just under 3 hours, even with the intermission and other gaps taken out. haven't had problems with the 3 hr tapes, other than maybe one out of every 30 will get eaten in the VCR during the rewind after recording.

October 8th, 2003, 02:42 AM	#1
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	80 minute DV tapes I have seen some Panasonic 80 minute DV tapes for sale. Do they work as advertised, or are they evil? I have heard that the DVX100 can not handle 80 minute tapes? True?

October 8th, 2003, 10:48 AM	#5
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	John, That's also noted in the DVX100 manual. I found its mystery, and the fact that Panasonic sells alot of 80 min consumer DV tapes, rather funny myself. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 12th, 2004, 08:14 AM	#6
Krishna Narayanamurti Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	anyone heard anything more about this? I was about to start a new thread until I found this one. Anyone tested out the 80 min Panasonic tapes in their DVX100 (or DVC80) yet? I used the 80 min panny tapes extensively with my GL-2 and never had problems. Found that tape length very useful and was hoping to be able to still use those tapes in my new DVX100a, but like the rest of you, noticed the warning in the manuals.

February 12th, 2004, 10:21 AM	#7
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Note that the newer DVX100A's manual also features this warning not to use 80 min. tape cassettes. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 12th, 2004, 03:38 PM	#8
Krishna Narayanamurti Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	waiting to hear from Panasonic E-mailed Panasonic tech support to ask them what the deal is w/ 80 min tapes in DVX. Will post back when I get a response from them.

October 8th, 2003, 02:46 AM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Aren't 80 minute miniDV tapes thinner?

October 8th, 2003, 06:12 AM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I don't know if the DVX100 can handle them but I've been using them in both of my 150's AND older VX1000 for over 2 years and haven't experienced any problems. I only use them for the longer Catholic Full Mass Ceremonies so I can do preceremony, ceremony and post ceremony with out worrying about running out . For shorter wedding ceremonies, I use 63 minute tapes. But that's just me. Don

October 8th, 2003, 06:46 AM	#4
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	Don't know if this helps, but the DVC80 user manual specifically says "Do not use 80-minute mini DV cassette tapes." Of course, they don't bother to tell you why...

February 14th, 2004, 04:38 AM	#9
Krishna Narayanamurti Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	reply from Panasonic tech support... >> Hello, The 80 minute tape will not harm any camera but optimum performance with them can not be guaranteed. It actually has nothing to do with the camera model itself but with the tape. The 80 minute tape is somewhat thinner than other tapes and so its performance is subject to more possible variability. However, if you use them and have no problem, then that is fine. Regards, Panasonic Technical Support <<

February 14th, 2004, 05:50 AM	#10
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	That's what I've read over the years: 80 minute miniDV tape is thinner, thus not as reliable as 60 minute tapes. Haveing said this twice, I've never used 80 minute tapes, nor 3 hour VHS tape. :-)

February 14th, 2004, 06:12 AM	#11
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Unless you have a specific application that requires the 80 minute tapes I would avoid them. The thinner tapes are more prone to stretching. Frequent fast forwarding and rewinding increase the likelihood of stretching the tapes. Even though the tapes may not show initial signs of stretching, it may effect their archival properties. I would not, under any circumstances, reuse (record over) 80 minute tapes. Stretched tapes can cause contamination on the heads, poor audio and video performance, and are more likely to be damaged (eaten) by the camera. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 14th, 2004, 09:51 AM	#12
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I used the 80 minute tapes in my VX-2000 several times when taping long operas a couple years ago. However after that I decided to stick solely to Sony tapes due to concerns over mixing brands. I didn't have any problems with the 80's however. Frank, is there really a 180 minute VHS tape? The longest that I've seen is T-140. Again, these come in handy for distributing copies of performances on a single tape.

February 14th, 2004, 10:24 AM	#13
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	BASF used to market a T-210 VHS tape. I'm not sure they still do, with the decline of VHS use. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 14th, 2004, 12:23 PM	#14
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	3 hour (SP) VHS tape is common here in Vancouver, and has almost replaced the 2 hour ones on store shelves---including Fuji. :-) / :-(

February 14th, 2004, 01:33 PM	#15
Krishna Narayanamurti Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 52	i think 200 mins is BASF's longest VHS length offered now (at least through my tape supplier). never tried the 200's but do use the 180's for clients of an Indian culture show I tape every year at UCSB that always runs just under 3 hours, even with the intermission and other gaps taken out. haven't had problems with the 3 hr tapes, other than maybe one out of every 30 will get eaten in the VCR during the rewind after recording.