DVCAM. DV, miniDV tape formulation differences? at DVinfo.net

Steve House · March 27th, 2005, 09:13 AM

Was looking at the Sony site after seeing a post here discussing Sony's Digital Master tapes and I'm confused about DVCAM, DV, and miniDV tape differences (not so much the recording formats/hardware per se but the tape itself.) The Digital Master offers packaging both in a "standard DVCAM" cartridge and a "mini" cartridge. Is this "mini" packaging the same thing as a "miniDV" cartridge? If so, is this tape in the mini cartridge interchangeable with or usable in cameras like the Canon XL2 that specify "use tapes bearing the 'miniDV' logo" (and careful perusal of the Sony package photo does not reveal any such logo) or is it a situation where although the tapes might fit physically, the media's recording characteristics don't match the recording hardware's optimal tape requirements?

Darko Flajpan · March 29th, 2005, 01:57 AM

One of my friends gave me lots of once used 40 min. MASTER DVCAM mini DV tapes. I used them with my XM2 without any problems. Since I was using Fuji tapes before I cleaned video heads with tape. No dropouts, "clean heads" warnings or other nasty stuff. BTW, this 40 min. tape will give you 60 min. since XL2 records (like my XM2) only in DV, not DVCAM.

March 27th, 2005, 09:13 AM	#1
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	DVCAM. DV, miniDV tape formulation differences? Was looking at the Sony site after seeing a post here discussing Sony's Digital Master tapes and I'm confused about DVCAM, DV, and miniDV tape differences (not so much the recording formats/hardware per se but the tape itself.) The Digital Master offers packaging both in a "standard DVCAM" cartridge and a "mini" cartridge. Is this "mini" packaging the same thing as a "miniDV" cartridge? If so, is this tape in the mini cartridge interchangeable with or usable in cameras like the Canon XL2 that specify "use tapes bearing the 'miniDV' logo" (and careful perusal of the Sony package photo does not reveal any such logo) or is it a situation where although the tapes might fit physically, the media's recording characteristics don't match the recording hardware's optimal tape requirements?

March 29th, 2005, 01:57 AM	#2
Darko Flajpan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bjelovar, Croatia Posts: 153	One of my friends gave me lots of once used 40 min. MASTER DVCAM mini DV tapes. I used them with my XM2 without any problems. Since I was using Fuji tapes before I cleaned video heads with tape. No dropouts, "clean heads" warnings or other nasty stuff. BTW, this 40 min. tape will give you 60 min. since XL2 records (like my XM2) only in DV, not DVCAM. __________________ XM2 Sony DXC637P BetaSP