What Mini Dv Tape Is Best?

Glen Parkinson · October 23rd, 2007, 08:25 AM

I have a Canon XL2 and have been using Fuji DVM60 ME mini DV tape.
My camera is only a few months old and I have had no problim with using Fuji so fare.
I have run around 6 tapes through.
Has anyone had any trouble with this brand of tape?
Is it a recommended brand to use?

Glen Parkinson · July 20th, 2008, 02:05 AM

OK I have now run about 30 Fuji DVM60 ME mini DV tapes through my XL2 since I last commented. I also use a Panasonic camcorder and use the same tapes.
I have had no trouble at all with the Fuji tapes.
In fact I am just about to place an order for another 20 tapes.

Allan Black · July 20th, 2008, 03:43 AM

Just run the cleaner tape before every shoot. Dirt of any type causes dropouts.

Cheers.

Karl Hildreth · August 27th, 2008, 09:53 PM

My wife and I shot a wedding and couldn't find one of the tapes. One of those "it was just here" situations. We looked everywhere then we checked the laundry, the tape had gone through the washer in my pocket. Then through the dryer. I hesitated to even put it in the xl-2 for fear of moisture, but it was warm and very dry! Amazingly it played perfect! No loss of quality against the other tapes. So for us Sony Premium is #1.

Harold Schreiber · August 27th, 2008, 10:07 PM

Hi Dean,

I've run Fuji Tapes since they came on the market, 25 - 30 yr's or so ???

Never had an issue with them, but have had issues with all other brands at one time or another, when I tried other's. Fuji has been consistantly the best for me - through some 10 Cams and 20+ recorders.

Harold

Allan Black · August 28th, 2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Hildreth

My wife and I shot a wedding and couldn't find one of the tapes. One of those "it was just here" situations. We looked everywhere then we checked the laundry, the tape had gone through the washer in my pocket. Then through the dryer. I hesitated to even put it in the xl-2 for fear of moisture, but it was warm and very dry! Amazingly it played perfect! No loss of quality against the other tapes. So for us Sony Premium is #1.

Karl, that tape is now what is termed 'contaminated' I'd copy the material then throw it out. Run the head cleaner through your transports.

Cheers.

Troy Davis · August 28th, 2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Hildreth

My wife and I shot a wedding and couldn't find one of the tapes. One of those "it was just here" situations. We looked everywhere then we checked the laundry, the tape had gone through the washer in my pocket. Then through the dryer. I hesitated to even put it in the xl-2 for fear of moisture, but it was warm and very dry! Amazingly it played perfect! No loss of quality against the other tapes. So for us Sony Premium is #1.

That would be a great commercial for the durability of Sony Prems. By the way, I also use Sony Premiums. I found a great place on amazon to get mine. If you search minidv sony the company is called streamline Audio Video. And no, I'm not affiliated with them I just like their prices ($11.99 pk of 5) and delivery is quick. Also, Amazon themselves has a great deal.

Troy

Jeff Kolada · September 8th, 2008, 12:44 PM

I only use sony brand tapes in my cameras. They are the cheapest while still being reliable. In sony's case, once you pick the brand, there are many different choices of tapes that fit and work in MiniDV and HDV cameras. The only difference between them is reliability. The more expensive tapes are more durable and able to take more use and last longer if used for storage.

Glen Parkinson · December 26th, 2008, 08:09 AM

I have made a change on the brand of mini DV tape I use.
As I mentioned before I use to use Fuji mini DV and had no problem except I am no longer able to get bulk amounts of them.
I now have changed to Panasonic brand tapes and between my cameras I have use around 40-50 tapes so far with only a couple of drop outs.
I chose to use the Panasonic brand because the film school I went to use them with no problem.

I now use the Panasonic FF consumer grade in my single chip camcorders when teaching kids video classes, Panasonic PQ in the XL2 and Panasonic AMQ in the XH-A1 camcorder and been very happy with the whole Panasonic range.

It's Panasonic all they way and I can easily get them in bulk lots.

Roger Shealy · December 26th, 2008, 08:15 AM

I use the Sony DVM60PRR tapes almost exclusively. They cost about $2.50 each and I have yet to experience a failure or drop out. I have used a couple of the much more expensive Sony DVM63HD but can't see any difference in the end product or reliability. I don't use the tapes much, just capture the footage, xfer to PC, then keep them for archiving. I rarely use them again.

October 23rd, 2007, 08:25 AM	#16
Glen Parkinson Tourist Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Clackline, W.A. Australia Posts: 3	Fuji film I have a Canon XL2 and have been using Fuji DVM60 ME mini DV tape. My camera is only a few months old and I have had no problim with using Fuji so fare. I have run around 6 tapes through. Has anyone had any trouble with this brand of tape? Is it a recommended brand to use?

July 20th, 2008, 02:05 AM	#17
Glen Parkinson Tourist Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Clackline, W.A. Australia Posts: 3	Fuji Mini DV tapes OK I have now run about 30 Fuji DVM60 ME mini DV tapes through my XL2 since I last commented. I also use a Panasonic camcorder and use the same tapes. I have had no trouble at all with the Fuji tapes. In fact I am just about to place an order for another 20 tapes.

August 27th, 2008, 09:53 PM	#19
Karl Hildreth Tourist Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 2	What tape is best - Sony Premium My wife and I shot a wedding and couldn't find one of the tapes. One of those "it was just here" situations. We looked everywhere then we checked the laundry, the tape had gone through the washer in my pocket. Then through the dryer. I hesitated to even put it in the xl-2 for fear of moisture, but it was warm and very dry! Amazingly it played perfect! No loss of quality against the other tapes. So for us Sony Premium is #1.

September 8th, 2008, 12:44 PM	#23
Jeff Kolada Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 78	Sony FTW I only use sony brand tapes in my cameras. They are the cheapest while still being reliable. In sony's case, once you pick the brand, there are many different choices of tapes that fit and work in MiniDV and HDV cameras. The only difference between them is reliability. The more expensive tapes are more durable and able to take more use and last longer if used for storage. __________________ Jeff Kolada http://www.jeffkolada.com

July 20th, 2008, 03:43 AM	#18
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,947	Just run the cleaner tape before every shoot. Dirt of any type causes dropouts. Cheers.

August 27th, 2008, 10:07 PM	#20
Harold Schreiber Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 309	Hi Dean, I've run Fuji Tapes since they came on the market, 25 - 30 yr's or so ??? Never had an issue with them, but have had issues with all other brands at one time or another, when I tried other's. Fuji has been consistantly the best for me - through some 10 Cams and 20+ recorders. Harold

December 26th, 2008, 08:09 AM	#24
Glen Parkinson Tourist Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Clackline, W.A. Australia Posts: 3	I have made a change on the brand of mini DV tape I use. As I mentioned before I use to use Fuji mini DV and had no problem except I am no longer able to get bulk amounts of them. I now have changed to Panasonic brand tapes and between my cameras I have use around 40-50 tapes so far with only a couple of drop outs. I chose to use the Panasonic brand because the film school I went to use them with no problem. I now use the Panasonic FF consumer grade in my single chip camcorders when teaching kids video classes, Panasonic PQ in the XL2 and Panasonic AMQ in the XH-A1 camcorder and been very happy with the whole Panasonic range. It's Panasonic all they way and I can easily get them in bulk lots.

December 26th, 2008, 08:15 AM	#25
Roger Shealy Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fayetteville, GA Posts: 772	I use the Sony DVM60PRR tapes almost exclusively. They cost about $2.50 each and I have yet to experience a failure or drop out. I have used a couple of the much more expensive Sony DVM63HD but can't see any difference in the end product or reliability. I don't use the tapes much, just capture the footage, xfer to PC, then keep them for archiving. I rarely use them again.