Best brand of miniDV tapes? at DVinfo.net

Gabriel Yeager · October 21st, 2006, 02:37 PM

I'm new to all of this, so please bear with me.
I have just received my first miniDV camera Wednesday, and now I need tapes.

I have a couple of questions now.
1). What brand do you use, and what would you say is the best?
2). Is there any other tapes that are a "wet lubricant" other then Panasonic?
3). Is there really a difference in the quality on some tapes, compared to others?

Thanks,
~Gabriel~

Glenn Chan · October 22nd, 2006, 12:32 AM

A lot of these issues get re-hashed over and over, and nobody really knows anything. I would just keep a lot of tape stock on hand (because you're in trouble if you run out) and get whatever's cheap (miniDVs are <$3 online). Other factors are way more important than what tape you use (and we don't really know if brand X is significantly better).

Factors like:
checking your tapes after you shoot them
not screwing up (i.e. label your tapes)
letting the camera temperature equalize

having good content
etc.

2- Panasonic uses dry lubricant I believe... Jan Crittenden used to say otherwise, but was misinformed.

3- Picture quality is the same. miniDV records 1s and 0s on the tape. Error correction ensures that those 1s and 0s are read back correctly.

Gabriel Yeager · October 22nd, 2006, 10:11 AM

Thanks, Glenn. Sounds great. Thanks for correcting what I said about the Dry/wet lubricant. I think I'll use the Panasonic's that I have on hand.
is it sony that is the only wet lubricant? I believe that is what I just read.

Thanks,
~Gabriel~

Jimmy McKenzie · October 22nd, 2006, 07:57 PM

They are all fine.

Just use each tape twice. Once to record, once to playback. Then store it. New shoot = new tape.

Gabriel Yeager · October 23rd, 2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy McKenzie

They are all fine.

Just use each tape twice. Once to record, once to playback. Then store it. New shoot = new tape.

Thanks, Jimmy! I like the way you worded that. :D I think its time that I go out and start shooting now.

Thanks everyone!
~Gabriel~

October 21st, 2006, 02:37 PM	#1
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Best brand of miniDV tapes? I'm new to all of this, so please bear with me. I have just received my first miniDV camera Wednesday, and now I need tapes. I have a couple of questions now. 1). What brand do you use, and what would you say is the best? 2). Is there any other tapes that are a "wet lubricant" other then Panasonic? 3). Is there really a difference in the quality on some tapes, compared to others? Thanks, ~Gabriel~ __________________ Gabriel Photography Last edited by Gabriel Yeager; October 21st, 2006 at 03:57 PM.

October 22nd, 2006, 10:11 AM	#3
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Thanks, Glenn. Sounds great. Thanks for correcting what I said about the Dry/wet lubricant. I think I'll use the Panasonic's that I have on hand. is it sony that is the only wet lubricant? I believe that is what I just read. Thanks, ~Gabriel~ __________________ Gabriel Photography

October 22nd, 2006, 12:32 AM	#2
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	A lot of these issues get re-hashed over and over, and nobody really knows anything. I would just keep a lot of tape stock on hand (because you're in trouble if you run out) and get whatever's cheap (miniDVs are <$3 online). Other factors are way more important than what tape you use (and we don't really know if brand X is significantly better). Factors like: checking your tapes after you shoot them not screwing up (i.e. label your tapes) letting the camera temperature equalize having good content etc. 2- Panasonic uses dry lubricant I believe... Jan Crittenden used to say otherwise, but was misinformed. 3- Picture quality is the same. miniDV records 1s and 0s on the tape. Error correction ensures that those 1s and 0s are read back correctly.

October 22nd, 2006, 07:57 PM	#4
Jimmy McKenzie Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 721	They are all fine. Just use each tape twice. Once to record, once to playback. Then store it. New shoot = new tape.