Best tape stock for A1/G1 HDV Camcorders

Garrison Hayes · November 7th, 2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noel Evans

Yes I was informed some time ago the Sony tapes are actually dry lube these days.

I have been using my Leftover Pana MQs.

What!? Sony owes me big time...
If Johnny Cockeran wasnt dead..............i'd be a millionare.

Bill Pryor · November 16th, 2006, 07:59 PM

I'm wondering what kind of tape people who have the H1 and those who have been using their new A1s are using. Is anybody using the pricey HDV stock, or just plain vanilla DV tape?

Henry Cho · November 17th, 2006, 03:31 AM

bill, the tape mechanisms are supposedly better in made-for-hdv tapes, so it may be worth shooting critical footage on them, but i've been using inexpensive panny pq stock i had left over and i haven't experienced a dropout yet. i've been satisfied with how the pq's have held up, and i recently ordered more of them.

Noel Evans · November 17th, 2006, 05:42 AM

Bill, Im in the same boat as Henry. Using basically the Japanese version and no issues at all. I did use the initial HDV I got with the cam, no difference.

Nick Weeks · November 17th, 2006, 04:05 PM

I'm honestly beginning to thing these HDV tapes are all a marketing ploy to get uninformed users to spend more money. For all we know it's the same chemical makeup and thickness as regular tape, only says "HDV" on it and costs $10 more.....

Bill Pryor · November 17th, 2006, 04:08 PM

Don't forget the nicer packaging.

Mike Teutsch · November 17th, 2006, 04:13 PM

Who knows how much extra it costs to put that extra "H" on there. Come-on, support your local tape manufacturer!

Seriously, the cheap ones have always worked just fine for me.

Mike

Bill Pryor · November 17th, 2006, 04:21 PM

Our tape supplier has Panasonic Advanced Master Quality minis for $9.08. The Sony mini DVCAM equivalent is 3-4 dollars more. The Panasonic PQ minis are only around 4 bucks. Seems to me Panasonic tape is the best deal, whether PQ or AMQ.

Noel Evans · November 17th, 2006, 04:40 PM

Stick with the MQs Bill. Once you decide it usually best to stick with one only and not swap and change.

Will Aldersley · December 27th, 2006, 05:50 AM

Hello

Just purchased the HX-A1, and it came with a Canon HDVM-E63PR tape....which is very nice of them....but I was wondering whether I would be ok using a more reasonably priced tape? These retail at about £14....in UK. I haven't taped anything yet....just in case I'm advised of a better deal.....or am I being way too cautious regarding using a type of tape I might not use again?
I've been using the JVC M-DV60DE with my XM2, and have about 10 left. I intend to use my XM2 as a backup cam.

Does anyone have any advise on a reasonably priced tape I can buy in bulk (50-100 units), and where to buy....
thanks in advance.

Mike Teutsch · December 27th, 2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Aldersley

Hello

Just purchased the HX-A1, and it came with a Canon HDVM-E63PR tape....which is very nice of them....but I was wondering whether I would be ok using a more reasonably priced tape? These retail at about £14....in UK. I haven't taped anything yet....just in case I'm advised of a better deal.....or am I being way too cautious regarding using a type of tape I might not use again?
I've been using the JVC M-DV60DE with my XM2, and have about 10 left. I intend to use my XM2 as a backup cam.

Does anyone have any advise on a reasonably priced tape I can buy in bulk (50-100 units), and where to buy....
thanks in advance.

Please go to our "Long Black Line" forum, which is dedicated to tape issues. There are many posts there you can read.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=64

Mike

Will Aldersley · December 27th, 2006, 09:50 AM

Hello

Just purchased the XH A1, and it came with a Canon HDVM-E63PR tape....which is very nice of them....but I was wondering whether I would be ok using a more reasonably priced tape? These retail at about £14-£16 ($30)....in UK. I haven't taped anything yet....just in case I'm advised of a better deal.....or,am I being way too cautious regards using a type of tape (Canon) that I might not use again? I realise you need to stick to one brand....so would using the canon limit me to ALWAYS using Canon??

I've been using the JVC M-DV60DE with my XM2, and have about 10 left. I intend to use my XM2 as a backup cam.

Does anyone have any advise on a reasonably priced tape I can buy in bulk (50-100 units), and where to buy....
thanks in advance.

Anthony Leong · December 27th, 2006, 02:43 PM

I bought the Panasonic AMQ tapes for my Canon XH-A1. I haven't use the Canon tape which came in the box, because everyone is basically saying stick with one brand of tapes and don't mix brands.

Will Aldersley · December 28th, 2006, 03:22 AM

So is that the general consensus, don't even use one "off" brand? I can't justify spending + £14 per tape to myself nevermind my clients . I'm going to have to order me some mid-range tapes and stick to them then... *sigh*

Panasonic AMQ you say? Does anyone else have a suggestion?

Eric Dyer · December 28th, 2006, 04:20 AM

I have been using the sony HDV tapes, 10$ from B & H, I have also been using sony premium tapes (about 5$), no drop outs yet....but once you go with a particular tape, stick with that brand, camcorder heads get used to the chemicals from each specific manufacture. If you always use a different brand you may destroy your heads quicker then if you just stick with one brand.

*e

November 16th, 2006, 07:59 PM	#32
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Tape stock I'm wondering what kind of tape people who have the H1 and those who have been using their new A1s are using. Is anybody using the pricey HDV stock, or just plain vanilla DV tape?

November 17th, 2006, 04:13 PM	#37
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	Who knows how much extra it costs to put that extra "H" on there. Come-on, support your local tape manufacturer! Seriously, the cheap ones have always worked just fine for me. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

December 27th, 2006, 05:50 AM	#40
Will Aldersley Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manchester CITY Posts: 31	Which Tape? Hello Just purchased the HX-A1, and it came with a Canon HDVM-E63PR tape....which is very nice of them....but I was wondering whether I would be ok using a more reasonably priced tape? These retail at about £14....in UK. I haven't taped anything yet....just in case I'm advised of a better deal.....or am I being way too cautious regarding using a type of tape I might not use again? I've been using the JVC M-DV60DE with my XM2, and have about 10 left. I intend to use my XM2 as a backup cam. Does anyone have any advise on a reasonably priced tape I can buy in bulk (50-100 units), and where to buy.... thanks in advance.

December 27th, 2006, 09:50 AM	#42
Will Aldersley Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manchester CITY Posts: 31	XH A1; which tape? Hello Just purchased the XH A1, and it came with a Canon HDVM-E63PR tape....which is very nice of them....but I was wondering whether I would be ok using a more reasonably priced tape? These retail at about £14-£16 ($30)....in UK. I haven't taped anything yet....just in case I'm advised of a better deal.....or,am I being way too cautious regards using a type of tape (Canon) that I might not use again? I realise you need to stick to one brand....so would using the canon limit me to ALWAYS using Canon?? I've been using the JVC M-DV60DE with my XM2, and have about 10 left. I intend to use my XM2 as a backup cam. Does anyone have any advise on a reasonably priced tape I can buy in bulk (50-100 units), and where to buy.... thanks in advance.

December 28th, 2006, 04:20 AM	#45
Eric Dyer Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CA Posts: 55	Sony I have been using the sony HDV tapes, 10$ from B & H, I have also been using sony premium tapes (about 5$), no drop outs yet....but once you go with a particular tape, stick with that brand, camcorder heads get used to the chemicals from each specific manufacture. If you always use a different brand you may destroy your heads quicker then if you just stick with one brand. *e

November 17th, 2006, 03:31 AM	#33
Henry Cho Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 516	bill, the tape mechanisms are supposedly better in made-for-hdv tapes, so it may be worth shooting critical footage on them, but i've been using inexpensive panny pq stock i had left over and i haven't experienced a dropout yet. i've been satisfied with how the pq's have held up, and i recently ordered more of them.

November 17th, 2006, 05:42 AM	#34
Noel Evans Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 157	Bill, Im in the same boat as Henry. Using basically the Japanese version and no issues at all. I did use the initial HDV I got with the cam, no difference.

November 17th, 2006, 04:05 PM	#35
Nick Weeks Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL USA Posts: 722	I'm honestly beginning to thing these HDV tapes are all a marketing ploy to get uninformed users to spend more money. For all we know it's the same chemical makeup and thickness as regular tape, only says "HDV" on it and costs $10 more.....

November 17th, 2006, 04:08 PM	#36
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Don't forget the nicer packaging.

November 17th, 2006, 04:21 PM	#38
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Our tape supplier has Panasonic Advanced Master Quality minis for $9.08. The Sony mini DVCAM equivalent is 3-4 dollars more. The Panasonic PQ minis are only around 4 bucks. Seems to me Panasonic tape is the best deal, whether PQ or AMQ.

November 17th, 2006, 04:40 PM	#39
Noel Evans Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 157	Stick with the MQs Bill. Once you decide it usually best to stick with one only and not swap and change.

December 27th, 2006, 02:43 PM	#43
Anthony Leong Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: United States Posts: 93	I bought the Panasonic AMQ tapes for my Canon XH-A1. I haven't use the Canon tape which came in the box, because everyone is basically saying stick with one brand of tapes and don't mix brands.

December 28th, 2006, 03:22 AM	#44
Will Aldersley Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manchester CITY Posts: 31	So is that the general consensus, don't even use one "off" brand? I can't justify spending + £14 per tape to myself nevermind my clients . I'm going to have to order me some mid-range tapes and stick to them then... sigh Panasonic AMQ you say? Does anyone else have a suggestion?