Match the supplies to the equipment

Mike Rehmus · September 12th, 2006, 07:08 AM

Sorry, it is not irrelevant. It doesn't matter how many factions you think Sony may have, they still design their tapes to match the requirements of their camras and vice-versa. They, like every other company that make consumables for their hardware, look for every possible advantage they can during the design of their supplies. It's because the supplies business is so very profitable that they want and need to defend their supplies turf.

James Connors · September 12th, 2006, 07:42 AM

But my point is, Sony don't design the tapes in any shape or form. They buy them and repackage them... same with CDRs, VHS tapes etc... There is no doubt in my mind that there's anything about those tapes that has been geared towards being run thru the PDs heads at all. They've been tried and tested, sure, but thats to the extent of it. Everytime a manual says "We only recommend using {our} brand of consumables" it has nothing to do with compatability, and all to do with brand loyalty and profits.

Mike Rehmus · September 12th, 2006, 08:02 AM

Sorry but I continue to disagree. Having been involved in the supply business in the printer marketplace, I can tell you that we were very concerned about the specifications and quality of the supplies. We competed with other companies whos products were similar to ours. The major difference in the customer's eyes were first for performance and then for price.

In no case did the companies (Xerox, Qume, Versatec) own their supplies manufacturers. But we had specs they had to meet and we sampled every batch of paper, toner, ribbons, etc. Every supplier had to qualify their products to even get on the approved purchasing list.

Sony (and any other camera manufacturer) is very sensitive to the delivered image quality from their cameras. If tape specs meant nothing to them, then the issues of dry vs wet lubricant and their contribution to major camera service problems wouldn't have existed back in the dark ages of DV because there would have been only one tape specification (that would be the cheapest solution). Image quality, head life, warranty issues all drive the companies to have a good match between hardware and supplies.

Having dealt directly with upper management of several major Japanese companies, my experience (not directly with Sony) is that they leave nothing to chance. Nothing.

By US law, a manufacturer of a product that uses consumables may not tell their customers that only their supplies may be used to avoid problems with their warranty. All they can say is that they strongly recommend the use of their supplies for the best results. If you could look into the test data, you would know that the manufacturer's supplies almost always work better in their hardware than that from a 3rd party.

David Tindale · April 26th, 2008, 02:09 AM

Would just like to say that I bought my PD 170 a few years ago in Australia and in the booklet regarding warrenty Sony definitely states that if you do not use Sony tapes that your warranty is void. I personally don't have a problem with that, but I can see how other people might eg why should it matter what brand you use.

I work for a media company that uses Sony cameras but we use Panasonic tapes and only panasonic. BTW that policy was in place before I joined, we haven't had any problems and we buy in bulk.

September 12th, 2006, 07:08 AM	#16
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Sorry, it is not irrelevant. It doesn't matter how many factions you think Sony may have, they still design their tapes to match the requirements of their camras and vice-versa. They, like every other company that make consumables for their hardware, look for every possible advantage they can during the design of their supplies. It's because the supplies business is so very profitable that they want and need to defend their supplies turf. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 12th, 2006, 08:02 AM	#18
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Sorry but I continue to disagree. Having been involved in the supply business in the printer marketplace, I can tell you that we were very concerned about the specifications and quality of the supplies. We competed with other companies whos products were similar to ours. The major difference in the customer's eyes were first for performance and then for price. In no case did the companies (Xerox, Qume, Versatec) own their supplies manufacturers. But we had specs they had to meet and we sampled every batch of paper, toner, ribbons, etc. Every supplier had to qualify their products to even get on the approved purchasing list. Sony (and any other camera manufacturer) is very sensitive to the delivered image quality from their cameras. If tape specs meant nothing to them, then the issues of dry vs wet lubricant and their contribution to major camera service problems wouldn't have existed back in the dark ages of DV because there would have been only one tape specification (that would be the cheapest solution). Image quality, head life, warranty issues all drive the companies to have a good match between hardware and supplies. Having dealt directly with upper management of several major Japanese companies, my experience (not directly with Sony) is that they leave nothing to chance. Nothing. By US law, a manufacturer of a product that uses consumables may not tell their customers that only their supplies may be used to avoid problems with their warranty. All they can say is that they strongly recommend the use of their supplies for the best results. If you could look into the test data, you would know that the manufacturer's supplies almost always work better in their hardware than that from a 3rd party. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 12th, 2006, 07:42 AM	#17
James Connors Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 223	But my point is, Sony don't design the tapes in any shape or form. They buy them and repackage them... same with CDRs, VHS tapes etc... There is no doubt in my mind that there's anything about those tapes that has been geared towards being run thru the PDs heads at all. They've been tried and tested, sure, but thats to the extent of it. Everytime a manual says "We only recommend using {our} brand of consumables" it has nothing to do with compatability, and all to do with brand loyalty and profits.

April 26th, 2008, 02:09 AM	#19
David Tindale Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lismore, New South Wales Posts: 31	Would just like to say that I bought my PD 170 a few years ago in Australia and in the booklet regarding warrenty Sony definitely states that if you do not use Sony tapes that your warranty is void. I personally don't have a problem with that, but I can see how other people might eg why should it matter what brand you use. I work for a media company that uses Sony cameras but we use Panasonic tapes and only panasonic. BTW that policy was in place before I joined, we haven't had any problems and we buy in bulk.