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Gear / Technical Help => Photo / Video Recording => Topic started by: Teen Wolf Blitzer on March 14, 2010, 02:55:11 PM

Title: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: Teen Wolf Blitzer on March 14, 2010, 02:55:11 PM
And I've read to buy Panasonic over Sony.  Any truth to that?
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: chicofishhead on March 14, 2010, 03:17:17 PM
I always get Sony myself (I have mostly Sony cameras).  Some people say you should stick to one brand because of different oxides that the different brands use, although I work at a TV station and none of the production guys or engineers have ever heard that.

The one brand that has screwed me is TDK.  Their bad tapes threw wrenches in a couple things I tried to do (although those were 8s).  Never again TDK for me.

Usually I just get them at Target or order online.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: firmdragon on March 14, 2010, 06:53:31 PM
in my experience, the tape doesn't really matter.  on the other hand, i don't use sonys.  i read a long time ago that people stick to one brand because tape head clogs were caused by mixing of different lubricants.  now from what i remember, it was mainly the sony branded ones that used a wet lubricant, while the others were dry.  so to be safe either you were only sony, or never sony.  however wikipedia says differently:


Quote
There is controversy over whether or not using tapes from different manufacturers can lead to dropouts.[20][21][22] A research undertaken by Sony revealed no hard evidence of the above statement. The only evidence found was that using ME tapes in equipment designed for MP tapes can cause tape damage and hence dropouts.[23]
The perpetuation of this controversy, based solely on hearsay, is misleading to end users. Sony has done a significant amount of internal testing to simulate head clogs as a result of mixing tape lubricants, and has been unable to recreate the problem. Sony recommends using cleaning cassettes once every 50 hours of recording or playback. For those who are still skeptical, Sony recommends cleaning video heads with a cleaning cassette before trying another brand of tape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DV 


oh and try costco.  either that or craigslist.  i've never had a problem w/ TDK
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: willndmb on March 14, 2010, 07:56:12 PM
i get memorex at sams club
8 for $18

i can tell you i believe the stick to one brand thought
i had a old camera and used whatever brand tapes i got on sale and i had tons of issue with dropped frames and "blocking up" images
on my new camera i ONLY use memorex and have had no real issues
the one time i did i cleaned the heads and have been fine since
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: digitallive on March 15, 2010, 04:41:43 PM
i get memorex at sams club
8 for $18

i can tell you i believe the stick to one brand thought
i had a old camera and used whatever brand tapes i got on sale and i had tons of issue with dropped frames and "blocking up" images
on my new camera i ONLY use memorex and have had no real issues
the one time i did i cleaned the heads and have been fine since

dont you mean maxell? thats what all the sams in PA sell, and come to think of it i've never scene a memorex mini-DV tape. they should stick to selling below par consumer grade shit to people @ wal-mart who don't know any better.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: willndmb on March 15, 2010, 08:53:53 PM
yeah i guess they are maxell

maxell are not good tapes??
i never had any issue with them
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: Teen Wolf Blitzer on March 15, 2010, 09:32:19 PM
I'm going with Panasonic's only.  ALL (and mean all) of the folks at HV20.com recommend them and say to stay away from all others.
I will trust those folks.  YMMV

And I'm getting them here....

http://www.tapestockonline.com/pamidv.html
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: willndmb on March 16, 2010, 10:43:44 AM
I'm going with Panasonic's only.  ALL (and mean all) of the folks at HV20.com recommend them and say to stay away from all others.
I will trust those folks.  YMMV

And I'm getting them here....

http://www.tapestockonline.com/pamidv.html
thanks for the info - just grabbed a hv20, used it for 5 mins
have to check out that site, in the mean time do you know which panny tapes people are using out of the ones listed?
thanks
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: Teen Wolf Blitzer on March 16, 2010, 11:13:55 AM
These are the ones.

http://www.tapestockonline.com/pan60minmin.html

And that forum is really cool.  All sorts of cool mods, add ons, accessories you can do with the 20,30 and 40.

I mean this is just ridiculous.

(http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/8895/1001615zu8.jpg)

Don't ask me what it all does.  lol
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: willndmb on March 16, 2010, 07:30:54 PM
thanks i def have to check it out
+t
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: allan on March 17, 2010, 12:07:34 AM
I use Panasonic tapes and always buy in bulk off eBay w/ Bing cashback, I order 100 at a time for $2 or less a tape.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: digitallive on March 23, 2010, 02:09:28 AM
I'm going with Panasonic's only.  ALL (and mean all) of the folks at HV20.com recommend them and say to stay away from all others.
I will trust those folks.  YMMV

And I'm getting them here....

http://www.tapestockonline.com/pamidv.html

a buddy of mine that i sometimes film shows with has an hv20 and we've used maxell miniDV tapes in them plenty of times. for one show we didnt know if we'd be recording the last band & ended up doing so but had no HD tapes so we used a maxell and they looks pretty much the same to me.

also i've taped over a few maxell's (tough times & had just bought 2 sd-card cams) in LP mode even and they looked fine. actually i've never noticed a differance b/t SP and LP on miniDV tapes.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: Low Spark on March 26, 2010, 11:07:37 AM
Ive Found that Costco has the best prices that I have found. 22.49 for 10 Panasonic tapes. Ive always used that and never had a problem. We also run them on coupon every now and then and I catch for for 16.99 for 10.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: rastasean on March 26, 2010, 09:19:44 PM
These are the ones.

http://www.tapestockonline.com/pan60minmin.html

And that forum is really cool.  All sorts of cool mods, add ons, accessories you can do with the 20,30 and 40.

I mean this is just ridiculous.
Don't ask me what it all does.  lol


That's extreme! Looks like they made it to pull focus. like you see in movies, tv shows, music videos where the subject comes in/out of focus.
it also looks like there's a remote monitor because obviously you can't use the viewfinder or lcd screen.

although its not "professional" I bet you would have a hard time taking it into a show.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: junkyardt on April 02, 2010, 03:35:55 PM
i have a JVC camera and have always used Sony tapes. i wonder if switching to Panasonic would be OK, or should I stick with Sony now that I've begun with Sony? then again, I've never had any problems with Sony tapes, so I guess if it's not broke, don't fix it? also I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with those higher levels of Panasonic tapes (the PQ and AMQ grades)? there's a pretty big price difference but is there any noticeable quality difference?
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: Red Boink on April 02, 2010, 11:40:34 PM
for DV and DVcam tapes I use Sony brand from www.taperesources.com Always had excellent service and fresh media.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: dee-j on May 01, 2010, 05:54:25 PM
I have done pretty much the same in the past. Strictly a Panasonic man. You can get the highest quality tapes brand new for a cheap price if you do a little looking

I use Panasonic tapes and always buy in bulk off eBay w/ Bing cashback, I order 100 at a time for $2 or less a tape.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: coloartist on May 02, 2010, 10:39:09 AM
I only use Panasonic PQ (professional quality)

I buy 80% 63min tapes $2.49
(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/582864.jpg)

and 20% 83min tapes  $6.89
(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/582865.jpg)

from B and H.

The 63 minute tapes are way cheaper, but if it is a 2 hour set, I would prefer to have one tape flip. If I am running 2 cams, I will always go with the 63minute tapes.
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: Josh P on May 11, 2010, 04:16:05 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That is a smoking deal.  Those PQ tapes used to be much more expensive.  Now the consumer grade tapes are a dime more expensive than the PQ tapes, very odd.

Just bought 50 of the 63's.  83's are backordered :(
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: willndmb on May 11, 2010, 09:40:13 PM
is the 63 min SP mode?
the 83 might be better for HD stuff as far as flips goes
Title: Re: where do folks buy their mini DV tapes?
Post by: bluntforcetrauma on September 23, 2010, 11:50:04 PM
I have been using those Panny tapes 63 minute ( the new looking U.S black Panny tapes ever since they came out) I get 25-50 tapes every couple of months.

I get them at tapestockonline.com

But i have had some trouble with the 83 minute tapes.  Some playback issues and timecoding.  But again only on the 83 minute tape.  I tape a lot, at times 3 cam's going. (2 canon Hv30's and 1 HV40).