Which HDV tape do you use?

[petr55]

Which tape do you use for the HV20?

I am thinking of either:

Sony HDV PHDVM63DM
or
Panasonic Mini DV Tape 63 Min. AMQ MQ HDV tape

[Mal]

I've only used Panasonic MQ's for the last few years; since they are now discontinued, yes, the AMQ's are the ones I'll use.

[bruny]

I have used the AMQ's (previously the MQ) for years, and have rarely had a drop-out. Great tapes! and pretty cheap at tapeandmedia.com (when they have them in stock)

[colto]

I personally use the JVC HD tapes that I got from B & H Photo. No dropouts yet!

[24Peter]

I have used the AMQ's (previously the MQ) for years, and have rarely had a drop-out. Great tapes! and pretty cheap at tapeandmedia.com (when they have them in stock)

B&H's prices are actually a little better on the AMQ's.

[Luna]

Speaking of mini HD dv tape... Is it okay to re-use the tape? For instance, after shooting, transfer the footage to computer and archive it on an external HD. Then re-use the mini HD dv casette tape. Would this degrade quality of the video?

Also, does the quality differ much from regular mini dv tapes vs HD ?

Thank you.

[David]

Speaking of mini HD dv tape... Is it okay to re-use the tape? For instance, after shooting, transfer the footage to computer and archive it on an external HD. Then re-use the mini HD dv casette tape. Would this degrade quality of the video?

You don't want to reuse DV tapes. Re using these tiny, little, very thin tapes is asking for trouble with dropouts. Because it's digital, the image won't 'degrade' but will, instead, just not be there.

I guess if you're just messing around and shooting random stuff it would be fine, but if you're shooting anything that you definitely want to show or edit or whatever, you're better off dropping a couple bucks for another tape. There's nothing worse than shooting something really great and then finding out the next day that the picture and/or audio disappears or pops in and out because of tape dropout.

My 2-cents

[24Peter]

My 2 cents - When I first got my DVX 100, I never reused a tape. But then I began to question this philosophy and started reusing all those expensive MQ tapes that were gathering dust. Cut to years later - not only was I reusing tapes 5-6 times but I was also recording everything in LP mode - another supposed cause of tape dropouts. Well in all those reused tapes and LP recordings never had one dropout. Never missed one bit of the action.

Now David's POV may be more valid for HDV recording (vs. DV recordings I was doing with my DVX 100) - I have yet to confirm this but have started by reusing my old MQ tapes in my HV20. My first tape had several dropouts - BUT people with HV20's using brand new tapes reported similar issues (most seem to be reporting no issues at all). So for me at least, the issue of reusing tapes for HDV recording is still undecided. I'm also using good quality tapes (supposedly at least) - Panasonic Master Quality (now Advanced Mater Quality). At $7 a pop you better believe I'm gonna reuse them if I can.

[David]

Now David's POV may be more valid for HDV recording (vs. DV recordings I was doing with my DVX 100)

Actually, I've not even shot any HDV. My view on DV tape re-use comes from a couple places. The first is the assumption that every bit of footage is absolutely essential. I've had tape dropouts on tapes that were brand new. Additionally, I've seen many occurances where a tape simply being used twice caused the 2nd recording to be completely unusable.

While drop outs on a brand new tape are likely head-cleaning/camera problems, the re-use problems were not. In one situation, there was about 2 minutes of 'test' footage put on the head of a tape. Then the tape was rewound (since the test footage was pointless) and re-used. When the shooting was completed, the tape was to be captured. Everything on the tape was fine except for the first 2 minutes. It was full of dropouts, but only the portion of the tape that had been used twice was effected.

Finally, I come from the film world and I'll tell you, tape is cheap. $5 for an hour of footage? It's a no brainer. Even on a low budget shoot it costs MUCH more than $5 just to re-shoot something and sometimes it's not even possible to re-shoot. I've seen the problems pop up with reusing tapes and I'd much rather drop a few extra bucks.

[miglo]

Using panasonic DVM63PQ tapes after reading much praise about it.

[David]

Using panasonic DVM63PQ tapes after reading much praise about it.

I used to use these all the time on my 1st DV camera. When I got my 2nd DV camera, I decided to only use Sony tapes with camera 2. This was because the Sony DV tapes are everywhere. I could order them online for about $3 per tape and I could also buy them in just about any WalMart or Best Buy in case of an emergency where I needed more tape.

I never used the 2nd camera enough to compare the cam-1-panasonic to the cam-2-Sony as far as head clogs or anything like that. I believe the Sony are "wet" and the Panasonics are "dry", although I used to have a page bookmarked which had information that said SOME of the Panasonics were wet as well.

I also used to have some kind of information about which companies actually make each tape. I don't remember the details, but there were far more tape brands than there were tape manufacturers and multiple brands were actually the exact same tape.

I'm debating now what to use as the first tape in my new HV20. I have about 20 blank Sony's lying around already, but there's just something about a 'wet' lubricant that makes me cringe. It should be noted that it's not really wet in the sense that it's dripping or oozing liquid, but even though I know that, somehow the word 'wet' just sounds messy.

[miglo]

While the panny tapes are not quite as popular as the sony tapes (in B&M stores anyway), I have yet to find any probs getting them online. BB (and others) do carry them (at least the EJ and AMQ tapes) if you absolutely have to get them from a B&M store.

I usually buy my media from meritline.com or supermediastore.com in bulk, both have which been very reliable. The DVM63PQ tapes are $17 for 5 which breaks it down to $3.40/tape. This is very reasonable for a tape of this quality IMO.

[David Susilo]

Panny AMQ exclusively.

[neocastillo]

I just use some regular DV Fuji tapes. I have used there for years with my XL1s with no problems. Cheap and reliable. The thing is that Fuji actually makes a few of the other tapes out ther just branded different.

[themixguy]

Just shot my first 70 minute long performance piece. I used Panasonic AY-DVM83PQ tape, as the 63 minute tapes were not long enough. I shot in HDV, SP mode. I used the spotlight exposure setting, left the focus on Manual (so the low lighting wouldn't make the auto-focus chase), and turned off the optical image stabilization, per the manual, as the camera was mounted on a fluid head tripod. The footage looks gorgeous, but...

20 minutes into the show, there's a drop-out where the picture and sound are gone for a fraction of a second. I am capturing the footage using the Final Cut Express 3.5.1 on a PowerBook G4 1.33 GHz laptop, using a Firewire 400 external drive. Obviously, there's no way to recreate the show to get the missing moment. I had a second night to record and opted to shoot in Standard Def (not HDV) and brought a second camera (also miniDV) locked down on a wide shot, so I can cut to as needed.

I'm new to all this but would appreciate any experience with a) shooting on 83 minute tapes, b) availability of HDV 83 minutes, brands prefered, c) preparing tapes for shooting.

I usually wind my tapes from front to back, and then back to front to exercise the tape... an old habit from my experience with DAT tapes. I also read somewhere that it was a good idea to "format" the tapes by recording blank program top to bottom, then shooting over the tape.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

-DC

[David Susilo]

AFAIK, no HDV camera approve of 83 minute tapes. However, Sony sells 83 minute HDV tapes.

[markphil]

I remember a few years back someone recommending staying with the 60-63 minute tapes or shorter, for that reason I've always avoided the 83's. FYI, I have consistently used Panasonic 63PQs for many years without any dropout issues or any other problem.

[Deep G]

With all this talk about tape drop-outs I wonder if a hard drive based cam would be more of a no brainer. I had the HV20 for a week and the one and only tape I shot was riddled with drop-outs (like 1 to 4 per minute).

The camera went back due to non existent firewire connectivity. Might take the JVC as an alternative.

[garfield00]

Just in case anyone is reading, would you know if the DVM63PQ miniDV tapes have recently changed their look a bit? I purchased a few from tapestockonline since they are having a sale for $2.89 a tape, and I just received it. However there's no blue sticker in front with "miniDV" on it like the old ones I had. Instead I have a Title sticker for me to write in that place. I find it highly unlikely that this is a fake tape, but it just looks different from the old batches I had. hence the question - could someone who has recently purchased the tapes clarify this?
much appreciated!

[themixguy]

I'm still using Panasonic AY-DVM63AMQ tapes but the 63 minute length exclusively. No drop-put issues. I run a cleaning tape after 10 tape hours or so. And I don't mix brands, as reading indicates different brands, different tape lubreicants can gum up the works. These tapes go for about $5 each but worht it, even if not shooting in HDV, imho. Ymmv. -DC

[Dr. Benway]

I dont mix brands of tape or type either, I use Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/240021-REG/Panasonic_AYDVM63PQ_AY_DVM63PQ_63_Minute_Mini.html

[killjon]

Which tape do you use for the HV20?

I am thinking of either:

Sony HDV PHDVM63DM
or
Panasonic Mini DV Tape 63 Min. AMQ MQ HDV tape

i use sony HDV DVM63

[Lunchbox]

Pana PQ tapes for me.

[DrDave]

Panny from BH photo or Costco on the run.

[JMSVIDEOPRODUCTIONS]

Ditto on never, never, never, ever reusing....just spend the 3 bucks!

Jvc dv60 me's from wal-mart - 6 pack is about 20 bucks
374 in my library to date since last year and never a problem.....

[mackidbrendan]

ok, bit of a noob question but i just bought a HV30 off this site and it should be arriving soon. i need to buy tapes. I have seen HD tapes at my local futureshop. since im shooting HD do i need to use HD tapes or can i just use normal ones? also another quick question, should i use a capture cam? ive read about alot of people never rewinding a tape or capturing it from their "A" camera?

Thanks

[ncusa367]

Maybes a poll about what tape people prefer?


ok, bit of a noob question but i just bought a HV30 off this site and it should be arriving soon. i need to buy tapes. I have seen HD tapes at my local futureshop. since im shooting HD do i need to use HD tapes or can i just use normal ones?

yes, it is a bit of a noob question ;)

you dont need hd tapes, normal tapes will work fine. theres alot of threads like this, probs some stickies, id check out the FAQs.

Ive heard that the only difference is you have less chance of drop outs with hd tapes. I would stick with normal

[Maine_Coon]

Another vote for Panasonic PQ 63 min. I've got 150 of them for about a $1 a few years back (liquidation sale). Still using them. Never had any dropouts.

As of mixing Panasonic and Sony tapes, I have first-hand experience. Using Sony tape after Panasonic tape actually killed my fantastic (at the time) Panasonic NV-MX3000, 3 CCD, brought from Japan (those models weren't sold in the US for some unknown to me reason). No cleaning helped, and the repair shop quoted me $1300 for the fix. MX3000 is still around, dead.

I will never mix tapes again.

[CycleWriter]

ok, bit of a noob question

Yes, it is. We have an entire Sticky devoted to this here:
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=2844

Please post any further tape-related questions in that thread, thank you.