MiniDV Tapes for HV20

[Ken]

I've just bought an HV20 and took it out for the day yesterday. I've been using Panasonic PQ tapes with my Panasonic GS400 so used a new PQ tape in my HV20. I had 4 dropouts with frame freezes in the 35 minutes I recorded so I'll try a higher grade tape.

A local supplier here in Australia sells the Panasonic PQ tapes for $A5.28, AMQ tapes for $A10.12 and JVC 63HDPRO tapes for $A9.13.

Has anyone here used the JVC HD tapes? I've seen a lot of recommendations here for AMQ tapes but since I can get the JVC HD tapes a bit cheaper should I go for those? I want to stick to one brand as I did with using Panasonic PQ tapes on my GS400.

Also, I read somewhere that some new HV20s have needed to have a head cleaning tape run through them when they're first used so I should try that and see if I have more problems with the PQ tapes, although I will go for the Panasonic AMQ or JVC HD tapes on a permanent basis.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Ken

[iotatau]

Hi,

Relying on what I picked up in Net discussions I have purchased Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ tapes for my HV20. In my first 10 hours of recording I have not had a single dropout so far. They cost about EUR 3.60/piece. Do you have a current PC? I have an AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+. During capture my software requires foreground operation with no disturbance, otherwise it sometimes locks up.

[12ozLife]

I don't think that the droppouts are due to the tape.. It's the camera.. I personally have never had my camera droppout and I have had it since it was released. I use Maxell Mini DV's to shoot on. They are cheap and I have never had a problem with them.