What tape do you use?

[kafeero]

I am yet to see a thread that is dedicated specifically dedicated for tapes so here I go...

I think it will be helpful to have information of tapes, issues of the tapes and experiences with the tape in one thread.

What type of tape(s) do you use with your HV20 or HV30?
What is the performance?(dropout issues)
How much does it cost?
How often do you clean the heads?
Anything else?

[1]

There's plenty threads discusing tapes. The FAQ mentiones this one:
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?p=22344

The consensus is:
Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ and its various flavours.

You should have NO dropouts, by the way.

Some of the other questions can be answered by using the search feature also; a search for HEAD CLEANING brings up MANY posts on the subject.

[Lunchbox]

I am using Pana PQ tapes. I still have drop outs once in a while. I learn to live with it.

[kafeero]

Thanks for the replies. What I'm looking for is not a comparison between premium or HD tapes but rather what everyone's preference is and how they perform. I guess sort of like a poll.

[CanonA1]

Sony premium minidv tapes. Just bought a lot of 20 from BHphoto for around $2.51 apiece. I have perhaps 5 tapes recorded so far and don't recall a dropout. Haven't cleaned the heads yet.

On my older digital 8 SOny units I had good luck with the cheapest Sony tapes. No difference between those and a hi-8 tape. My TRV7000 wouldn't play or record in LP mode but my TRV730 would on hi-8 tapes only. No problems recording in longer modes and using a different machine to play them back. No the TRV740 would record in LP mode on standard 8mm tapes without any problems. Perhaps the digital 8 system is a lot more robuset than minidv. The HV20 is my first experience with mindv tape. Now if we're talking analog hi-8 all tapes had dropouts for me!

[kafeero]

Anyone else??

[mattias]

ditto the sonys. cheap and good. i get dropouts on capture once in a while, every i don't know maybe five tapes, but a recapture usually fixes it.

/matt

[st1x10]

Sony's here. I use them because most stores (walmart, best buy, ect) have them in stock if I don't get them off the internet.

[Skatervideoguy]

Hi kafeero,

I've been using Fuji for last 25+ yrs, along with some Maxell. Fuji has been the best for me, as I've tried all the other's too. Back when testing tapes was in vogue, Fuji seemed to come out at, or close to, the top.

Harold