HDV recording on MiniDV tape

Vincent Ng · May 5th, 2008, 11:44 AM

Hi

Í'm new to HDV recording and would need some advise. I have just purchased the XHA1 and was looking for the right MiniDV tapes for recording. The Video accessories shop mentioned to me that I should purchase the MiniDV tape that supports HDV which cost much more than a normal MiniDV tape.

However, curiously, when I insert a normal MiniDV tape into the camera and shoot in HDV, the tape seems to be able to record and output the footages rather well.

Could I ask if anyone could advise:
1) What is the different betwen MiniDV tape that is designed to support HDV recording and the normal MiniDV tape that has generally been used for SDV recording?

2) Is there resolution different the two which I couldn't tell? Do I need to invest in such costly tapes for all my HDV recording?

Thanks.

John Miller · May 5th, 2008, 02:57 PM

No difference between them. Using high grade tapes marked for DV will be fine for HDV.

DV and HDV have the same bit rate. As far as the tape is concerned, there's no difference.

Vincent Ng · May 5th, 2008, 09:11 PM

Hi John

Thanks for the clarification. Seems that I can save up some cost to buy the standard MiniDV tape in bulk for my shooting instead of going for the individual HDV MiniDV tapes.

Regards

Vincent Ng

Jamie Allan · May 6th, 2008, 04:46 AM

HDV tapes are generally higher quality, often coming from closer to the centre of the master spool - the stats say you're 90% less likely to experience drop out/distortion etc which are common with cheap MDV tapes.

Peter Wiley · May 6th, 2008, 05:53 AM

I've shot more than 40 hours of video on my A1 with Sony's "premium" MiniDV tape (about $2.20 wholesale) and have yet to have a dropout event.

The problem with the "90% less likely to have drop out" claims is that I've yet to see any tape manufacturer say what the error rate on their basic tapes is so one can't know what comparison really means. 90% less likely compared to what exactly?

Between my SD and HDV work, I've shot hundreds of hours on the inexpensive Sony tape and think I've had one for two drop outs that I can remember. Maybe I'm just lucky.

How clean the camera's heads are and physical conditions like temp. and humidity etc. are more critical variables I'd think.

Emrys Roberts · October 25th, 2008, 11:35 AM

This was something I was definitely curious about too. Thanks for the clarification guys. :)

Nicholas de Kock · October 25th, 2008, 06:46 PM

I've shot over 100 miniDV tapes between my two XHA1's some Sony some TDK both brands costing $2 a tape in HDV with no drop outs.

Paul Cascio · October 26th, 2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Wiley

I've shot more than 40 hours of video on my A1 with Sony's "premium" MiniDV tape (about $2.20 wholesale) and have yet to have a dropout event.

The problem with the "90% less likely to have drop out" claims is that I've yet to see any tape manufacturer say what the error rate on their basic tapes is so one can't know what comparison really means. 90% less likely compared to what exactly?

Between my SD and HDV work, I've shot hundreds of hours on the inexpensive Sony tape and think I've had one for two drop outs that I can remember. Maybe I'm just lucky.

How clean the camera's heads are and physical conditions like temp. and humidity etc. are more critical variables I'd think.

Excellent post.

Richard Hunter · October 26th, 2008, 07:06 AM

Vincent, if you're still monitoring this thread, you can get slightly higher quality miniDV tapes like Panasonic PQ at Hai Chew in Sim Lim Tower. These are probably a better risk than buying very cheap tapes. The price is quite reasonable and I'm sure you will be able to bargain better than me. :)

Richard

Vincent Ng · October 29th, 2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Hunter

Vincent, if you're still monitoring this thread, you can get slightly higher quality miniDV tapes like Panasonic PQ at Hai Chew in Sim Lim Tower. These are probably a better risk than buying very cheap tapes. The price is quite reasonable and I'm sure you will be able to bargain better than me. :)

Richard

Hi Richard

Thanks for the info. Will check up the shop.

Thanks all for the sharings too.

Rgds

Vincent

May 5th, 2008, 11:44 AM	#1
Vincent Ng Tourist Join Date: May 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 4	HDV recording on MiniDV tape Hi Í'm new to HDV recording and would need some advise. I have just purchased the XHA1 and was looking for the right MiniDV tapes for recording. The Video accessories shop mentioned to me that I should purchase the MiniDV tape that supports HDV which cost much more than a normal MiniDV tape. However, curiously, when I insert a normal MiniDV tape into the camera and shoot in HDV, the tape seems to be able to record and output the footages rather well. Could I ask if anyone could advise: 1) What is the different betwen MiniDV tape that is designed to support HDV recording and the normal MiniDV tape that has generally been used for SDV recording? 2) Is there resolution different the two which I couldn't tell? Do I need to invest in such costly tapes for all my HDV recording? Thanks.

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May 5th, 2008, 02:57 PM	#2
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 886	No difference between them. Using high grade tapes marked for DV will be fine for HDV. DV and HDV have the same bit rate. As far as the tape is concerned, there's no difference.

May 5th, 2008, 09:11 PM	#3
Vincent Ng Tourist Join Date: May 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 4	Hi John Thanks for the clarification. Seems that I can save up some cost to buy the standard MiniDV tape in bulk for my shooting instead of going for the individual HDV MiniDV tapes. Regards Vincent Ng

May 6th, 2008, 04:46 AM	#4
Jamie Allan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Notts, UK Posts: 101	HDV tapes are generally higher quality, often coming from closer to the centre of the master spool - the stats say you're 90% less likely to experience drop out/distortion etc which are common with cheap MDV tapes.

May 6th, 2008, 05:53 AM	#5
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 742	I've shot more than 40 hours of video on my A1 with Sony's "premium" MiniDV tape (about $2.20 wholesale) and have yet to have a dropout event. The problem with the "90% less likely to have drop out" claims is that I've yet to see any tape manufacturer say what the error rate on their basic tapes is so one can't know what comparison really means. 90% less likely compared to what exactly? Between my SD and HDV work, I've shot hundreds of hours on the inexpensive Sony tape and think I've had one for two drop outs that I can remember. Maybe I'm just lucky. How clean the camera's heads are and physical conditions like temp. and humidity etc. are more critical variables I'd think.

October 25th, 2008, 11:35 AM	#6
Emrys Roberts Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 25	This was something I was definitely curious about too. Thanks for the clarification guys. :)

October 25th, 2008, 06:46 PM	#7
Nicholas de Kock Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: KLD, South Africa Posts: 71	I've shot over 100 miniDV tapes between my two XHA1's some Sony some TDK both brands costing $2 a tape in HDV with no drop outs.

October 26th, 2008, 07:06 AM	#9
Richard Hunter Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 781	Vincent, if you're still monitoring this thread, you can get slightly higher quality miniDV tapes like Panasonic PQ at Hai Chew in Sim Lim Tower. These are probably a better risk than buying very cheap tapes. The price is quite reasonable and I'm sure you will be able to bargain better than me. :) Richard