Hey Guys

I can get my hands on the ProHD 63min tapes at a good price i have used them in my JVC camera but now i would like to use them in my Sony Z7

There shouldn't be any issues i have never reused a tape i always use new tapes

Rob.

I think they are very good (so far)

I've found drop-out instances to be rare (touching wood) so can recommend these tapes. They are cheap too!

Many people on this forum advise against tape brand swapping but I can't say I've ever in my career heard of this problem before and neither have I ever had any issues from using Maxel and Sony tapes for example, in my Digi Beta etc. However, I can't say I've ever swapped brands in my JVC, only because the tapes I get are the best price and work well!

I agree with Stuart, The JVC's are priced well and work great. I bet they will work just fine in that sony of yours. BTW what's your good price if you don't mind me asking?



j

I was faithful to the jvc tapes from day one, but I got frequent drop-outs so
I switch to the sony hdv tapes and only had 1 drop out in a year.

about 5 or 6 Euros per roll plus vat.

Hey Guys

I can get my hands on the ProHD 63min tapes at a good price i have used them in my JVC camera but now i would like to use them in my Sony Z7

There shouldn't be any issues i have never reused a tape i always use new tapes

Rob.

I originally used them in my JVC GR-HD1 and now in my Canon XH-A1. Never had a problem or dropout so far. Good tapes.

Make sure you thoroughly clean the heads / tape mechanism before changing tape types. Some of the ingredients used by manufacturers don't play nicely with the opposition tape.

I had problems with other manufacturers before changing to JVC ProHD stock, but this maybe partly due to using whatever stock the producer provided. Now I always insist on the JVC stock I provide and have had no problems in over a year.

I just had an interesting conversation with someone. Are standard dv tapes, such as the Sony DVCam tapes just as good as the HDV mini DV tapes in the JVC camera?

I was just having the same conversation with someone about dvcam vs. jvc hdv tapes, anyone have any info?

Make sure you thoroughly clean the heads / tape mechanism before changing tape types. Some of the ingredients used by manufacturers don't play nicely with the opposition tape.

I had problems with other manufacturers before changing to JVC ProHD stock, but this maybe partly due to using whatever stock the producer provided. Now I always insist on the JVC stock I provide and have had no problems in over a year.

Phil

the Sony Z7 is brand new have run 20 sony DVM60PRO tapes through the camera but now i can save $4 per tape using the JVC ProHD 63min tapes but am scared to run a head cleaning tape

what do you think

I've got close to a 100 never used DVCAM mini dv tapes and would love to use them. I'd be able to save a little money.

Rob,
I think running a head cleaning tape won't do any significant harm to your camera. You should do this every so often anyway.

What will be a problem is the mixing of different compounds used by different manufacturers of tape stock. Small amounts residue gets left on heads and tape transport path in the deck. In some cases the chemical combining of what is meant to be a lubricant becomes more like a glue. At best you'll end up with lots of drop outs or a major cleaning at a service centre.

Lemac rentals now insist you use the manufacturer of the cameras brand of tape in the camera they hire you.

Contact me directly if you want to know exactly what happened to me (details on contact page of my website. Contacts for Phil Balsdon, cinematographer and steadicam operator (http://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/contacts.html))

Phil Balsdon

I make a point of running a JVC branded cleaning tape thru my HD200 for the recommended 10 seconds every 20-30 ish hours of tape roll as a matter of course. Yes, premature wear is bad but drop outs are worse if they occur during a "never again" scene. Just my 2 cents.

Just spoke to JVC rep and he told me not to use a JVC tape in a sony camera. Sony use wet tapes i dont understand what he meant by that and there heads work differently so i guess i will stay with the sony brand and just re-use them once.

you re-use tape?

After using hundreds of different tapes from all the manufacturers, I have noticed no difference in the quality. I have had about the same amount of dropouts on £20 DVCAM tape as on £1 cheapos tapes. I use head cleaners when required and try to stick with one brand at a time until I use up my stock.

I use the large Sony 3hr tapes when I need them and £1 miniDV tapes (Fujis are the moment) when 1hr (or 45min in DVCAM) is long enough. It has never caused me a problem and has saved me thousands of pounds. If something is very critical, I tend to use the DVCAM tapestock. Not so much because of the evidence, it's more that I can't get the blame for using cheap stock.

I have found it is more the recorder that causes the dropouts - some are worse than others irrelevant of the tape brand in them.

I have also heard that there are only two or three production lines for DV tapestock in the world. All brands are made on them and just differently packaged. That was from my tape supplier.