DVCam mini DV tapes
 

Anybody hear about using DVCam mini's with an XL1S as a higher quality option than just plain ol' Sony or Panasonic pro quality miniDVs?

DV-CAM is actually how the video recorded onto the tape, not the tape cassette itself. This true of both the mini and full size DV cassettes. It's not likely you'll exceed the quality of the Panasonic Pro series, especially the MQ line. All can be used at both DV and DV-CAM speeds. Keep in mind that the DV-CAM runs 1.5 times faster than regular DV.

So, Vic... are there any "issues" then in playing the DVCam mini-tapes at the higher speed in a Panasonic DVCPro deck (using a mini-DV adaptor)? And is the higher quality with the DVCam tapes essentially that they go faster and therefore use more tape to record the same amount of minutes? As I've looked at sites selling tapes it seems that the DVCam minis come in 22 or 40 minutes...is this correct or are there longer running DVCam tapes? THANKS SO MUCH!!

I haven't had any experience with the DVCPro decks, so I'll leave that one for someone else, rather than say something stupid. However, speed should not be an issue. It's been rumored that DVCAM format (not cassette) is more robust, probably due to the higher speed. Adam Wilt's web page has some pretty good data on the various formats (adamwilt.com).

A DVCAM tape rated at 40 minutes will play for an hour in an XL-1 (at SP). There is really nothing to be gained by paying the higher price for the Sony. The Pana MQ tapes are among the best, and can be used in all mini-dv cameras. You can run them in something like a PD-150 for 40 minutes, or an hour in an XL-1 (you can also get 83 min MQ tapes).

Until recently, I used the full size DVCAM tapes in my AG2000 VCR that I use for mastering (gotta start using the DVD burner!). Once Panasonic brought out the MQ series in full size, I switched so as to be "lube" compatible with my mini-dv tapes. You can stuff a lot of tape in the full size cassette, so the recording capability is much longer.

Hope this helps.