Mixing DVCAM tapes (Sony) with Maxell and other brands
 

The topic of mixing tape brands have been covered here before, in general.

Since I just got a PDX10, I thought I'd specifically ask about mixing the Sony DVCAM tape, which I am told here is a "wet tape" with other brands, specifically, mixing with Maxell, Panasonic, Fuji...

The theoretical problems is that the emulsion on the different brands of tape may eventually gum up the head when mixed. This is less of a concern when mixing dry tapes, probably, but the whole DVCAM thing on the camera means that I won't always be using dry tape, hence, more chance for residue and emulsion mixing. And did someone say to definately not mix Maxell tapes with other brands?

Does anyone have any advice or experience about this? If it was to gum up the heads, after how many hours would it do it.


ALSO, HOW OFTEN DO YOU PUT A HEAD CLEANER in your camera to clean the heads?

Don't mix tapes. Pick a good one and stick with it. Only clean your heads when they need to be cleaned. Did you get your PDX10 yet?

Yes, I got it yesterday. Wheee! Still a little too busy to actually play with it.

Darn....I guess I gotta find Sony tapes now.....

Can I mix the DVCAM tapes with Sony miniDV tapes? Will these emulsions gum up at the tapes are physcially different?


As it stands now I have these for sale I guess:

3 Panasonic Master grade 63 min tapes, AY-DVM63MQ

3 Panasonic Pro grade 63 min tapes, AY-DVM63PQ

3 TDK 60 min tapes


I suppose I should get a second cheapo camera in case I need to play other brand tapes....

Don't mix tapes, to be on the safe side.

Hmm..

I don' t think this has been asked:

What about head cleaners? Like using Sony tapes but a Panasonic head cleaner?

Head cleaners sound like they should be safe, haha.

I don't think it matters, but I have a Pana cleaner which won't work. I have a Canon cleaner which works fine. Personally, I would stick with Fuji all the way through, or Sony DVCAM all the way through. So Fuji or Sony for a cleaner. That's my opinion.

You can buy Sony Premium tapes for $6.50 at Western Imperial Magnetics behind the IKEA in Richmond. http://www.wimmedia.com/ This is the cheapest place I've found in town for Sony tape. They probably carry Sony DVCAM and the Sony head cleaner too but I've never looked.

I have the Sony head cleaner and I've used it twice in the last year and a half. I stick with Sony everything and I won't even play any other brand in the camera.

Yeah, a friend told me about that place.

Its very cheap!!! $6.25 now for the tape.

But, I've found places on ebay that will sell Sony for about $5.25 a unit if we buy a bunch. Anyone interested in splitting an order of Sony Premium tapes? Asap?

My experience is that Maxell and TDK tapes don't mix. Used together in a camcorder they seem to gum things up. I've had very good luck using Maxell exclusively on my VX's.

I have taken the "no tape mixing' policy to heart and I only use TDK tapes. Now I have a question. A colleague of mine showed me this:

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=959872

JVC tapes for 1.89! Now, that is cheap. Are these tapes no good? Is there a (real) quality difference in the way different tapes collect data? Does JVC have someone make tapes for them? OR, what are they comparable to? Should I stick with the TDK's and let this go? Should I switch brands entirely to these or something else?
SO many questions... sorry!
Thanks
-Kyle