Mixing TDK tapes with Fuji at DVinfo.net

Marc Martin · September 26th, 2003, 08:43 PM

I'm normally uses FUJI tapes, and I've ordered 25 tapes this week, but I've received 25 TDK tapes !!!! The reference is DV Digital Standard ME.

Is there a risk that I use these TDK in the DVX100? I know the Fuji are Dry, but don't know about these TDK.

Thank in advance.

Ken Tanaka · September 26th, 2003, 08:57 PM

Run a cleaning tape through the camera (per the usage directions supplied with the cleaner) before changing brands.

Frank Granovski · September 26th, 2003, 10:37 PM

Did you contact the dealer about the mistake?

Barry Green · September 27th, 2003, 12:37 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Marc Martin : I know the Fuji are Dry, but don't know about these TDK.

Thank in advance. -->>>

Not to stir up trouble, but -- who says Fuji tapes are dry? It's my understanding that only the Panasonic Master series use dry lube, all other brands are supposedly wet.

Frank Granovski · September 27th, 2003, 01:23 AM

No, Fuji miniDV is dry.

Barry Green · September 27th, 2003, 12:28 PM

Not to belabor the point, but -- where is the definitive answer? I searched Fuji's site and it said nothing about lubricant type.

I found this page:
http://www.hosannaproductions.com/tips/minidv_lubricants.html

where he claims to have spoken to the manufacturers and asked them, and even printed the name of who he spoke to. But, it lists all tape types as dry, EXCEPT Panasonic Master series, which he says is wet. And Panasonic Master series is supposed to be the only dry tape, according to Jan Crittenden -- she says Panasonic PQ's are definitely wet, MQ's are definitely dry, and are the only dry tapes out there.

And the page says that Fuji's are identical to JVC tapes, including identical shells, part numbers and typefaces.

Ken Tanaka · September 27th, 2003, 01:45 PM

Barry,
You are quoting from a since-deleted thread in which Jan and others were quoted somewhat out of context. Please don't continue to propogate that, as it is not the complete story.

There really is very little authoritative information available on the subject of tape lubrication. It tends to be a somewhat proprietary subject. The body of "knowledge" on this subject is largely anecdotal folklore passed along through forums like this. Much of it is baloney.

Making sure that you run a cleaning tape when switching brands of tape and taking good care of your camera's tape transport are the best, and perhaps only, policies to avoid troubles.

Marc Martin · September 27th, 2003, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Did you contact the dealer about the mistake?

Not yet.

I'm not sure that the TDK will be as good as the FUJI. I've read on forums that some people like TDK, others don't like, but all people seems to like FUJI.

So I think I will return the TDK tapes. I will not take risks.

Barry Green · September 27th, 2003, 04:34 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : Barry,
You are quoting from a since-deleted thread in which Jan and others were quoted somewhat out of context. Please don't continue to propogate that, as it is not the complete story.
-->>>

Er, I don't know which thread you're referring to. I'm talking about direct e-mail conversations with Jan, where she says that the breakthrough differentation about Panasonic Master tapes is the new dry lubricant, which will not dry out because it's already dry, plus it provides for longer head life, and more replays without dropouts.

She also said "There is only one brand that has dry, and that's Panasonic, the wet lubrications are everyone else."

That's not out of context, that's out of the proverbial horse's mouth. So my question is, where is the substantiation of claims that other brands also use dry?

Frank Granovski · September 27th, 2003, 04:57 PM

Only a couple are "wet," while most are "dry." Maybe the Pana Master is just more "dry," like a "0" compared with a "1" in the sweetness scale for wines. :)

Gints Klimanis · September 27th, 2003, 09:15 PM

Mark,

Which TDK tapes did you end up with? I've been using the TDK DVM 60 for the last three years even though I've upgraded to a better videocamera.

I did have some dirty head issues with two cameras when I swapped playback of Sony and these TDK cassettes and didn't
even know about tape lubricant issues.

http://www.hosannaproductions.com/tips/minidv_lubricants.html

doesn't list the type for TDK DVM60's. The box is unfilled. So, I'm
guessing the TDK's are dry from personal experience.

Marc Martin · September 27th, 2003, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Which TDK tapes did you end up with?

Here is the link to the model tapes that I received.

http://www.tdk.com.au/products/camcorder/minidv_dvm.htm

On this site: http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm , you can read at the end of the page an "internal bulletin from TDK" saying: "Our MiniDV lubricant is similar to the Panasonic product and in normal use, mixing brands oftape should not cause any problems"

But on this site http://www.hosannaproductions.com/ti...llbulletin.pdf, you can read the same exact text. Difficult to know the truth about tapes...

Frank Granovski · September 28th, 2003, 12:42 AM

"Similar" does not mean "the same." It means "similar." Similar, adj, alike in a general way but not exactly.---The Random House Dictionary.

September 26th, 2003, 08:43 PM	#1
Marc Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Paris, France Posts: 80	Mixing TDK tapes with Fuji I'm normally uses FUJI tapes, and I've ordered 25 tapes this week, but I've received 25 TDK tapes !!!! The reference is DV Digital Standard ME. Is there a risk that I use these TDK in the DVX100? I know the Fuji are Dry, but don't know about these TDK. Thank in advance.

September 26th, 2003, 08:57 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Run a cleaning tape through the camera (per the usage directions supplied with the cleaner) before changing brands. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 27th, 2003, 12:37 AM	#4
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Re: Mixing TDK tapes with Fuji <<<-- Originally posted by Marc Martin : I know the Fuji are Dry, but don't know about these TDK. Thank in advance. -->>> Not to stir up trouble, but -- who says Fuji tapes are dry? It's my understanding that only the Panasonic Master series use dry lube, all other brands are supposedly wet.

September 27th, 2003, 01:45 PM	#7
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Barry, You are quoting from a since-deleted thread in which Jan and others were quoted somewhat out of context. Please don't continue to propogate that, as it is not the complete story. There really is very little authoritative information available on the subject of tape lubrication. It tends to be a somewhat proprietary subject. The body of "knowledge" on this subject is largely anecdotal folklore passed along through forums like this. Much of it is baloney. Making sure that you run a cleaning tape when switching brands of tape and taking good care of your camera's tape transport are the best, and perhaps only, policies to avoid troubles. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 26th, 2003, 10:37 PM	#3
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Did you contact the dealer about the mistake?

September 27th, 2003, 01:23 AM	#5
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	No, Fuji miniDV is dry.

September 27th, 2003, 12:28 PM	#6
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Not to belabor the point, but -- where is the definitive answer? I searched Fuji's site and it said nothing about lubricant type. I found this page: http://www.hosannaproductions.com/tips/minidv_lubricants.html where he claims to have spoken to the manufacturers and asked them, and even printed the name of who he spoke to. But, it lists all tape types as dry, EXCEPT Panasonic Master series, which he says is wet. And Panasonic Master series is supposed to be the only dry tape, according to Jan Crittenden -- she says Panasonic PQ's are definitely wet, MQ's are definitely dry, and are the only dry tapes out there. And the page says that Fuji's are identical to JVC tapes, including identical shells, part numbers and typefaces.

September 27th, 2003, 04:34 PM	#9
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	<<<-- Originally posted by Ken Tanaka : Barry, You are quoting from a since-deleted thread in which Jan and others were quoted somewhat out of context. Please don't continue to propogate that, as it is not the complete story. -->>> Er, I don't know which thread you're referring to. I'm talking about direct e-mail conversations with Jan, where she says that the breakthrough differentation about Panasonic Master tapes is the new dry lubricant, which will not dry out because it's already dry, plus it provides for longer head life, and more replays without dropouts. She also said "There is only one brand that has dry, and that's Panasonic, the wet lubrications are everyone else." That's not out of context, that's out of the proverbial horse's mouth. So my question is, where is the substantiation of claims that other brands also use dry?

September 27th, 2003, 04:57 PM	#10
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Only a couple are "wet," while most are "dry." Maybe the Pana Master is just more "dry," like a "0" compared with a "1" in the sweetness scale for wines. :)

September 27th, 2003, 09:15 PM	#11
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Mark, Which TDK tapes did you end up with? I've been using the TDK DVM 60 for the last three years even though I've upgraded to a better videocamera. I did have some dirty head issues with two cameras when I swapped playback of Sony and these TDK cassettes and didn't even know about tape lubricant issues. http://www.hosannaproductions.com/tips/minidv_lubricants.html doesn't list the type for TDK DVM60's. The box is unfilled. So, I'm guessing the TDK's are dry from personal experience.

September 28th, 2003, 12:42 AM	#13
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	"Similar" does not mean "the same." It means "similar." Similar, adj, alike in a general way but not exactly.---The Random House Dictionary.