Hi there - I've read on brochures and in the PD170 manual that "if you record in the DV format, the transition of the tape may not be smooth. We recommend that you use mini DVCAM cassettes and set rec mode to DVCAM to obtain reliable clear pictures."

Does this mean if I use standard MiniDV tapes and record just as I've been used to with my VX2000 - then capture and edit in Premiere, my footage and scene trans will be glitchy? Or is this just waffle in the manual that isn't technically correct?

Absolutely not correct. It is Sony's attempt to sell the more expensive DVCam tapes.

I backed a Sony rep into a corner at NAB and he finally agreed that DV works just as well as DVCam in a NLE environment.

DVCam was made for a linear editing environment as is used in most of the remote video news vans. If you aren't slamming the tape back and forth and reusing it a lot, you don't need DVCam.

There is no picture quality difference between DV and DVCam when everything is nominal. It is exactly the same digital data stream.

"if you record in the DV format, the transition of the tape may not be smooth."

This *might* be an awkward way of saying that the transition may not be smooth if you record DVCAM on a tape, then switch to DV SP mode on the same tape....

We're using Sony DVM60 ME tapes in a PD170 and PD150. About 400 to 500 tapes per year. The only problems that ever cropped up was when the PD150's heads were out of alignment.

Other than that, no problems. And everything is shot as DVCam.

One thing is for sure.. Never reuse a tape recorded in DVCAM and record over it with DV...:)

OH Boy! Yes! Don't ever do that one!

Why not, guys? Do you feel the erase is different in each recording mode?

It isn't an academic 'feel,' it's because we've tried it and the results are no useable video.

Trust us on this one and don't go there.