Sony DV CAM Tape (Mini)

John C Heid · December 28th, 2003, 06:09 PM

Sony offers a 40 min DVD CAM (Mini) tape with and without memory (PDVM40N and PDVM40ME). It is expensive, but is advertised as having fewer dropouts than consumer grade tape. Has anyone tried these? Does the memory show start / stop points?

Glenn Chan · December 28th, 2003, 06:58 PM

There are a lot of threads discussing tapes and whether or not DVCAM recording and DVCAM "rated" tapes are better for avoiding dropouts.

The chip on DVCAM and mini-DV tapes store some information but more people don't buy those because they're more expensive.

Bryan Beasleigh · December 28th, 2003, 08:45 PM

The chip has nothing to do with the amount od dropouts a tape will have. The chip is used to record information for sony proprietory search and linear edit functions. Don't waste your money.

DV Cam uses the tape at a faster rate. A 60 min DV is a 40 min DV cam. Less info on a given area of tape = less chance of a drop out. If you're using it for DV use a premium DV tape and don't waste your money.

Sony, Panasonic and Fuji are all considered good tapes. there really is no scientific info available on which is better. I use sony and have had no problem. i've heard of less problems from Fuji. That's unscientic as hell but that's life.

Glenn Chan · December 29th, 2003, 02:13 AM

frank granovski (check out his website, dvfreak.com) claims that he read a scientific report comparing mini-DV tapes and that Fuji came out on top. Link: http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

December 28th, 2003, 06:09 PM	#1
John C Heid Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 54	Sony DV CAM Tape (Mini) - Good? Sony offers a 40 min DVD CAM (Mini) tape with and without memory (PDVM40N and PDVM40ME). It is expensive, but is advertised as having fewer dropouts than consumer grade tape. Has anyone tried these? Does the memory show start / stop points?

December 28th, 2003, 06:58 PM	#2
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	There are a lot of threads discussing tapes and whether or not DVCAM recording and DVCAM "rated" tapes are better for avoiding dropouts. The chip on DVCAM and mini-DV tapes store some information but more people don't buy those because they're more expensive.

December 28th, 2003, 08:45 PM	#3
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	The chip has nothing to do with the amount od dropouts a tape will have. The chip is used to record information for sony proprietory search and linear edit functions. Don't waste your money. DV Cam uses the tape at a faster rate. A 60 min DV is a 40 min DV cam. Less info on a given area of tape = less chance of a drop out. If you're using it for DV use a premium DV tape and don't waste your money. Sony, Panasonic and Fuji are all considered good tapes. there really is no scientific info available on which is better. I use sony and have had no problem. i've heard of less problems from Fuji. That's unscientic as hell but that's life.

December 29th, 2003, 02:13 AM	#4
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	frank granovski (check out his website, dvfreak.com) claims that he read a scientific report comparing mini-DV tapes and that Fuji came out on top. Link: http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm