Which MiniDV ? at DVinfo.net

Sam Looc · March 28th, 2003, 12:07 AM

Which tape is better?
AY-DVM63PQ Professional Series Tape
AY-DVM63MQ Master Series Tape

Frank Granovski · March 28th, 2003, 12:11 AM

I don't know, but Fuji miniDV is very good. I just read that http://www.thetapehouse.com verifies this.

Ken Tanaka · March 28th, 2003, 12:13 AM

Sam,
Do a Search on this one. It's an extremely frequent topic and we probably have dozens of threads and hundreds of posts on tape.

The short answer: the MQ series is the best. The PQ series is damn close.

Sam Looc · March 28th, 2003, 12:16 AM

cool thanx.

Christopher Walker · April 27th, 2003, 11:51 PM

I've Tried sony, fuji, panasonic and some others.
I've had head clogs and drop out with everything but fuji mini dv
tape... I will never change.

It seems all manufacturers have different amounts and types of lubrication.. fuji seems to keep the heads clean and no problems with drop out..

Bill Pryor · April 28th, 2003, 12:25 PM

I've used Fuji Betacam SP tapes for about 15 years and have never had a problem. Since starting to shoot DVCAM, I have used Sony DVCAM tapes for almost 3 years and have had no problem. I'm still using Fuji Betacam tapes for dubs, but using Sony DVCAM for shooting and for the DVCAM masters we make.

Stefano Sarfati Nahmad · February 6th, 2004, 05:12 AM

When i buy a minidv tape i ususally go for the best deal, but i would like to know what are the actual differences.
Thank, stefano

Chris Hurd · February 6th, 2004, 12:15 PM

Stefano

The "best deal" usually means cheap tape; and cheap tape means there's a greater chance for glitches, drop-outs and breakage. Tape is the single least expensive item in the production chain, so why not buy the best you can possibly afford. Sony Excellence or Sony Premium; Panasonic Master Quality or Professional Quality. Those are the top four. Don't mix brands. Hope this helps,

Stefano Sarfati Nahmad · February 9th, 2004, 03:50 AM

Thank you Chris,
I am now mostly practicing but i do film a few important events.
so you think that quality tapes worth the money ?
I know tapes are the cheapest items in the production chain but i buy many...
Are there better tapes for dark or indoor environments?
Stefano.

Jeff Toogood · February 13th, 2004, 09:14 AM

What's everyone's opinion of the Sony Premium Tapes in the blue packaging?

February 21st, 2004, 12:23 PM

I have never had a problem w/ the premiums in my gl2.
actually thats a lie, i did have to send my cam back once b/c of some noise but i think it had more to do w/ the heads than the tape b/c im still using those tapes and havent had a problem.

Stefano Sarfati Nahmad · February 23rd, 2004, 02:20 AM

Do you really think that cheap tapes can ruin camera head?

Frank Granovski · February 23rd, 2004, 02:39 AM

Yes, I think so. But the mixing of tape is more dangerous I think. Just pick a good one and stick with it.

Years ago I used cheap JVC tapes, and the heads were always gummed up. So I had to use my head cleaner many times, thus wearing down the heads. When I switched to Fuji, I hadn't had to use the cleaner even once. (Knock on wood.) :-))

Dan Gutwein · July 13th, 2004, 02:36 PM

Is it worth spending twice as much Sony "Excellence" miniDV tape as opposed to Sony "Premium" miniDV tape?

Glenn Chan · July 13th, 2004, 11:52 PM

This is a post more suited for the Long Black Line forum. Here's some things you might want to know:

A- There is very little good information on tapes and tape quality.
B- maybe because of A, people tend to obsess over which tape they get. This leads to long threads that aren't very helpful.
C- In the past, mixing tape brands was a bad idea. In like 1997, Sony and Maxell reformulated their tapes so this wouldn't be a problem. You'd expect mixing tapes to be ok by now. But if you want, you could stick with one brand. If you buy bulk this isn't much of a problem.
D- As far as quality goes, good tape should have less dropouts in SP mode and less in LP mode (LP mode causes more problems). For stuff shot in SP mode (normal 60min slow play mode), the majority of people do not experience dropouts with whatever tape is cheapest. For them, tape quality makes no difference.
E- One viewpoint: In the rare case you do get a dropout, it ain't that bad. Visual dropouts are fixable with Photoshop magic. Audio dropouts are rarer and not fixable, but they are very short and wouldn't be that bad.
F- I have never seen any evidence Sony Excellence tape will lead to less dropouts compared to Premium tape.
G- Another viewpoint: Spend your money on stuff you KNOW makes a difference. i.e. having more tape, better gear, etc. The risk of bad tape is low (low chance + low damage), and chances are all tape is pretty much the same (since no one seems to have evidence showing one tape brand is less prone to dropouts than another brand).

March 28th, 2003, 12:07 AM	#1
Sam Looc Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oakland Posts: 49	Which tape is better? Which tape is better? AY-DVM63PQ Professional Series Tape AY-DVM63MQ Master Series Tape

March 28th, 2003, 12:13 AM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Sam, Do a Search on this one. It's an extremely frequent topic and we probably have dozens of threads and hundreds of posts on tape. The short answer: the MQ series is the best. The PQ series is damn close. __________________ 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

April 27th, 2003, 11:51 PM	#5
Christopher Walker New Boot Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: nanaimo B.C. Canada Posts: 15	tape ? I've Tried sony, fuji, panasonic and some others. I've had head clogs and drop out with everything but fuji mini dv tape... I will never change. It seems all manufacturers have different amounts and types of lubrication.. fuji seems to keep the heads clean and no problems with drop out..

February 6th, 2004, 05:12 AM	#7
Stefano Sarfati Nahmad Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Milan, Italy Posts: 30	Which MiniDV ? When i buy a minidv tape i ususally go for the best deal, but i would like to know what are the actual differences. Thank, stefano

February 6th, 2004, 12:15 PM	#8
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Stefano The "best deal" usually means cheap tape; and cheap tape means there's a greater chance for glitches, drop-outs and breakage. Tape is the single least expensive item in the production chain, so why not buy the best you can possibly afford. Sony Excellence or Sony Premium; Panasonic Master Quality or Professional Quality. Those are the top four. Don't mix brands. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 28th, 2003, 12:11 AM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I don't know, but Fuji miniDV is very good. I just read that http://www.thetapehouse.com verifies this.

March 28th, 2003, 12:16 AM	#4
Sam Looc Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oakland Posts: 49	cool thanx.

April 28th, 2003, 12:25 PM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I've used Fuji Betacam SP tapes for about 15 years and have never had a problem. Since starting to shoot DVCAM, I have used Sony DVCAM tapes for almost 3 years and have had no problem. I'm still using Fuji Betacam tapes for dubs, but using Sony DVCAM for shooting and for the DVCAM masters we make.

February 9th, 2004, 03:50 AM	#9
Stefano Sarfati Nahmad Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Milan, Italy Posts: 30	Thank you Chris, I am now mostly practicing but i do film a few important events. so you think that quality tapes worth the money ? I know tapes are the cheapest items in the production chain but i buy many... Are there better tapes for dark or indoor environments? Stefano.

February 13th, 2004, 09:14 AM	#10
Jeff Toogood Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St.Thomas, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 428	What's everyone's opinion of the Sony Premium Tapes in the blue packaging?

February 21st, 2004, 12:23 PM	#11
Guest Posts: n/a	I have never had a problem w/ the premiums in my gl2. actually thats a lie, i did have to send my cam back once b/c of some noise but i think it had more to do w/ the heads than the tape b/c im still using those tapes and havent had a problem.

February 23rd, 2004, 02:20 AM	#12
Stefano Sarfati Nahmad Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Milan, Italy Posts: 30	Do you really think that cheap tapes can ruin camera head?

February 23rd, 2004, 02:39 AM	#13
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Yes, I think so. But the mixing of tape is more dangerous I think. Just pick a good one and stick with it. Years ago I used cheap JVC tapes, and the heads were always gummed up. So I had to use my head cleaner many times, thus wearing down the heads. When I switched to Fuji, I hadn't had to use the cleaner even once. (Knock on wood.) :-))

July 13th, 2004, 02:36 PM	#14
Dan Gutwein Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 35	Which Tape? Is it worth spending twice as much Sony "Excellence" miniDV tape as opposed to Sony "Premium" miniDV tape?

July 13th, 2004, 11:52 PM	#15
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	This is a post more suited for the Long Black Line forum. Here's some things you might want to know: A- There is very little good information on tapes and tape quality. B- maybe because of A, people tend to obsess over which tape they get. This leads to long threads that aren't very helpful. C- In the past, mixing tape brands was a bad idea. In like 1997, Sony and Maxell reformulated their tapes so this wouldn't be a problem. You'd expect mixing tapes to be ok by now. But if you want, you could stick with one brand. If you buy bulk this isn't much of a problem. D- As far as quality goes, good tape should have less dropouts in SP mode and less in LP mode (LP mode causes more problems). For stuff shot in SP mode (normal 60min slow play mode), the majority of people do not experience dropouts with whatever tape is cheapest. For them, tape quality makes no difference. E- One viewpoint: In the rare case you do get a dropout, it ain't that bad. Visual dropouts are fixable with Photoshop magic. Audio dropouts are rarer and not fixable, but they are very short and wouldn't be that bad. F- I have never seen any evidence Sony Excellence tape will lead to less dropouts compared to Premium tape. G- Another viewpoint: Spend your money on stuff you KNOW makes a difference. i.e. having more tape, better gear, etc. The risk of bad tape is low (low chance + low damage), and chances are all tape is pretty much the same (since no one seems to have evidence showing one tape brand is less prone to dropouts than another brand).

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