Switching tape brands

[Adam Haro]

Not sure if this is the right place to pose this question but since all we shoot is weddings and I couldn't find anywhere better here we go.

I'm picking a used camera for a good price, JVC GY-DV300, that has low hours, approximately 30. The owner has used Panasonic tapes. I use strictly Sony in my current cameras and never switch after having heard of problems with alternating tape brands due to differences in tape lubrication. I want to switch to Sony with the JVC for consistency with my other cameras, would running a standard cleaning tape through it be enough or should I take it in for a professional cleaning?

Thanks
Adam

[Shaun Roemich]

Two things: there IS a Thin Black Line subforum for all things Tape and my two cents:

From personal experience, what I CAN tell you is that a client of mine had a JVC ProDV deck that he bought to ingest DVCam material shot on Sony PD150 using Sony DVM60PR tapes. After less than 6 months he was forced to abandon the deck (which saw EXCLUSIVELY Sony tapes) as the head clog issues were constant. Of course, this COULD be a "one off" or it could be a system issue with OLD style heads and OLD Sony tape but this PARTICULAR combination was a headache of the highest order to us.

[Steve Slattery]

In theory head cleaner should be fine, I had exactly the same senario about 12 months ago although it was a different cam. I use only Sony brand tapes for tape based recording and the head cleaner worked out ok. I have in the distant past had a bad experience with using different brand tapes as well as re-using tapes.

Steve

[Adam Haro]

Thanks Steve and Shaun. I can't remember what I did when I bought my GL2 used, I might have just run a head cleaner through it.
Has anybody else had issues with Sony tapes and JVC cameras? I used to have a JVC HD-1 I bought new and only used Sony tapes and never had a problem.

[Shaun Roemich]

Originally Posted by Adam Haro

I used to have a JVC HD-1 I bought new and only used Sony tapes and never had a problem.

Glad to hear. Like I said, it MAY have been an isolated incident but it scared me off enough that with my JVC GY-HD200ub's, I use JVC branded tape EVEN THOUGH Sony PR is 1/3 the price (and I used Sony PR heavily while shooting on Sony PD150/170 and Z1 cameras).