Ditto, Steven, I just stick to the Panasonic tapes. No problems ever.

I hardly record to tape in miniDV, but I've been doing ok with Maxell. Just the basic two or three packs for about $8/tape.

I use D8 via firewire to Maxell straight 8mm tapes and have had really good luck. ( I think it's the format [tape speed, width, track pitch] that helps, but since I've had such incredible luck [like, 3 cleanings over 200 hours] which makes me want to stay with the Maxells)

If I ever shoot enough IN the cam, I'll post my results.

PS. It makes me wonder if the "lubed" tapes might save head life? Then again, if the lube rubs off, forcing abrasive head cleanings, perhaps the opposite is true?

All tapes are indeed lubed, except some use a dry formula and some use a wet formula and therefore you should not mix different brands. My advice is to pick either Sony or Panasonic and stick with one or the other. as for myself, I use Panasonic. It's true that Canon's tapes are actually Panasonic (Canon doesn't make tape, they just repackage it).

Tape Stock
 

I use Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ ( Just under $5.00 ea.), and have since day 1. In a recent article (I'm not sure if it was DV magazine or Computer Videomaker). They said much the same thing. Different tapes use different lubrications. To mix and match will cause the heads and rollers to gum up.
However, they also added another possible drawback- Different tapes will have different thicknesses, posibly causing the heads and rollers to wear wrong.
Keith

Mini DV Tapes (again)
 

There's been alot of discussion about sticking to one type of tape with the XL1. What about if you do but have to go back and use the XL1 to edit old tapes of different types? Should a cleaning be done before each tape change?

I just bough a few cases of the PANASONIC AY-DVM63MQ. I paid only $7.99 ea / Canadian. It's a very good price here in Canada for a high grade mini DV tape. I love them from the tape quality to their quality case. Puchased at The Tape House in Burnaby (for those who live around here).

I think the people who switch brands, clean after every switch, to avoid cross lubricant contamination of the heads and tape path. I would recommend if you switch alot get a professional cleaning more often because the cleaning tapes don't do a great job on the tape path.

Jeff

Thanks for the tip Jeff!

I plan to stick with my new Panasonic tapes from now on but I have to finish some editing with my previous Fuji tapes.
There's been a few glitches with them but I never seemed to have problems with Panasonic. I'll use that head cleaner inbetween.

Canon?
 

What about the Canon brand DV tape? Anyone have any pros/cons on that?

Thanks!
Jason

Canon does not make their own tapes. They are probably made my Panasonic or Fuji. At one time, Fuji made most of the Pro Panasonic tape. I don't know if they still do or not.

Jeff

Well I did a production with my new Panasonic tapes and all the footage looked great! I found no glitches inbetween pauses!
I'm really happy with the Panasonic AY-DVM63MQ! (and of course the price)

DV cassettes in the Canon wrapper are indeed made by Panasonic.

Hey all!

Any thoughts on the Sony pr60 tapes? I have heard good things about them?

Thanks!
-SL

Nothing wrong with Sony PR (premium). Any Sony or Panasonic tape should work just fine, just don't switch between the two and try to stay away from the cheapest consumer grades within each brand. Lots of folks use Sony PR.

tape brands
 

I just called BH Photo and was told that one can create real problems with the XL-1 if one uses different tape brands. Is this true? I have been using TDK, Sony, and JVC and not had any difficulty yet. I don't want to throw out all my TDK tapes - about 5 are brand new.

Also is this problem also likely to show up with the Sony DSR-11 Video cassette recorder?

The general advice is not to switch brands, but stick with one brand of tape.