Panasonic here too. And whilst it's best to stick to one brand don't be to worried if you have to use another every now and then. What is worst I belive is to keep switching between brands all the time. Over the years I've used mainly Panasonic with a few Sony tapes here and there, and even a low grade TDK, don't ask.

Can you use DVCAM with a Canon XL1s? I thought you couldn't.

Yeah, you can use DVCAM tapes. It still records in miniDV format though.

DVCAM tape is the same physical size and cassette as MiniDV. The main differences are quality control, and in some cases slight differences in formulation. You can use DVCAM tape if you want to pay the extra price. Soem folks shoot DVCAM mode on standard MiniDV tape. Tape wise, 40 min DVCAM = 60 min MiniDV.

The worst probably scenario is to use one brand of tape for a long period and then switch. The different tape may cause the characteristic deposits left by one brand to shift or break free causing a head clog.

I use Panasonic DVM60EJ for the most part in my camcorders. Works for me and the price is right.

<<<-- Originally posted by Josh Bass : I use Panasonic, because Paul Sedillo paid me for a gig, and his company only uses Panasonics, and I paid to have my camera cleaned, and I don't want to that again. Also, those blue and white tapes are just so pretty! -->>>

And look at you now Mr. Bass, a venerable babe magnet! All thanks to a simple tape switch.

I shoot nothing but Fuji.

Went through dozens of tapes without a problem. So far. Knock on wood.

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions

tape?
 

I use panasonic in my Xl1 sony excellence or dvcam in my pd100a/pd150 (pd150 when they loan it to me) so far no problems, the biggest thing seems to be find one and stick with it...

michel

I use Panasonic AY-DVM63PQ's for shoots in my XL1S and I keep my History Reel on a Panasonic AY-DVM63MQ.

However, I have now, for the second time experienced a problem. When I went to a pro post-production facility to record v/o and do the final mix, they only had Sony DVCAM VTR's (didn't get the model #). So my edit was recorded onto my MQ in a Sony deck. Plays back fine in the Sony deck but when I try to play it back from my camera (don't have my own VTR) there is no audio and the picture does like a strobe effect. (I'll have to try to find the right forum for this problem).

The first time I had a similar problem, they made me a copy on a Sony tape and it played back fine through my XL1S.

Guess that throws a spanner in the works. Still, the PQ's (shot about 15 hours on them) work great.

I only use FUJI ME. Been using it for over two years and never a problem. I used it from cold temps. to the Amazon. Low humidity to 100% humidity. Never had a problem or a jam. Bob Safay

I too use Fuji. Here's a bit about miniDV tape.

http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

used tapes. don't be cheap.
 

I had a bunch of used tapes my friend gave me. thought I'd use it for practice. figured since its a digital signal, it should overwrite it clean, and there should be no problem. There seems to be dropoffs every now and then, and i can't capture right. can anybody fill me in on details about this?
Takeshi

Hi,

I've owned two XL1S's so far. The first one I shoot and edited on three full Sony 60 tapes withou a hitch. I purchased a second XL1S the other day and a five pack of Panasonic 90 LP. The first tape I used on my new camera kept stopping on rewind and displaying the message "remove tape". I opened the door to find the tape not sinching up. So I manualy sinched up the tape and tried again. This time it got caught on something inside and I had to break the tape to remove the cartridge. I wrote it off as a fluke untill I had the same problem again a second and finaly a third time before giving up. I went back to one of my Sony tapes and havn't had a problem since. I have to admit I didn't exspect to see so many people posting GOOD luck with their panasonic tapes and their is another post about someone else complaining about it being the XL1S's fault posting the heading, "back to canon for the second time".

I had to pay $600SD to get my XL1s head changed after switching to a Panasonic from Sony. I had barely shot around 10 hours till then.
I too strongly believe to stick to one brand as it was a hell of a experience to get my camera repaired.

I only use FUJI (for about 4 years now). And I've never yet had any problems with FUJI. In fact, I haven't had to clean my heads since I started using FUJI.

I use SONY Premium (non chip), cos I just got in the habbit from using them with Hi-8 format for years, an being in a Uni sponsored by Sony. Plus they have had special offers for Sony, so I have stuck with them the whole time. Never had any problems!

But is there much difference with the Panasonic ones? Just seems Panasonic and Fuji are the top answers. You guys know something I dont? or is Panasonic just cheaper in the USA?

Hey MODs can I not have a cooler title than "NEW BOOT" ????. Just soemthing a bit more classy!!!... :)

Your a new boot until you have 25 posts if I remember correctly. The title goes with our Texan, western theme, hence wranglers etc.

Jeff

Well Yee Haw Cowboys! I can see the Western theme now.... just like being back in Idaho when I lived there for a couple of years!

So how many posts to become a Sheriff??? hahaha

Panasonic ala like the above people mentioned.

I recommend not ever taping LP. A friend of mine showed me the tape from his XL1S and the audio/video screwed up/staired all over what a client paid $$$$ for. It was a one shot deal and a repetative client. LP doesn't pay...

My two copper heads...

Cheers!

Derrick

I never touch LP even with a 10ft barge pole!. I must be mad or like torture with money costs, but i never even use the same tape twice. Just have a "test" tape that I use if I need to have a tape just to mess around with, where i dont care about the quality. But even then I never use LP with that. I had a bad experience a long time ago and never ever used LP since. The quality was bad, and maybe running slower makes the tape more prone to heat or more friction or something (im not a techno physicist know it all) so just never use LP.

If you get paid for your work, there no probs with tape money. But if you dont and its a hobby, well tapes are about $5 (if my USD estimates correct) here so just do without a six-pack for a day Or what I do and buy slight out-of-date food or On-Specials then you have tape money. ;)

What ever you decide, deffinately stick with one brand.

You might also want to check out my post from earlier.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=6072

-Nori

The cheapie Panasonics are $3 at protape.

videotape brand recommendations
 

What is the brand of miniDV tape that is recommended to be used with the Canon XL1?

If you ask Canon, they will tell you that Canon miniDV tape is recommended.

I don't think it matters on what brand. Just pick a good one. My vote goes to Fuji.

Basic advice is to stick to one brand. I use Panasonic. Try using the search link and you will find a ton of posts on this subject with some pretty good discussions too.

I haven't any problems with any brands except JVC. What ever brand you decide to go with, try to stay with only that brand.

Read more about my experience with JVC here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=6072

-Nori

I've used Sony for years and never had any problems. Seem pretty tolerant to different climates I've ran them in.

Most here seem to go for Panansonic, but never tried them myself, as I've used Sony - recommendations are you dont change, so guess I'll just stick to Sony.

I too have had nothing but problems with JVC, on my personal cams---in fact, with all the JVC tape I used, and big time problems; and I see that Nori is also from British Columbia. Perhaps JVC dumps ship loads of defective tape regularly at the Vancouver port.

http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

Sony

Hollands largest broadcaster NOB" told "me to use sony dvcam pdvm-40n, expensive, but cheaper then a reshoot, this because of no dropouts, no compatibility problems, prof case etc. I never had a problem with these.

For me Sony has worked the best, I started working with Panasonic but the quality of the tape was not good enough for the tropics, Sony made something like tropic proof tapes, I have tapes as old as four years and you wont see a stain of mold on them... panasonic on the other hand...

I can guarantee you that mold-resistance is an attribute that we've never considered here before.

Does it help to store tapes and other sensitive materials in waterproof cases with a bag of silica gel dessicant?

I have nearly always used Sony tapes and find that they work great. Also I too have found them good at mold resistance in Mexico. I have used some Maxel ones but some have shown parts of distortion - the jagged edge type bands that go across. You all know what I mean. Even though I only record on a tape just once and only use it for playback during editing. So thats just problems occurred from playback or during recording. So I just stick with Sony now.

I know some people use the same tape twice or a few times for recording - recording over previous footage. But never having done that I wouldn't know what the tapes record like or if there are signs of 'wear' or slight quality deteriation.

Difference between DV tapes
 

Hi,

I am a relatively new owner of a Canon XL1s.

So far I have only used JVC professional mini DV tapes.

I felt it was important to stick with the same brand of tape.

The store that I usually purchase the tapes has run out of the JVCs.

They tell me the are only two manufacturers of mini DV tapes these being Panasonic and Soney.

Apparently Panasonic makes the JVC tapes as well as other brands. Therefore they are saying there is no difference between the JVC tapes and the Panasonic tapes. They indicated that I might run into a problem with Soney tapes if I did not run a cleaning tape first.

Does anyone have any comment on this tape issue.

My gut feel was that I should stick with the brand I started with but this could be due to my lack of understanding

Thanks for any help you could give me

Regards

Hello Peter,
It is really refreshing to hear of a store passing along good information. We so often hear of stores passing along voodoo and other rubbish to their customers. Sounds like you have a good store!

I think there are actually at least a couple of other tape manufacturers (TDK and Maxell coming to mind), but Panasonic and Sony are, indeed, the primaries. I think Panasonic does, indeed, manufacture JVC-branded tapes.

And, yes, our motto here is "Pick 'n Stick". Woe be ye who doth switch brands without first performing the sacred cleaner tape rutual. For he doth invoke the wrath of the dreaded Head Clogger Demon.

Sony and Panasonic make excellent quality tape and either will be yummy as a steady diet for your new XL1s.

Do a Search here and you'll find hundreds of posts concerning tape, as it's one of our most frequent topics.

Bon Appetite!

This simply is not true. Fuji makes their own tape, as well as tape for Panasonic some of the time. Also, JVC and Pana tape are not the same quality, though Pana has different quality tape.

Here's some reading:

http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm

Fuji and Pana worked together to develop DVCPro tape. They may or may not share production lines for DV/MiniDV tape.

Pana's parent company (Matsushita) owns a ~50% share of JVC. IT would not be a surprise to find they use common production facilities for tape.

But who makes what for whom to lable for retail sale qualifies as trade secrets and is not obvious. And even if they make the tape for another company, it may be made to a slightly different specification.

Conventional wisdom in the late 1990s was that there were two basic type of MiniDV tape formulation until Pana introduced their dry lube tape; i.e., Sony and everyone else.

It was as rumored that when Sony had a tape factory fire in the 1990s and DV tape was scarce, Pana help Sony by running batches of tape for Sony. It was about this time that the initial MiniDV tape lub incompatability problem was solved.

I believe that Pana markets two types of tape, common MiniDV (with a "wet" lub) and a higher grade dry lube tape.

The conservative approach is to stick with a brand/type you like, and clean heads (which also cleans the tape guides and someother components) before changing brands/type.

Thanks
 

Thanks Guys,

This has been very helpful.

I think I will stick with the tapes I started with.

Once again thanks to all of you for the info.

JVC HORROR STORY:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=6072

Which DV tape works best in XL1s?
 

Does anyone have a favorite brand tape that works best in a XL1s? I read a message ages ago that stated the name of one brand of tape that had given the user consistent problems.

What is the most reliable tape to use in an XL1s and is there a brand that you would never use in any cam?

I have an event coming up that I want to be sure to minimize the weak links (I only wish I had that assurance for my part of the process!!).

Any help is appreciated!

Mike Koenig