|
|||||||||
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
April 18th, 2006, 09:18 PM | #1 |
New Boot
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 15
|
Opinions on TDK Mini-DV tapes!?
As I ordered a Canon GL2 camcorder, I'm looking forward to buy Mini-DV tapes in bulk. The previous owner of the camera used Panasonic tapes. Due to the availability of the tapes in my area and my budget, I was considering opting for another brand.
I plan onto using the new brand, then using a cleaning cassette and then sticking with the new brand to avoid any inconvenience. At a local COSTCO, TDK Mini-Dv tapes are $24,99 CND for 8 tapes, (can't remember the exact model), which is a steal!! I was wondering if anybody had opinions of experience with those tapes!? Thanks for your time!!! |
April 18th, 2006, 09:36 PM | #2 |
DVi Contributor
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 374
|
You should. run a cleaning tape. However I don't think You would see any problems switching to another brand. My company has provided MiniDV cameras for rent since the format was invented and our customers have used a wide variety of suppliers. We have never had a problem that was directly tape based. You do have to clean these tape heads on a regular basis.
|
April 19th, 2006, 03:17 AM | #4 | |
Major Player
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 909
|
Quote:
__________________
Steve McDonald https://onedrive.com/?cid=229807ce52dd4fe0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos |
|
April 19th, 2006, 03:15 PM | #5 |
New Boot
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 15
|
Great!!
Thanks for your input guys!! |
April 20th, 2006, 07:25 AM | #6 |
New Boot
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Denver, PA
Posts: 12
|
I've used TDK tapes because they were inexpensive (about the same price as those). I never had any problems with them, but I was using them on an inexpensive DV camcorder.
So, I'd try some and see if they work for you. |
April 20th, 2006, 01:25 PM | #7 |
Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 424
|
I use them on a regular basis in a bunch of different cameras and they're great - no worse than the panasonic tapes I've also used and they're much easier to find.
|
May 9th, 2006, 03:04 PM | #8 | |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 42
|
Mini DV tapes - Brands, Buys
Quote:
As for the quality, many people have decided that it doesn't matter which brand you buy. Most of the tapes out there are made by Panasonic except for JVC, TDK and Sony. JVC's formulation is basically the same as Panasonic. Then you are left to decide if you want to use a professional product in the interest of getting lower dropout and other enhancements such as a smoother running mechanism. Do you want to pay $17 for Sony's Digital Master? Probably not. But $3ish for a Panasonic Professional Quality or $4.50ish for the Panasonic Master is highly recommended. If you have a shoot that is particularly critical, the Master or Advanced Master (still under 8 bucks) is what we recommend. Regards, Craig
__________________
Craig Berlin "Mr. Tapeguy" BS, Radio-TV-Film, University of Texas http://www.pro-tape.com Adobe - AJA - Apple - Avid - Audio Technica - Bogen - Canon - Denon - Digidesign - Fuji - Gitzo - JVC - Lowell - Marantz - Maxell - Panasonic - Primera - Rimage - Samson - Sennheiser - Sony - TDK - Varizoom - Waves - more! |
|
May 9th, 2006, 03:07 PM | #9 | |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 42
|
Yes, clean...
Quote:
To the OP...always run a cleaning tape if you've been using other brands but particularly between TDK / Sony / everyone else (Panasonic, JVC, Maxell, Fuji). It's a simple better safe than sorry and while the lubricants problem has largely been resolved, we still hear an occasional story about problems from switching brands so save yourself the potential heartache. Good luck! Craig Mini DV Tape from $1.95
__________________
Craig Berlin "Mr. Tapeguy" BS, Radio-TV-Film, University of Texas http://www.pro-tape.com Adobe - AJA - Apple - Avid - Audio Technica - Bogen - Canon - Denon - Digidesign - Fuji - Gitzo - JVC - Lowell - Marantz - Maxell - Panasonic - Primera - Rimage - Samson - Sennheiser - Sony - TDK - Varizoom - Waves - more! |
|
May 9th, 2006, 03:10 PM | #10 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 42
|
And for you price hounds...
Forgot to mention my shameless plug - if it's a bargain you're looking for we are carrying the JVC/Victor now starting at $1.95. Several customers have asked specifically for this and when we ran out, did not want standard JVC! Suprised the heck out of me.
Craig "Not Afraid to Shamelessly Plug but Soon to be Sponsor Again"
__________________
Craig Berlin "Mr. Tapeguy" BS, Radio-TV-Film, University of Texas http://www.pro-tape.com Adobe - AJA - Apple - Avid - Audio Technica - Bogen - Canon - Denon - Digidesign - Fuji - Gitzo - JVC - Lowell - Marantz - Maxell - Panasonic - Primera - Rimage - Samson - Sennheiser - Sony - TDK - Varizoom - Waves - more! |
May 9th, 2006, 04:03 PM | #11 |
Trustee
|
I too used primarily TDK tapes with my GL2 for about a year. Never had a single problem with them.
__________________
BenWinter.com |
May 9th, 2006, 04:19 PM | #12 | |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 42
|
Overall, very few problems...
Quote:
We have few complaints about TDK but we have few complaints about anything. Some of the techs we communicate with seem to have issues with Sony. The good news is that the higher-quality tapes have come down in price so much that it doesn't cost that much to step up; although I also frequently say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. For me when I'm doing production it really gets down to a safety net when I'm shooting something critical. Craig
__________________
Craig Berlin "Mr. Tapeguy" BS, Radio-TV-Film, University of Texas http://www.pro-tape.com Adobe - AJA - Apple - Avid - Audio Technica - Bogen - Canon - Denon - Digidesign - Fuji - Gitzo - JVC - Lowell - Marantz - Maxell - Panasonic - Primera - Rimage - Samson - Sennheiser - Sony - TDK - Varizoom - Waves - more! |
|
May 11th, 2006, 09:33 AM | #13 |
New Boot
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 15
|
Great, thanks for the advices!!!
I'll stick with TDK tapes for now, I'll see how they work out and I'll go from there. Thanks again!! |
May 12th, 2006, 01:04 AM | #14 | |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Montara, California
Posts: 127
|
Quote:
I've been using the Costco TDK for a month or so now (about 16 tapes used) without problem or concern. Always looking for a better deal, though, of course. However, I'm not sure I see that your TDK is cheaper, as you claim. I put 8 of them (to match the Costco pack) in my shopping cart at your site and added shipping to (California)--$17.92 + $9.80 shipping = $27.72. That's higher than the big box store price ($24.99 + 8.25% tax = $27.05). Plus I see that your tape is the Asian packaging ("gray market"?) while Costco's is the USA packaging. Comment? --Darin PS Please forgive me for mentioning a non-Sponsor--but the Sponsor refered to the store and I saw no other way to respond. |
|
May 17th, 2006, 10:41 PM | #15 | |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 42
|
TDK etc.
Quote:
If you only 8 you may come out a few cents ahead but if you buy any more than that then the savings start to ad up. Personally I try to patronize small companies over large ones but that is of course up to you. I will guarantee you a lower delivered price if you buy at least 10. In most brands we carry domestic, European and Asian product where applicable. TDK is one of the U.S. companies that absolutely refuses to give comparable pricing to smaller dealers. So whereas with Panasonic, Sony, JVC and others we carry both, we don't stock the domestic TDK because to us it's MUCH more expensive. I may go back to them and ask them for another price quote but every time I've tried I've gotten "no reply." Regardless, the tape is the same product and we stand behind what we sell regardless. If you have a problem we take care of it. In fact in many cases the Asian consumer population is more critical than ours and we find customers who actually PREFER the "gray" product - most notably Victor (JVC) where we have actually had people thank us for carrying it and REFUSE to take regular JVC when we were out of stock of the Victor. Stranger than fiction...
__________________
Craig Berlin "Mr. Tapeguy" BS, Radio-TV-Film, University of Texas http://www.pro-tape.com Adobe - AJA - Apple - Avid - Audio Technica - Bogen - Canon - Denon - Digidesign - Fuji - Gitzo - JVC - Lowell - Marantz - Maxell - Panasonic - Primera - Rimage - Samson - Sennheiser - Sony - TDK - Varizoom - Waves - more! |
|
| ||||||
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|