Any updates from folk with XH-A1 and what tape you recommend?

I use Sony DVM63HD never had a problem, I used the cannon that came with the camera then just changed over I'm sure one tape aint going to matter

Russ

Will hello, I bought 15 Sony HD mini dv tapes for £70.70 and a Sony head cleaning tape for £6.35 on ebay these prices include postage from japan.
This means that the individual price for HD tape is £4.71 very reasonable I think. Where abouts in manchester do you live PM me if you like.

I've used the Sony line up, and will shoot the Premium series for my own work, but if it's for a customer, I will not take a chance and use the Sony Digital Master.
DM has been the most reliable in terms of not having much drop-outs, but the cost is too extreme to use for everything I do. So I save its use for customers' work.

I have used Panasonic MQs exclusively in my XLH1, HV20 and A1...

I have never had a single dropout in dozens of tapes... not one, ever.

Highly recommend these Panny MQs for HDV recording, highly reliable plus you save big bucks over HDV branded tapes.

If I'm not mistaken, the MQ series has been discontinued, but there's a new line introduced as well now. AY-DVM63SQ.

Bill

I've been using the Sony Premiums with the A1, and I'd say I've been averaging 1 dropout per tape. It isn't a big deal since I do narrative and I always have more than one take to choose from, but someone who does event videography should definitely take that into consideration. If there's a tape in the same price range that has fewer dropouts I'll switch to it, but otherwise I'll just keep dealing with the intermittent dropouts.

Tape for XH-A1
 

I'm interested in hearing from owners/users of the XH-A1 as to the relative merits and opinions on the following tapes:

Sony DVM-63HD
Sony PHDVM-63DM
Panasonic AY-DVM63AMQ

I've just merged together about a dozen separate discussions of tape brands for the Canon XH series; this will serve as the "master discussion thread" for such a frequently discussed topic.

I'm watching this with interest as well. I'm new to A-1 and the Sony DVM63HD were recommended to me....that's what I'm trying out.

A dozen of Sony DVM-63HD's so far, never had a problem. Also used the Canon tape that came with my A1.
What about the durability of these Sony's? Some of my 5, 6, 7 yrs old Panasonic Pro tapes are heavily damaged - despite of using them only once, storing them dry'n'dark, rewinding/fast-forwarding them once every year.

Sony DVM63HD for me aswell shot about 30 tapes never had a prob also used the origianal cannon tape

Russ

I have been using the Panasonic AMQ tapes and never had a problem at all--until one batch.

A few months ago I did a week shoot with my camera, and the other guy also had an XH A1. It was his production and he bought 15 or 20 tapes for both of us to use. He sat on the footage for months and just started loading it a couple of weeks ago... only to discover that 3 of the tapes had big dropouts, including one from my camera.

None of my tapes has had a problem, either ones I bought before or since that shoot, but now I'm a bit nervous about the AMQs. The shoot was in normal conditions, no excessive dust or humidity or anything strange.

From what I've read most people seem to be using the AMQs and have reported little or no problems. I was a big promoter of them until this problem happend. If it had been one of the cameras, I probably would have said dirty heads. But it happened to tapes in both cameras. All the tapes were from the same box.

Now I'm a bit nervous about these tapes, and I think I will switch to the Sony PHDVM, even though they cost twice as much.

A1 tape stock
 

I went with the Canon E63PR and after testing it against the sony, found that it provided better image sharpness. Color is accurate and no drop out so far. Also working great on my current tests to re-record on same tape.

I've taken to using the Sony Digital Master tapes for those occasions when I am shooting for a client. It's been very reliable thus far, however I have only shot about 20 tapes so far.
I think it helps to give yourself that extra (potentially anyways) edge in reliability (freedom from drop-outs). No tape line will ever be drop-out free, there will always be the occasional manufacturing flaw. However, the Sony DM is supposedly made to a higher quality standard so these occurrances should be less over time.

I have used Panasonic tapes from the get-go, Started in my DVC-30 a couple years ago and have used the same PQ tapes since on my DVX and now my A1. I haven't ever had a problem with the tape, ever.

AY-DVM63PQ if you are wondering.

I captured some Sony tapes through a HV20 a couple days ago and had 2 dropouts from 6 tapes.

Michael, perhaps I am off base here...but how can one type of mini-dv/hdv tape provide better "image sharpness" than any other when the data being recorded is 1's and 0's? As far as I know, there can be a difference in the quality of the tape itself, but not a difference in the quality of the video being recorded, as it is all digital. The only improvement you may find from switching to an alternate/more expensive brand as far as picture-quality is concerned, is that you may have less dropouts.

You're not off base. You're absolutely right. :)

Bill

Yes! Finally! I imparted some knowledge! I'm not just a thread-resource sucker afterall!

Not to flog a dead horse, but I have almost decided to go with what seems to be the most popular make/model of tape: Panasonic AY-DVM63AMQ. Before I go and order 50 of them, does anyone think there would be a better tape-stock to purchase?

Nope, I would use that, but I cant justify paying that much for tape right now. So I go with the PQ tapes instead.

If avoiding dropouts is one of your highest priorities I suggest the Sony Digital Masters, I have had the least dropouts with this tape (which is nice since they cost $15 per).

I use TDK Digital Master tapes, haven't had any dropouts even reusing tapes about 6 times.
I think they're the best price/quality ratio you can get in Latvia.

I'm really stressing over which tapes i should purchase in bulk? I'm looking to get 100 tapes for my A1 and Sony Fx1.

I will be out shooting my first documentary in the summer for one month in Asia, and I don't know whether i should just go ahead and use the sony dvm-60 tapes like i have been for the past few months on both cameras, or upgrade to those newer hdm-63 tapes that just came out? THe price difference for both from taperesources.com is quite a bit. At about a $500 difference. 2.29 vs 7.00 per tape (discounted @ 100tapes).

Considering it will be extremeley hot and humid, in Asia where the weather is tropic, i don't know if that would affect the quality of the tapes while shooting over there compared to here in California.

I need to purchase the tapes in the next few days and i need to lock down my decision. Can someone give me some feedback or suggestions?