MiniDV purchase recommendation

Jim Giles · June 30th, 2004, 12:11 PM

Boyd,

Do you use only one tape and if so which one?

Boyd Ostroff · June 30th, 2004, 12:37 PM

I've been using the Sony Premium tapes in the VX-2000 and PDX-10 for the past 3 years without problem. But you really should sample the opinions of others over at the tape forum.

Jim Giles · July 2nd, 2004, 08:54 PM

Boyd,

I got some Sony Premium tape today. The salesman suggested that I fast forward to the end of the tape and then rewind to the beginning to 'ensure' there was no slack in the tape. Have you ever heard of doing this? Is it necessary? He said something about if there was slack in the tape that it could damage your camera or something like that.

Also, do you record only once on your tape or multiple times?

Glenn Chan · July 2nd, 2004, 09:12 PM

Doing that to the tape ensures even tension throughout, so you're less likely to get glitches/dropouts. Most people only rarely experience them, so I wouldn't waste time doing it. Also, 1 dropout does not affect quality much and is easily photoshopped out. Audio dropouts cannot be fixed but 1 should be ok.

2- I'd record once since recycling tapes increases the risk you'll overwrite an entire tape, which would be many times more disasterous than a dropout IMO.

Jim Giles · July 2nd, 2004, 09:14 PM

Thanks Glenn. Sounds just right.

Bill Lapson · July 2nd, 2004, 11:00 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Steve Sawchuk : My personal opinion, having used only two of the three cameras mentioned, those being the GL2 and the Optura Xi, is that the difference is the picture quality. Not so much between the VX2100 and GL2, but the VX2100/GL2 versus the Optura. In other words, the Optura just doesn't look as good.

I played around with the GL2 at a local store, and then picked up the Optura Xi. I could immediately tell the difference between the two, and that was the quality. Now, I didn't get a chance to do any editing of the video or plug it into a TV to see it full-size, but it just seemed that the Xi was dull and the GL2 was broadcast-quality.

Steve... I have tried out several Optura camcorders including the Xi. I think the user interface and construction are superb in all models. The still shots are ok to very bad. Autofocus is slow. The video is good. I decided not to get an Optrura Xi which, as you might know, was discontinued this past week.

June 30th, 2004, 12:11 PM	#31
Jim Giles Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Jackson, Mississippi Posts: 37	Boyd, Do you use only one tape and if so which one?

June 30th, 2004, 12:37 PM	#32
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	I've been using the Sony Premium tapes in the VX-2000 and PDX-10 for the past 3 years without problem. But you really should sample the opinions of others over at the tape forum.

July 2nd, 2004, 08:54 PM	#33
Jim Giles Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Jackson, Mississippi Posts: 37	Boyd, I got some Sony Premium tape today. The salesman suggested that I fast forward to the end of the tape and then rewind to the beginning to 'ensure' there was no slack in the tape. Have you ever heard of doing this? Is it necessary? He said something about if there was slack in the tape that it could damage your camera or something like that. Also, do you record only once on your tape or multiple times?

July 2nd, 2004, 09:12 PM	#34
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Doing that to the tape ensures even tension throughout, so you're less likely to get glitches/dropouts. Most people only rarely experience them, so I wouldn't waste time doing it. Also, 1 dropout does not affect quality much and is easily photoshopped out. Audio dropouts cannot be fixed but 1 should be ok. 2- I'd record once since recycling tapes increases the risk you'll overwrite an entire tape, which would be many times more disasterous than a dropout IMO.

July 2nd, 2004, 09:14 PM	#35
Jim Giles Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Jackson, Mississippi Posts: 37	Thanks Glenn. Sounds just right.

July 2nd, 2004, 11:00 PM	#36
Bill Lapson New Boot Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Danville CA Posts: 15	<<<-- Originally posted by Steve Sawchuk : My personal opinion, having used only two of the three cameras mentioned, those being the GL2 and the Optura Xi, is that the difference is the picture quality. Not so much between the VX2100 and GL2, but the VX2100/GL2 versus the Optura. In other words, the Optura just doesn't look as good. I played around with the GL2 at a local store, and then picked up the Optura Xi. I could immediately tell the difference between the two, and that was the quality. Now, I didn't get a chance to do any editing of the video or plug it into a TV to see it full-size, but it just seemed that the Xi was dull and the GL2 was broadcast-quality. Steve... I have tried out several Optura camcorders including the Xi. I think the user interface and construction are superb in all models. The still shots are ok to very bad. Autofocus is slow. The video is good. I decided not to get an Optrura Xi which, as you might know, was discontinued this past week.