Best tape for use in the VX2100? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony HDV and DV Camera Systems > Sony VX2100 / PD170 / PDX10 Companion

Sony VX2100 / PD170 / PDX10 Companion
Topics also include Sony's TRV950, VX2000, PD150 & DSR250 family.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 19th, 2006, 03:48 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Birmingham, AL USA
Posts: 722
Best tape for use in the VX2100?

I've been using these Sony tapes...

http://www.taperesources-store.com/s...2DS20&dept=205

What does everyone else use/recommend?
Nick Weeks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 19th, 2006, 04:48 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
VX2000 User

I ve used Panosonic tapes most of the time, and have had no problems. The consensus seems to be not to change up, and if you do, run a head cleaner before switching to new tape.

Chris Barcellos
Chris Barcellos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2006, 02:09 PM   #3
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Billericay, England UK
Posts: 4,711
That's the answer. Choose a tape, any tape, and stick to it.
Tom Hardwick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2006, 02:40 PM   #4
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 86
What if?

I was wondering if my problem might be related to switching brand. I got this camera used and I didn't even ask him what he was using. Camera drops audio and the frames in the left side are going all funky. I just dropped it off to a repair shop and got to thinking about it. Soooo I guess my question is---------> Do things realllly go strange if you switch film? Pre-thanks, John
PS: Chris Barcellos has been a very big help on this so far and I want to thank him once again :) :) :)
__________________
"Finding Gold In Tailings" www.dredgingworld.com
John L Scott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2006, 03:01 PM   #5
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Billericay, England UK
Posts: 4,711
The only time I've had to have a tape path clean (as against the much less complex head clean) is when I've unintentionally and inadvertently switched tape brands in my cameras. The gunk and goo left behind on the capstan (about one millimetre up from the main bearing) is the giveaway that your tape path also needs a through cleaning.

tom.
Tom Hardwick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2006, 08:19 PM   #6
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
John- Let us know how things go.

John Scott:

You're welcome. With the problems you are talking about I was concerned about dirty heads, and that is why I suggested using a head cleaner.

It seams different brands of tape use different types of lubricants-- some a dry lubricant, some a wet (Sony in particular). When the two get mixed together, problems arise.

Keep me posted.

Chris Barcellos
Chris Barcellos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2006, 09:13 AM   #7
Fred Retread
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hartford, CT
Posts: 1,227
I have three cams and have mixed tapes willy-nilly for several years without consequence. I could say a lot more (and I have in other posts) but that's the bottom line for me.
__________________
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge
"My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me
David Ennis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 24th, 2006, 11:38 PM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 86
Ya know! I am sooooo bummmmed out about this camera. I really think the fella is telling me the truth but I just can't figure it out. I had it cleaned and even bought a cleaning tape just to pre-clean it before I used it and the first footage I captured to harddrive was clear as the video goes but after 5 seconds the audio dropped off spuraticly. I captured it once again and the audio dropped off at different times!!!!!!!!! I gave the tape to a friend that has a Mac with NLE and he is going to capture the same footage and get back to me this Friday. It's almost like a playback problem cause you would think that if the footage is captured it would be the same no mater how many time you capture it. I guess what I am digging for is: Has anyone out there had this kind of problem???????
__________________
"Finding Gold In Tailings" www.dredgingworld.com
John L Scott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 25th, 2006, 01:26 AM   #9
Wrangler
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Vallejo, California
Posts: 4,049
How many hours on the camera? And what camera? The audio fades when played back in-camera or on a different transport?
__________________
Mike Rehmus
Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!
Mike Rehmus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 25th, 2006, 07:09 AM   #10
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 86
Sorry Mike, It's a VX2000 so I really don't know. I bought it used from a fella that said he had about 20 hours on it. The audio drops off at different times when in play back also. That is why i gave the tape to my friend to replay on his equipment. I will know something in a few days about the tape. Any idea how much a drum is if that is the problem. I took it to a local repair shop and was charged $225 for I guess just cleaning and adjustment so I figured if there was any thing major wrong he would have let me know. Thanks, John
__________________
"Finding Gold In Tailings" www.dredgingworld.com
John L Scott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 25th, 2006, 08:56 PM   #11
Wrangler
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Vallejo, California
Posts: 4,049
Unless you know the competence of the shop, you really don't know what they did or if they know how to do what they did. If they didn't tell you what they did and the camera doesn't perform any better, I'd ask for a refund.

A new drum assembly costs around $400 IIRC plus labor. But if the camera truly has only 20 hours on it, the heads should be OK.

Now that you have it back, does the camera work OK?
__________________
Mike Rehmus
Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!
Mike Rehmus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 25th, 2006, 10:59 PM   #12
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 86
My friend just called and said the audio was messed up :( The video is great but.... I could have almost paid for a drum for what they charged me for just cleaning!!!!!!!! I will get it back to the place that worked on it and see what they say and then I will get back with the fella I bought it from. Thanks all for the help :)
PS Any suggestions on a real repair shop I can trust if the deal goes sour on getting my money back from the seller?????
__________________
"Finding Gold In Tailings" www.dredgingworld.com

Last edited by John L Scott; January 26th, 2006 at 12:34 AM. Reason: Any suggestions on a real repair shop....
John L Scott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 30th, 2006, 02:50 PM   #13
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 909
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Weeks
I've been using these Sony tapes...

http://www.taperesources-store.com/s...2DS20&dept=205

What does everyone else use/recommend?
The tape you use is the least expensive part of your video production system.
It's also the part that can cancel the benefits of all the expenditures you made on everything else, if it goes bad. So, from the beginning of my use of a VX2100, I've shot and archived with nothing else but Sony Excellence cassettes, at about $7.50 each. I plan on keeping these tapes for decades, regardless of what other media I might use to store other copies, so I regard the higher cost to be a good investment. So far, I've never seen a visible glitch in anything I've shot or re-recorded. Some of my tapes have been used as temporary caches, while I edited footage from other formats or transfered it to an HDD for DVD authoring. Then, I've re-used them as many as a dozen times and still have had no tape failures. I doubt that I will ever wish I'd saved a few measly bucks by going with the economy tapes.
J. Stephen McDonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 30th, 2006, 03:11 PM   #14
Fred Retread
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hartford, CT
Posts: 1,227
Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Stephen McConald
...I've shot and archived with nothing else but Sony Excellence cassettes, at about $7.50 each...I doubt that I will ever wish I'd saved a few measly bucks by going with the economy tapes...
On the other hand, I've shot about 150 tapes that cost under $3.00 each without problems. I doubt that I'll ever wish I had spent $675 more for those tapes 8>}. To each his own.
__________________
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge
"My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me
David Ennis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 30th, 2006, 05:33 PM   #15
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 909
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Retread
On the other hand, I've shot about 150 tapes that cost under $3.00 each without problems. I doubt that I'll ever wish I had spent $675 more for those tapes 8>}. To each his own.
Fred, 10 years or more from now, will be the time to review our choices of tapes.
J. Stephen McDonald is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony HDV and DV Camera Systems > Sony VX2100 / PD170 / PDX10 Companion

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:02 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network