I'm trying to find a mini dv tape, but all the ones I get seem to have poor quality. I'm not worried about how much it costs, but, what is the best quality mini dv tape? I use a Sony Handycam Mini DV and I want good quality for the first Extreme Films Productions movie.
Best quality mini dv tape, which one!?
| hsadmin wrote: |
| I'm trying to find a mini dv tape, but all the ones I get seem to have poor quality. I'm not worried about how much it costs, but, what is the best quality mini dv tape? I use a Sony Handycam Mini DV and I want good quality for the first Extreme Films Productions movie. |
Hello
Could you explain a little bit more detail about the poor quality you are getting,maybe all you need to do is clean the heads with a DV Dry-type head cleaning cassette from sony.
A friend filmed my wedding with a Sony PD150 and he used maxell DV cassetes and it looks wonderfull.I have used all types of casttes but I allways choise brand names and buy them in a 5 pack.
Nope, I haven't tried that yet. And most of my filming is done outdoors, so i could see how that could be a problem. I want to get the best quality cassete. I know differnet tapes get different quality video, so I want the best tape.
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| Nope, I haven't tried that yet. And most of my filming is done outdoors, so i could see how that could be a problem. I want to get the best quality cassete. I know differnet tapes get different quality video, so I want the best tape.
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for miniDV, normal tape should be ok..
if you want get best quality video, use a good videocam like Panasonic DVX Series or Sony 3CCD cam..
Any major brand should be good. You may want to get it from the same manufacturer as your camera, assuming they are a big one. Don't get tapes that advertise longer recording times, they do this by having thinner, low-quality tape. Normal miniDV tapes last an hour on SP.
I use TDK and they are great! Sony should be good too or any other bigger brand. If you are having poor quality then it's more likely that the problem is in the camera and not in the tapes! 
Unlike VHS or Betacam, which records analogue signals, DV records digitally, basically 0's or 1's, on/off. Other than dropout and lubricant issues, different tapes will give you the same picture, period.
If there is a gap in the magnetic coating of the tape and and as a result, part of the signal doesn't get recorded, you'll see it as either a white spot or it will macro-block, the digital processor in the camera will use surrounding information to replace the missing info, giving the picture, very temporarily, a blocky appearance in parts of the frame.
The lubricant issue comes about because different tape manufacturers use different chemicals on the tape coating to keep the tape sliding smoothly across your heads. Occasionaly, going from one manufacturer to another, and hence one lubricant to anothe, the different chemicals would mix and get gunky, causing problems. This is rare these days.
So enjoy whatever tapes you like. The picture should remain the same. If you have droput, get a Cleaning Cassette. Looks like a mini DV tape, but it cleans your tape heads instead. But follow directions on the cleaning cassette carefully or it can damage the heads.
If there is a gap in the magnetic coating of the tape and and as a result, part of the signal doesn't get recorded, you'll see it as either a white spot or it will macro-block, the digital processor in the camera will use surrounding information to replace the missing info, giving the picture, very temporarily, a blocky appearance in parts of the frame.
The lubricant issue comes about because different tape manufacturers use different chemicals on the tape coating to keep the tape sliding smoothly across your heads. Occasionaly, going from one manufacturer to another, and hence one lubricant to anothe, the different chemicals would mix and get gunky, causing problems. This is rare these days.
So enjoy whatever tapes you like. The picture should remain the same. If you have droput, get a Cleaning Cassette. Looks like a mini DV tape, but it cleans your tape heads instead. But follow directions on the cleaning cassette carefully or it can damage the heads.
The tape brand isn't going to make the quality better or worse, that's going to be the camera. You want a 3 chip camera for best results, and the bigger the chips the better (as a general rule). But different tapes use different lubricants and switching brands can cause problems. I'd pick one brand of tape and stick with it. My personal opinion is that I use only Sony tapes, because I own a Sony PD-150 camcorder and a Sony DSR-11 deck that I use, so I figure I may as well use Sony tapes as well.
If you're getting poor quality recordings, it could be a problem with the camera.
Brand new tapes shouldn't give you that problem.
Are you using recycled tapes? If you recycle them too many times, you could get poor quality and dropouts too.
I find that it's best to recycle tapes only once.
As for brand of tapes, I agree with the others who say they are all pretty similar. But I personally use Sony.
Brand new tapes shouldn't give you that problem.
Are you using recycled tapes? If you recycle them too many times, you could get poor quality and dropouts too.
I find that it's best to recycle tapes only once.
As for brand of tapes, I agree with the others who say they are all pretty similar. But I personally use Sony.
I have just come back from holiday and I ordered this deal from amazon and I am very pleased with the results!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Pack-min-DVM-Premium/dp/B0007A57K6/ref=pd_bbs_1/026-5655096-7264443?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1184968719&sr=8-1
A bargain price.
You won't find a lower price for these Sony mini DV cassettes elsewhere and the supersaver delivery of Amazon is superb. Very fast and everything carefully packed...and even more, these Sony DV cassettes are made in France.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Pack-min-DVM-Premium/dp/B0007A57K6/ref=pd_bbs_1/026-5655096-7264443?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1184968719&sr=8-1
A bargain price.
You won't find a lower price for these Sony mini DV cassettes elsewhere and the supersaver delivery of Amazon is superb. Very fast and everything carefully packed...and even more, these Sony DV cassettes are made in France.
Yeah, Tape Quality is actually very important. Poor Tapes can slowly destroy your heads. I use Panasonic.
Some of the best are (as stated above); Panasonic, and Sony are great choices.
Some of the best are (as stated above); Panasonic, and Sony are great choices.
Agreed with VidE. DV is DV. 4:1:1. Standard compression ratio.
Or you get the image or you don't.
Your image will not change, as colors won't be more saturated or having a sharper image by getting different tape brands.
It happens to get dropped frames or destroy your camera's heads if you get poor quality tape.
I always get Sony's (and make sure it's really Sony).
Or you get the image or you don't.
Your image will not change, as colors won't be more saturated or having a sharper image by getting different tape brands.
It happens to get dropped frames or destroy your camera's heads if you get poor quality tape.
I always get Sony's (and make sure it's really Sony).
I use TDK tapes, I don't know if they are good, I've not had any problems with them...
the "quality" should not be an issue unless you are filming something very important, otherwise, there is little to no risk in regular tapes, remember, miniDV is a very mature format. also, another tip is that you should try to use the same brand of tapes for you camera, b/c each company uses a different kind of lubricant on the tape surface, and using different ones can possibly cause head jams and other nasty stuff. also, it is suggested by many to rewind you tapes all the way back to the beginning b4 you store them for long periods, so the tape doesnt stretch due to humidity and other factores, like cold/hot temps
Agreed about DV being a mature format.
I've just moved to DVCPro HD P2 (for quality, of course) and I'm having some problems about getting the video on computer, checking, re-checking and backuping.
As a friend says:
"God makes miracles. Since I'm not God, I make backups".
All this to say "stick with the tapes".
I've just moved to DVCPro HD P2 (for quality, of course) and I'm having some problems about getting the video on computer, checking, re-checking and backuping.
As a friend says:
"God makes miracles. Since I'm not God, I make backups".
All this to say "stick with the tapes".
yes, tape is nice cuz its an automatic backup
Hey. Umm.. This topics old, why do people keep bringin it back up? JW
I use a mini dv canon and I hav no problemes with the cassetes. You may have another problem... maybe with the capture.
I don't know where to ask this question. It is sooooo... low tech. I have a video player that connects to an RCA cable that I have to boost the signal. I don't know how to boost a video signal if it uses an RCA jack. I would rather not have to get svideo switcher, cables & boost.
I think the problem its on your videorecorder... it doesnt change so much different brands of tapes.. i tried many diferent types of them and dont really change the image quality much more.
... and remember to get your video heads clean. It doesn't matter how good is your tapes, if your heads are dirt and your footage will look bad.
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