hey everyone..I need advice. I want to buy the BEST possible quality mini DV Cassette for my panasonic DV952 camcorder. Any tips, recomendations? Thanks!

Fuji MiniDV.

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any particular model or #? Or just any Fuji tape I can find in the store? Do you by chance have a link where I could read info in it? thanks.

They make only one Model#DVC-60.

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Oh ok. So is this really better than the sony excellence? or panasonic's "new" technology tape, they talk about it here:

http://www.taperesources-store.com/...aitem=5&mitem=5

it says it was designed for professional usage. I just wanna make sure I get the right one..especially if you guys recomend that I stick to one brand.

by the way..what is 'drop out" ? thanks for the advice.

I would recommend the Fuji as best. The others are good to.

http://ww2.onecall.com/About_00001000_32_92_0_5_0_0.htm

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Funny how something soooo important (recording medium) can be left out of reviews. The end result is only as good as the medium it was recorded on..same goes for the camera.

All of them give exactly the same quality unless there are dropouts. If you are a consumer, any mini-DV tape should be fine!

PS dvfreak.com claims that Fuji is best...

Oh, that's right. A "10110" recorded on a Fuji tape is better than a "10110" recorded on a Panasonic tape. No, they are still 1s and 0s. I guess the digital data is IDENTICAL so the quality is IDENTICAL no matter what tape I use. Are there other considerations? Just perhaps the substate tensile strength and lubricants, but the former has to be uniformly high and the latter has not been a problem the last 3-4 years since Sony changed their wet lubricant.

You can use any tape - there are no warnings from the manufactures or extended warranty people and THEY have a financial incentive to warn you if mixing tapes or using a certain brand caused repair problems.

Personally, I do use only dry-lubricated tapes from a recognized brand. Stick with one manufacture and line if you want. NOTE: for those trying to avoid mixing lubricants, a manufacture won't necessarily use the SAME lubricant on their tapes. Panasonic even sells both wet and dry lubricated tapes. Most tapes are re-branded anyway with just a couple of factories making ALL the tapes for the world.

Anyway, in a pinch I will use a miniDV tape even if I had to buy one at a tourist trap because I didn't plan ahead. Mostly though, I get several at a good deal and keep plenty of spares. I do use them to archive (13GB of data per tape) although I don't consider this

Basic tape care is more important (in my opinion) than the lubricants nowadays. Specifically, don't leave the tape midway, but rewind it all the way when you aren't using it the next day so you don't impart a bend to it where it wraps around the rollers. [Most even cheap camcorders have a good END SeaRCH function.] Store upright, in a cool and vibration free place. Retention (FF and Rewind) before using a new tape or one stored for weeks.

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Sony HDV camcorder info (FX1, CX7, HC3 HC5, SR1/3/5/10, SR11, SR12, TG1, UX1, Z1) -> http://www.SonyHDVinfo.com

Let's see I don't recall saying fuji looks better but is better under heavy use for drop out reasons?! Hmmm?

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This refers to dropping a series of bits out from the data stream. It happens when the tape loses contact with the spinning head momentarily. Usually due to a crease or 'molded bend" in the tape. Some blame all dropouts on lubrication problems, but those who are careful with the tape don't have any problems reguardless of what tape they use (or use several). Specifically, don't let the tape sit "mid-way" but rewind it to the end when you store the tape or leave it in the camcorder more than a day. The feeding rollers and guides bend the tape somewhat when loaded even if it isn't wrapped around the head. See my last post or do some searches on good tape care and storage.

When you have a dropout, sometimes you can "play that part over" and it may work (and you can try to redo your copying or splice in the good material). Some minor runs of data dropouts are corrected by the error correction codes built in to the recording and playback spec, but generally you do want to avoid having dropouts.

If you do manage to get creases in the tape, you wil have dropouts. Try not to jar or drop the miniDV tapes or subject them to rapid heat or humidity changes. All in all, the metal evaporated tape and high tensile substrate is pretty robust (try erasing one with a regular non-biased hand-held eraser), but there is a LOT of data there at a very high density so a small area that is bad or loses contact with the head will result in a loss of more data than the same area of a VHS-C or 8mm cartridge.

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Sony HDV camcorder info (FX1, CX7, HC3 HC5, SR1/3/5/10, SR11, SR12, TG1, UX1, Z1) -> http://www.SonyHDVinfo.com

Ok, you posted your opinion. My last two posts in this thread quoted other people. In this thread, you don't clarify what catagory or criteria you are rating "the Fuji best" in.

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Sony HDV camcorder info (FX1, CX7, HC3 HC5, SR1/3/5/10, SR11, SR12, TG1, UX1, Z1) -> http://www.SonyHDVinfo.com

Oh yah! My bad it was damon you quoted LOL!

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I would use Panasonic Mini DV Master tape # AY-DVM63MQ For Professional use. Also this tape is made by Fuji.

cam man wrote:

I would use Panasonic Mini DV Master tape # AY-DVM63MQ For Professional use.


Yes you will use it for pro use, and comsumer if you want.

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