Just wondering if anyone has a preferred tape they use... some are cheaper than others, but does it really make a difference?

You can't use HDV tapes in a miniDV camera, but I use Panasonic Professional tapes. It doesn't really matter what you use..think of it like gas, it'll work, but premium stuff is always better (even if a little more expensive). Staying consistent with a tape brand is also a must, as some brands have wet lubes and others have dry lube. This can gunk your heads up pretty fast if you keep switching.

-Kegan

so the dvx will have mini dv tapes?
same as the handicam?

Yes, the DVX takes mini dv tapes. Probably the same as your handicam - as long as it takes mini dv and not hi8 tapes then its the same.

-Kegan

Thanks Kegan-
You're awesome!

HDV should work fine. As long as they have the miniDV logo on them. They don't record differently than regular miniDV tapes, they just use a different type of lubricant and are less likely to have dropouts. HDV is recorded to miniDV tapes, so regular miniDV video will record onto HDV tapes.

Hmm, but HDV tapes are more expensive aren't they? Why would people buy HDV tapes to record HD footage on if there wasn't a significant enough difference? I know most of the people that I know that shoot on HDV use HDV miniDV tapes. There's gotta be some reason.

Not saying you're wrong or anything, just need some clarification.

-Kegan

We've been filming this summer in HDV on standard miniDV tapes. Still get 60 minutes a tape, and the footage looks great.

here's the word ala wikipedia

"Because HDV uses the same tape form factor as DV, users should be able to use any high quality MiniDV tape in their HDV camcorder. However, because HDV has a lower tolerance for drop-outs because of its long-GOP compression, many HDV users purchase either "master" quality Mini-DV tapes or specially formulated HDV tapes."

so i guess just any good (panasonic, sony) brand tape should do the job.

Also, don't use premium gasoline in cars with regular octane ratings. Different engines require different fuel grades because they have different compression ratios. If you fill an empty tank with the wrong fuel grade, you risk knocking because the cylinder firing won't be synchronized with the ignition timing.

I tell you what the other day I was driving around and I thought I could hear my cylinders out of sync.

I've shot several projects in HDV on Sony cameras. I always use regular miniDV tapes (the cheapest I can get, actually) and have never had dropout.

I understand the theory behind the expensive tape, but mainly it is a ploy to suck money out of people who think they have to use them. Just stick to one brand (they are all good).

The complicated codec does, however, have some limitations.

I would never recomend shooting on used miniDV tapes, as it is not a very robust format. I WOULD NEVER reuse an old miniDV tape in an HDV camera, because you are asking for problems.