What DV tapes are you using?

[theReal]

I've never been able to find a test/review on DV tapes on the web and I'm wondering if there are any tapes that I should better not use.

There's always two kinds of tapes from each manufacturer: the normal and the "professional" tapes (which are usually quite a lot more expensive). What is the benefit of the pro tapes? Are these more secure for long-time archiving than the normal tapes?

I'm asking because I had been using cheap CDRs for quite a long time until I found out most of these will be unreadable after only two years or so. I don't want the same to happen to my DV tapes (but I also don't want to pay twice as much for pro tapes if they are not really better)

[Bandung]

The main issues that I've learned about tapes are;

1. that some tape produce more drop outs than other. ME tapes (metal evaporated) are the generic consumer tapes. MP (metal particle) produce less drop outs and are the professional tapes.

2. The other key point is not to mix tapes in your camera because the lubricants differ by manufacturer and these will gum up your camera quicker, resulting in abrasive cleanings more often ...

Here is a wonderful link to an article regarding myths about DV Tapes

http://www.unreal.co.nz/FUD_BUST.htm#Section Two: DV Tapes

[Bandung]

Forgot to add this quote from the article..

Here’s what Merv Partridge says on the subject of “MP” Metal Particle tape (DVCPRO) versus “ME” Metal Evaporated tape.....


- MP = durable and few dropouts
- ME = cleaner picture [not relevant to digital formats, presumably -ed] but don't reuse tapes for pro work and never rock and roll for (linear) editing (except maybe a final cut) unless you want dropouts cos the ME surface comes off the backing more easily. i.e. the pro recommendation was use ME for shooting then dub to Betacam or something else for linear based edit decisions and maybe final cut.
So as far as I can tell, as long as we are not trying to do any linear editing on our ME tapes or are prone to constant viewing of the tape, we will make out okay.

[theReal]

Thanks for the link, it's got some interesting facts, and it also assured me in what I found out searching the stores and the web for MP Mini-DV tapes:

"ALL standard DV tapes are "Metal Evaporated", regardless of manufacturer. So are all DVCAM tapes. Only DVCPRO tapes are "Metal Particle"."

I just realized I didn't say "Mini-DV tapes" but I said "DV tapes" which makes a big difference, I guess...
I wasn't able to find any MP Mini-DV tapes and was told more than once by shop-owners that there are no MP Mini-DV tapes (at least not any more).

The "professional" tapes I was referring to are also ME Mini-DV tapes. For example, what I have in front of me are two types of Panasonic consumer Mini-DV tapes, both 60min without chip. The AY-DVM60-XK costs 9.25 Euro, the AY-DVM60-EK2 costs 6.40 Euro.

The more expensive XK is fancy-looking white and blue plastic and has a stylish case. While the normal EK tape says "Linear Plus", the XK says "Super Linear Plus" and offers "Ultimate Fidelity: This technology realized four times higher magnetic cell density".
This is, according to the label, achieved by using "S-AME technology" (maybe the pun is intended? "It's the S-AME technology that we use for our cheaper tapes, only you stupid paid more!" LOL)

[Bandung]

There are some capabilities of the S-AME technology DV tapes that are worth looking at.

a new evaporation technology called S-AME (Super Advanced Metal Evaporation) that improves the videotape’s magnetic density by 400% over current Panasonic models. The S-AME technology offers three key advantages: higher output power for more precise recordings; low head wear and reduced head clogs thanks to the use of a dry-type lubricant; and superb linearity that assures high performance in severe conditions.
The "dry lubricant" attracts my attention. The other features like 4x higher output power would probably depend upon one's camera's ability to drive the tape that hard - aka high end semi- pro cameras -.

But ME technology is ME so I don't think the "drop out" factor is significantly reduced for me to justify the additional expense of these tapes.

I'm not a fan of linear editing (I've done so occasionally by renting time at University studeos) so the wear factor is not as big of a concern as the gummy bear factor.

[Faceman101]

I have a Sony Digital 8 cam and I used to buy the most expensive HI8 ME or MP tapes (forget which was more money). Then one day I had to just dub something for someone and used what was left on a normal 8mm tape. Never noticed a difference in quality, drop outs, picture, anything. In my case I think it may have to do with the lifespan of the tape. I'm sure my 8mm tapes will crap out in 20/30 years instead of the 40/50 years of the MP and ME (just making up years).