Someone is offering me a bunch of JVC mini DV cassettes for cheap. Has anyone noticed a difference in quality in brand names?

Thanks.

-- Erik Reo (ereo@pacificnet.net), May 15, 1999

Answers

Erik,

Sorry to see no one gave you an immediate answer. JVC Mini-DV tape is incredible and should work just fine--especially if you primarily shoot with Sony tape (as many of my friends do--they swear by JVC even though it's tough to get ahold of sometimes) Best of luck to you and hope everything went well.

John Brune http://www.geocities.com/~steadicamjr

-- John Brune (jbfine@fortwayne.infi.net), October 27, 1999.

Though I have not tried the JVC tapes, there is a difference in brands of tape stock. I normally use Sony Premium tapes, which have proven to be flawless. I recently did a job with the Panasonic tapes and had a horrible experience. One of the 10 tapes shot on the job was bad. How and Why??? I was able to lay down color bars and everything else....???? Who knows. The tape showed only some noise and the time code just kept jumping forward and back. I'll never use Panasonic again!

-- michelle mccabe (michmcca@hotmail.com), September 07, 2000.

I've used several kinds of Mini DV tape. The first time I used Panasonic I had digital atifacts galore and swore I'd never use it again. I have actually and have not had any problems. I think I may have suffered from the difference in "wet" and "dry" lubricants descrived elsewhere on this site - out a JVC tape in and it seemed to clear the problem i was having. I've also been happy with Fuji tape tho I didn't like their Hi-8 tapes. It seemed to wear the heads quicker. Hope this helps

-- Ashley Bond (ashley@dealingwithit.freeserve.co.uk), March 12, 2001.

There are currently only 3 manufacturers of ME tape. The majority of the DV tape out there is made by Panasonic, with Sony in second and TDK trickling into a distant third. JVC is reportedly Panasonic as is Maxell. Early TDK was Sony but now they may be making their own. Fuji is primarily Panasonic but has had either Sony tape or shells at some point in time. There is a difference between brands but more some from grade to grade than brand to brand.

Panasonic makes a professional line which is fairly extensive compared to what else is available. The new models are in our online store at http://www.store.yahoo.com/protape in the video tape > mini dv section.

If and when you use different brands, always use a head cleaner and if you've got a lot of hours with one brand, try to allow a couple of passes with the new stock prior to r

-- Craig Berlin (craigb@pro-tape.com), June 04, 2001.

4 cheap mini dv tapes go to www.pricebusters.com This for the U.K , prices start from £2.79 for panasonic dvm and pro tapes are £4.79 well cheap !!!!!! anyone no cheaper ?

-- robert gillham (robgillham@hotmail.com), November 15, 2001.

Do not go to the perve site www.pricebusters.com it has NOTHING to do with DV tapes.

-- Marie (mgriffithsuk@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

I think you will find the cheap tapes at www.pricebuster.org.uk

-- Dave Bolan (dave@dbolan.demon.co.uk), August 25, 2002.

We just bought a new Canon XL1s and a GL2. We've only used panasonic tapes and have had many, many problems. Even after striping the tapes timecode still gets messed up and some tapes don't even record the video your shooting. After reading some responses from others on this page we are convinced it's got to be those panasonic tapes.

-- Ryan Rowe (summitmediatv@centurytel.com), October 15, 2002.

I've had problems with the last 5 minutes of Sony tapes, but that seemed to clear on re-use. I've also seen the odd glitch on Panasonic, although the timecode has always been solid. JVC tapes seem good so far. I've had problems with Sony floppies and VHS and wouldn't be a fan of Sony media. Like to try Fuji & TDK but it's either hard to get or they're asking silly money for it.

Gordon

-- gordon craig (g.l.craig@btinternet.com), December 18, 2002.

I've used the Panasonic tapes with no problems at all, maybe it comes down to your camcorder? I'm using a JVC GR-DVP7U I've noticed no difference with any of the tapes.. hopefully I'm lucky!!

-- Rachel Sears (Rachel_sears@yahoo.com), June 03, 2003.

I too have been having tremendous problems with Panasonic mini DV tapes.

They either become heavily pixellated or I get stripes running across them. Put a different tape in and it is fine, so it is not the camcorder.

I'll be keeping away from these tapes from now on!

-- Shirley turner (shirlst@uk2.net), June 04, 2003.

Try to avoid Panasonic mini DV tapes. I'm shooting weddings for a video company. We recently changed our tape lineup from Sony to Panasonic. Video noise problems started to occur. Not every tape is faulty but it only takes one tape to screw up a whole job. Our cameras are clean and well maintained.

-- Nicholas Rozgony (rozgony@optonline.net), June 09, 2003.