On Wed, 22 Jan 2003 10:40:19 -0500, "Thumper" <thumperstraussNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:

>> > I just got a Canon GL2 and need to buy blank mini DV tapes. The prices

>> > out there are surprisingly diverse. From reading other posts, it looks

>> > like it is a good idea to pick one brand and stick with it (something

>> > about mixing lubricants).

>> > More to the point, ultimately I want professional quality. For now, it

>> > is not as important. My budget is super tight. Which brand/type of

>> > mini DV tape would you suggest?

>From all the research I did I while ago on Google Groups, the concensus is

>that Sony Mini-DV tapes are best. I use the "Premium" brand which cost about

>$9 US. There is also a more expensive Sony tape ("Excellence", I think) that

>cost significantly more. The benefit (from what I remember) is that they are

>prone to less drop outs.

>

>So far, I have been happy with my choice. I haven't noticed any drop outs,

>although I read that drop-outs can be quite minor and hard to notice. But if

>I can't notice notice, who cares!

>

>The next question you need to resolve is if it's okay to mix those two Sony

>tapes (if you decide to spend more on tapes later on, say). I forget the

>answer. A Google Groups search should help you find that answer.

Comments:

The image and sound will be the same on all DV tapes;

I would not mix brands, but mixing types within a brand

(with the exception of the blue-cover/white-body

Panasonics, from what I hear) is OK - I mix Sony PR

and EX; the EX has 2db better S/N, which may, or may

not, be important for long-term storage (I use EX for

mastering); the Sony PR is under $5/tape at good

discounters (taperesources is one, tapeguys is another),

as is the basic Panasonic tape; DV dropouts can be as

minor as a small block in one frame replaced with the

material in the same position from the previous frame

(if there is no motion between the frames, you will

not see the dropout - and some don't see them even

with motion...), or as major as a loss of picture for

several frames (or more) - the first is not common,

the second is very rare if the camera is kept clean

and you do not mix tape brands; LP-mode can cause

problems with playback when mixing cameras (rare

with Sony, more common with others).