On 29 Sep 1998 01:04:23 GMT, andyscam@aol.com (Andys cam) wrote:

>>Why one brand? Sometime ago each company used their own lubricant, and
>mixing and matching caused gumming up. They agreed upon one standard, so this
>is not an issue. Is this why you heard one brand or are there other issues?>

>After having had to replace the heads on 2 of my VX1000 camcorders, I will stay
>with Sony tape exclusively. I have seen posts that the problem was Sony's
>fault, also it was Panasonic's fault. Equally - Sony 'fixed' their problem and
>Panasonic 'fixed' it also. I have seen nothing officially and don't expect that
>either company would ever say they did anything to correct the situation,
>because if either did I would be one of many looking to recover the cost of
>video head drum replacements from them !! If you know something or the
>location of any official statement please forward it to me. Unfortunately 98%
>of the posts on the net are only opinion or repeated rumor from perhaps well
>intenioned but clueless folks. True facts are few and far between. Thanks for
>your reply, Bob Anderson

About a year and a half ago I bought a VX-700, and, in desperation
to try it out, put a Panasonic tape in it. I had so many drop-outs
in the first 1/2 hour I never dared replay the tape or use anything
but Sony mini-DV tape again (with maybe one visible dropout in 70
hours of recorded tape + repeated playings with Sony tape...). If
things have REALLY changed, I am interested in knowing, since Sony
tape is often hard to get, and is more expensive...