Mini DV Tape

[revdave]

I have a new Canon mini DV camcorder. I heard that putting different brands of tape can eventually gum up the insides - so that you should pick a brand and stick to it.

Q: Is this true - if so - why?

Q: What's the Best Mini DV Tape?

[Marvingj]

Not True..Make sure you take care of your camcorder ( cleaning the heads ) Sony, JVC or Maxell are good. Long as it a major company name you should do alright.

[edDV]

The MiniDv format goes back 10 years. Early on this was a problem. I think it has been solved since I mix tapes without issue. To be on the safe side stay with one brand if that is an option for you. I don't bother.

Dirty heads cause pixelation of the image. Use a cleaning tape periodically.

[davideck]

AFAIK, the residue from different lubricants from different tapes can react and cause problems.
I experienced this type of problem after using a couple of Panasonic and Sony tapes after having used only JVC tapes. By the end of the second Panasonic tape, my camcorder was having difficulty recording and playing back. It took several passes of a cleaning tape to get things back to normal. I have used JVC tapes ever since without another incident.

[Cornucopia]

Not AS true as it used to be, but it IS TRUE!

Not only that, but it is true for ALL tape-based recorders/players (although some are more vulnerable to this than others)--Betacam, (S)VHS, Hi8, 3/4"Umatic.
However, there are 2 common and inexpensive solutions to this:
1. Always use the same brand tape (and same FORMULA tape, if possible)
2. Regularly use a variety of tapes and cycle through them

Have witness this occurrence first-hand, and have gotten confirmation (and explanation) from 3 different Pro VTR repair engineers.

Scott

[Dubber]

1) no lubricant should get in contact with tape or heads during regular use. Keep your equipment and tapes away from extreme hot and humid weather; remove tape if not using camcorder for a while; and store camcorder with tripod mount down.

2) I've heard good things about Fuji tapes.

3) I'd not recommend re-using tapes as per re-recording on them.

[MJA]

I been using Panasonic (DRY LUB) tapes sine I bought my Canon MiniDV no issues

[Guiboche]

Yes, there is slight truth. But I've found that this happens mainly with high end DV decks. They are biased towards the MiniDV format. Even if they can play them.

A lot of Panasonic DV Decks hate Sony MiniDV tapes.

Unfortunately, you'll never know till you run into the problem....

[revdave]

Thanks for the interesting posts. Does anyone have a preference for Canon comcorders?