Alternative to the expensive sony HDV cassetes

[PeterK]

Hello,
my camera is a sony hc7 and I use the rather expensive Sony HDV tapes.
Can I use the Sony HDV cassetes not replaced by another brand but with the same quality.
Thanks.
PeterK

[minidv2dvd]

you can use any miniDV tapes you want to. they don't have to say "HDV" they are the same. DVavi and HDV are recorded at the same bitrate on the tape so there is no need for a "better" tape for HDV.

only thing i wouldn't do is change brands in a single cam. different lubes can muck things up. i clean the heads on my business machines after every tape brand change.

[Cornucopia]

Well, there is supposed to be a difference in the quality. Since HDV isn't all I-Frame, the presence of dropouts on a tape causes more trouble, so the "higher quality" tape was meant to minimize that. Of course, YMMV so it most of the time doesn't make a big enough difference to warrant the extra cost (presumably built into the higher manufacturing specifications, or quality control).

Scott

[zoobie]

have you tried the Sony HDM-63VG? It's less than $7

[Soopafresh]

I've never had a dropout on my Canon HV30 using these $3 Panasonic tapes

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-MiniDV-Tapes-Pack-5/dp/B00007FWP2

[minidv2dvd]

my hv30 hasn't lost a frame yet using standard sony dvc tapes - dvm60prr - about $2. even reusing them 3 or 4 times hasn't been a problem.