Short Tape?

[DeederMc]

I'm trying to help a friend choose some new equipment based on what the company has used in the past. Can anyone help me understand what his predecessor meant in this email comment (below)? It's not critical in my recommendations (I'm recommending all HD), I just need to know if he's crazy or I'm unaware of something. Thanks!

"I use a sony mini-dv camcorder with a special lens I bought that captures most of the studio, when you use the 16:9 ratio aspect. When you use the regular 4:3 ratio, for some reason, the videotape gets used up quicker i.e., an 80 min cassette will run out in 30 minutes. The Sony camera I use is: Model DSR-PDX10"

[thecoalman]

DVCAM - One highlight of the DSR-PDX10 is its ability to record in the professional DVCAM format. DVCAM is a proprietary Sony format that is considered more stable for editing and archival purposes. The main difference between DVCAM and regular DV is that DVCAM records to a 15 micron track pitch where as DV records to a 10 micron track pitch. Basically this means that DVCAM allots more physical space for recording data to tape and in doing provides less recording time than normal DV. DVCAM also includes an audio lock function which is useful for audio editors. While DVCAM may not be important to all users, this feature is very key none the less. Aside from this camera, the next step for recording on DVCAM is the DSR-PD170. This is a large jump in price, so if DVCAM is a must but the budget is tight, than this might be the camera to buy.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/sony-dsr-pdx10-camcorder-review.htm#

[edDV]

There should be no relationship between aspect ratio setting and DV-SP vs. DV-LP vs. DVCAM tape mode.

First off DV-LP should never be used. Or if it has been used, those tapes should be transferred before they are unreadable. The difference between DV-LP, DV-SP and DVCAM is tape track width. LP can be difficult to play as the camcorder wears or on a different transport. Never archive to LP mode.

"Wide" 16:9 aspect ratio should be a separate setting.

84min tapes are thinner than 62min tapes and may not age as well or be as robust in shuttle.

Replacement cam should be HDV. HDV is similar to Video8 to Hi8 to Digital8. There is backward compatibility from HDV to DV-SP format.