Mini dvcamorders

[GG4U]

I'm thinking of buying a new one within the next fortnight.I've noticed some stores sell the camcorder but not the tapes for the model.not sure if they're all generic or not and if their are more than one type of dvcamcorders.Big difference in price on some tapes too.i hope that any footage from said machine can be used by any company or person who may buy amateur footage from it.Regards for any advice , Jim

[sparky]

Keep to normal Panasonic and Fuji miniDV tapes which all come from the same factory and you will have no problems.

Buy a few in the right place and should only cost just over a pound each for the normal 60 minute ones.

As I recall, I will check when I have time next week, you should be OK with JVC, TDK and Maxell. Poundland sometimes have JVC.

The ones to stay away from are Sony and the professional Panasonic 63 and 83 minute with the PQ suffix.

I will post why when I have more time - or try a search on Google.

[GG4U]

Thanks,Sparky.I don't want to spend too much on a mini dv camcorder.There seems to be a few cheap Samsungs about,and also a JVC for ?126 pounds and a Canon for ?146,all at argos.Not sure if I can get the 60 min cheap tapes for any of these makes.I'll probably go to shops as I'm not sure of buying online by debit card yet,and I asked one or two assistants if they knew the tape equivelants on certain models,but no joy.I'll appreciate any advice next week or any time, regards , Jim

[GG4U]

[sparky]

If you can spend the extra few pounds on the Canon camcorder as less likely to misbehave and well supported for extra batteries etc.
I have never seen Canon miniDV tape, Panasonic will work fine.

Other than JVC tapes at Poundland you will end up paying about ?3 each in the shops. By some reports JVC tapes are more liable to drop-outs so depends if just family holiday type video or something more critical.



3 JVC on offer ?4.99 here if you can find in stock.
Otherwise
3 Panasonic ?9.79
5 Panasonic ?14.69
10 Panasonic ?24.49

which is expensive compared to these Fuji at Amazon



or this reputable source

[GG4U]

Thanks.I could push towards the canon but don't see any tapes for it.when I rang about this canon some assistant said he didn't know if you could use any other mini dv tape with the canon,and that maybe they all can be used in any mini dvcamcorder, regards,

[myson]

MiniDV tapes are indeed "generic" (in the same way that the almost defunct VHS tapes are), any manufacturers tapes will work in any MiniDV camcorder (with the proviso that a tape recorded high definition will not play back in a standard definition camcorder).
The thing to look for is tape quality. If you need high quality then try to get tapes from a "master tape" stock not the lower quality "general use". The better quality tapes will be more expensive but could mean the difference between your video being good or being ruined by dropouts.

Myson
!oldie!

[GG4U]

Thanks Myson and everyone else.I suppose 'dropouts' are cheap tapes that don't record properly.I'm not sure of which mini dv camcorder I'm getting but hopefully it'll be clear to know about which tapes are hd and sd.When I had my last one a few years ago I think there were dv and dvr tapes.But yes,I'd rather pay more for quality.I'm assuming any 'brand name' should be ok,and I'm taking into account Sparky's welcome advice on best ones of the brands and ones to avoid.I'm going to get one in no more than 4 weeks,so thanks again, jim

[sparky]

As I posted previously I have never seen Canon DV (or any other) tape.

In theory standard definition miniDV is a generic format just like VHS.

What you do need to know and will I will post later is there are two fundamentally different types of tape which should not be mixed.

[GG4U]

Thanks,sparky.the one i'm getting is on link below.and if it accepts most mini dv tapes without problems that would be great.hope it's still in Argos in a few weeks, Jim