does it matter if i switch between mini dv tape brands for my vx1000?

Question

does it matter if i switch between sony mini dv tapes to maxwell tapes back and forth?

Answer 1

It's all the same digital format. I would stick with brand names for a quality product, but digital is digital no matter what the brand name.



I use 3 different brands in my Canon HV30 and you (or a video expert) could not tell the difference.

Answer 2

Yes. It's not like putting a Panasonic tape in your Sony is going to destroy it on the spot, but over time it's best to stick with the same tapes as the manufacture of your camera.



There's a well-documented compatibility issue between Sony and Panasonic cameras and tapes. The reason is the difference in the lubrication. Sony uses an oil-based wet lubrication; Panasonic uses a dry graphite-based lubrication. Mix the two and get both types of lube on your camera's internals, you're going to get tape glitches and recording errors.



My advice: stick with Sony tapes and only Sony tapes if you have a Sony camera.



If you haven't run a cleaning tape through the camera lately, I suggest you do so. If you hadn't heard of a cleaning tape until now or don't know when the tape head was last cleaned, I recommend it even more strongly.



Under sources, I'm providing a link that has tons of useful information. If you own a camera that records to miniDV, it's well worth your time to read it. It can potentially save you from messing up a recording and save you lots of money in repairs.

Answer 3

shouldn't make any difference. mini DV is a standard format