Sony DVC and TDK DVC Tapes

People ask me all the time, “What brand of tape is best?”

The answer is simple:

Buy the least expensive name brand tape that you can find.

There is ZERO difference in the picture quality between different brands of MiniDV tape.

• This is because your camera is recording a series of digital files to your tape.  the data is recorded digitally, and the information would be identical no matter what kind of tape is being used.

There is a slight difference in the integrity- or strength- of the tapes.  However, the differences should prove to be negligible for the amount of wear and tear a NORMAL user will subject them to.

For those of you who will insist on getting a real answer:

I recommend Panasonic AY-HDVM33AMQ and the SONY HDM63VG because they are produced with high tensile-strength backing, and they are factory scrubbed to ensure the absolute minimum amount of dust particles on the tape.

If you just took a note of the above tape models, then you’re really missing the point here.

Now, stop obsessing over this, and go make a fun movie!