DV vs. HDV

There is no difrence really. The HDV tapes have better quality tape. I use Sony Premiums on my XH A1. Just make sure you pick one tape and stick with it.

P2 FTW! FUCK TAPE

you can use either tapes to shoot in either format.  I use just plain old panasonic dv tapes to shoot HDV on my XHA1.  Like said above, don't mix and match.  HDV and DV tapes have different types of lubricant, and mixing these can gum up your tape heads.  The same is true of mixing the brand of tape you use.  There isn't really a "best" brand, but sony and panasonic both make great tapes.  I use panasonic because I happened to buy them in bulk with my hv20 way back when.

P2 systems suck a huge dong! that is a studio camera, not ideal for shooting in the field.
$1200 for a card that only records 16 minutes? um yeah that shit is weak.

DV and HDV tapes are NOT the same.
trust me, i have lost a lot of sick shots because a low quality tape glitched.
Buy sony HDV tapes, and use a head cleaner to keep your heads clean regularly.
packing the tape also helps. simply put in the new tape in vcr mode, fast forward to the end, the rewind to the begining and you are ready to go. this will fix any possible wrinkles in the tape from the factory.


you will still get a glitch now and then, but 99% less that with a standard DV tape.
never record over old stuff, you are just asking for trouble if you do.

Naa dude you can get a 32GB card for $600, and it has the capability to record to maximum capacity every single day for 5 years straight and never crap out. It's a beefed up SD card and if you really take a look at them it's actually quite worth it, that much HDV, or DV tape would cost well over 600. And a 32 gig card records 40 minutes of 1080p HD and it has two slots. You can but a 64 gig version that's 80 minutes and they're coming out with a 128 GB version as well. IMO, I think P2 is the way to go to save money in the long run and keep your shit safe and secure also.

I agree and disagree at the same time.  The upfront cost of p2 sucks.  It is nice to not have to import and you wont loose a frame unless your hard drive shits the bed and you loose everything  (you always have your tape to re import).  If i had an extra 600 to buy new camera gear i would buy the sony z1u adaptor that can be used with an xha1( what i have) Its a CF card reader that hooks right into the back of the camera, no off camera hum like the fire store and you can swap out any CF card you want.  Kinda the best of both worlds, being able to record either way tape or tapless or both. I cant see myself buying one anytime soon but i sure would like one

As for DV tapes dropping out. We filmed over 200 hours with our XH-A1's and have yet to have a single drop out using "DV" tapes. If you dont film alot it would make sence to get a quality tape. We went thru 150 tapes last season. the HDV tapes are like 10 bux a pop. spending 1500 dollars on tapes a year is a bit out of my budget. If we only used 5 or 10 sure we would use them.