What tapes/filter for FX1? « Videomaker Community Forums

mtnbkr28
Member

Well I just bought a Sony hdr FX1, and should receive it by Tuesday. This being my first HD camera, I was curious what tapes and UV/protector filter I should get. For tape choice, I won't be shooting in HD all the time, and a tape that is not to expensive but I can use for both HD and SD would be perfect. I realize sony has there own digital HD mini DV tape, but they seem quite expensive compared to others. I have found that many owners of the FX1 use the panasonic DV tapes, do these work well for SD and HD?

For a filter, all I really need is one to protect the lens. I guess multicoated filters are better for preventing glare, and are recommended for cameras with 3ccd and HD. I don't want to pay a lot, just what ever is neccessary to prevent glare, and protect the lens.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help.

Nick

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Unlike the Z1, the FX1 does not use DVCAM tapes - only mini dv. It's always a good idea to stick with the brand of tape that matches the camera. I pay about three dollars for Sony Pro tapes. If that is "expensive", then that's just the price you pay to avoid putting junk into a fine camera.

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

mtnbkr28,

As a rule, I never disagree with "compusolver" but in this case (IMO of course), I don't think it's really absolutely necessary to use the same brand tape as the camera brand. I have read however, a lot regarding picking a brand of tape and sticking with it. This is because of the slightly different coatings that various companies use. It is said I guess, that mixing these different coatings can gum up your heads somewhat.

The brand name thing is really just a marketing thing.

RAM

BTW: I only use Sony too even though I have Canon cameras. :)

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

No, not absolutely necessary, but you gotta figure that they'd make sure their own brand of tape would be tweaked properly for their own cameras. Canon doesn't make tapes, do they?

Absolutely never change brands! Good point. Much more important than which brand you use.

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

compusolver Wrote:
Canon doesn't make tapes, do they?

Not that I'm aware of.

Hank, I would agree that companies would probably want to make sure that their tapes worked in their cameras, but when you break down the parts of a camera, the various heads used by companies like Sony, Canon and JVC might not even be made directly by them. Sure these guys probably design and assemble them but some of the parts are probably made by someone else just like cars. Hell for all I know, there only might be one company that is capable of making video heads and they sell them to anybody and everybody. Besides, if there was a real issue with tapes, these camera companies would spell out in huge letters that only THEIR tapes can be used and that using someone else's would void warrentys. That probably wouldn't be the best thing for the manufacturers or the consumers.

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

No argument. But with everything...I mean...EVERYTHING, riding on those tapes, you just can't be too careful. We pass all our over a lucky horsefhoe! X-D

Posted 5 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

LOL!

We usually take our new tapes to our church and have the Father bless them before we use them! X-D

RAM

Posted 5 years ago #
mtnbkr28
Member

Hey thanks guys, I was planning on sticking with the same tape, just wasn't sure exactly what to get. I'll probably get the sony digital HD video tapes:

But compusolver, what tapes do you get for $3.00? The sony HD tapes are around $30 for 2.

Also, do you guys have any suggestions on UV filters that I can use for lens protection?

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

The url tag isn't working and this link isn't showing up right when just pasted, so now I'll try it in the "Code" mode -

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=4121&A=details&Q=&sku=132812&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

$2.85

They're "premium", not "pro". I've shot over 200 of these last year alone without a single problem.

Posted 5 years ago #
mtnbkr28
Member

Alright thanks man, appreciate the help, those are definitely a lot cheaper than the $17 HD tapes. You say you use the premium tapes with your FX1? If thats the case then I should get those, save a load of money... and as you say, no problems with them over past year, so I guess they work fine.

Nick

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

One slight correction - I only got my FX1 a few days ago. I've shot one tape through it (HD mode) just fine, but all my previous experience with Sony tapes has been with VX2100s.

Posted 5 years ago #
mtnbkr28
Member

Are you planning on using the same tapes or upgrading to the digital HD tapes? And actually I have another question, I have a Gateway laptop which is capable of editing HDV but I don't know how to connect the camera to it. The only output on the camera is I-Link right? but I have no I-Link input on the laptop, so is there some sort of adaptor? How do I connect my Sony camera to my Gateway laptop for editing? This has stumpted me.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Unless and until I find a reason to do so, I'll stick with the same tapes I've been using the past two years. These are digital tapes that only store zero's and one's. Unless you get errors, what can go wrong?

A couple years back, when I was researching this same issue, the staff at VM told me they'd tested and couldn't find any substantial difference between makes/prices of digital tapes.

PCMCIA firewire cards for notebooks can be found in the fifty dollar range at your local or online computer parts store.

Posted 5 years ago #