miniDV or DVCam tapes??? they seem same size???

[inquisitive]

Hello

Have a newly aquired little Sony 3chip DVCam (DSR PD100AP).......... we know DVCAM is better quality and assume it is because of a faster tape speed BUT:

does this mean we can use our stock of TDKminiDV tapes (fiver each) ?? appreciate 60min tape will only last about 40min because of faster speed.

Suppose the questions are:
* can we use (£5) miniDV tapes in the camera?
* why are the DVCAM tapes about £10 - £15 each?

thanks

oh god, the pd 100, I remember the launch of them ( andfolk going bonkers about why there was nopd/vx/10000) I dorove a cabriolet then and had mor ehair, folk sia d that premier 5 was a fad and that avid was the only way to go.

to answer your questions,

DVCAm has a more stable recordng system, far less strain on tape
DVCAm has locke A1 & A2 audio (if you dont know what his means then it's not important)

the newest pd100s are around four years old,this may be,
Yes you can use regular £2.50 tapes in the camera (ust dont tell the camera)

DVAM tapes are more beacaus eof MARKETING, the IC chip, MARKETING, the wee blue tough case, MARKETING, the guaranteed compabilitu with your pd 100, MARKETING, MARKETING, MARKETING & MARKETING

[inquisitive]

HeHa... at least you seem to have moved on Roy!
Some of the lecturers at the college who lent us the pd100s still drive cabriolets.... and what hair they have left, they have kept it long and have invented many ways of speading it around!!

We have needed 5 extra 3chip cameras for this project, all filming simultaniously, so in the early days of beg, scrounge n borrow, we have these.

the difference between running 5 mini tapes at £20ish and 5 Camtapes at £100ish a 40 min session adds up when on our budget.

Appreciate info, thanks Roy
Stephen