DVCAM

View Our Low Prices on the Following Formats: DVCAM Tapes and Cleaners DVCAM Digital Master Tapes DVCAM - Articles • AMQ...The Ultimate DV / HDV / DVCAM Tape • Sony Article - Sony Digital Master DVCAM Tape • Sony TechPort Article - DVCAM & DV FORMATS • DVCAM: The Ultimate Mini DV Tape • DVCAM Digital Master versus DVCAM, HD & Mini DV • Differences between DVCPRO, DVCAM, Mini DV & DV DVCAM - Frequently Asked Questions • Can I use the DVCAM tapes in my consumer miniDV camcorder? • What are the DV and DVCAM tape speeds? • Panasonic - Formats compatible with miniDV, DV, DVCAM tape • Panasonic - DV formats recording and playback times

FAQ Main FAQ Index Blu-ray Bravo Printers Digital 8 Discs DigitalMaster DLT Media DVCAM DVCPRO HDCAM HDV Mini DV P2 Cards Super VHS USB/FLASH Drives XDCAM Tape Care & Cleaning General Questions

50% FEWER DROPOUTS (on average 70%): Compared to Mini-DV tape there are less visible dropouts with DigitalMaster

TOUGHER TAPE: 30% more protective Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating. DigitalMaster tape is more durable than Mini-DV tape.

GREATER COMPATABILITY from CAMCORDER to VTR: DigitalMaster tape maintains width dimensional tolerances 2x (twice) as well as Mini-DV tape. This means less off tracking.

MINI and STANDARD SIZES

Article source: http://www.mediabysony.com/NASApp/ctsc/professionSubcat.jsp?pSubCatId=823&pCategoryId=7

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Looking for the ultimate miniDV Tape... you should be using Sony's DVCAM Tape. Why DVCAM? Because it is pro media for both DVCAM and mini DV cameras. Why is it better . Lower Dropout Rate DVCAM media has a 50% lower dropout rate, and a 4-5x improvement in error rate margin. The chart below clearly shows that the dropout rate of DVCAM is significantly lower than DV.

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Maximum Durability
Although both DVCAM and DV use DLC technology, the DLC layer for DVCAM is optimized for maximum durability. It offers a 25% higher level of strength for the type of still frame, multi pass editing used by professionals.

Still Frame Evaluation - The recorded signal level of DV showed noticeable loss after 20 minutes in pause. DVCAM held signal level even after 60 minutes.

Editing Simulation - Editing tests have shown that DV media begins to show picture disturbances after 150 passes. DVCAM shows no noticeable disturbances or loss in picture quality after 150 passes.

Improved Physical Stability
Magnetic tape is susceptible to expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity variations over time. Excessive shrinkage disrupts the position of the recorded tracks and often results in "Off-Tracking". This simply means the recorded tracks have shifted and the play heads cannot accurately read the information. This type of shrinkage is usually associated with long-term storage.

To minimize the potential of tape shrinkage and recording/playback problems, DVCAM media exclusively uses a base material with 50% less shrinkage. The benefit is added reliability and confidence that the recorded material is there and will play back even after years of storage under reasonable storage conditions.

Tighter Width Specifications
DVCAM and DV have a width of 6.35 mm (1/4"). The more uniform the tape width, the better the record/playback stability and compatibility between recorders. DVCAM width is held to a tighter tolerance to offer a higher level of reliability and compatibility. DVCAM uses an ultra-accurate slitting machine to assure correct tape width.

Maximum Picture & Sound Stability
Friction increases between tape and recorder heads after repeated passes on the tape. DVCAM media has a significantly lower friction coefficient than DV. For the professional, this means greater recorded signal longevity, higher reliability, increased durability and overall improved performance.

There is a difference when you use DVCAM media. As a professional, you and your customers deserve to have the best and most reliable end result the format can provide. When quality videography is at stake, use the media that was designed for professionals - DVCAM.

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DVCAM and DV tape compared
If you're reading this, you probably understand that DV and DVCAM tapes and VTRs are broadly compatible. For example, it is possible to record professional DVCAM signals onto consumer DV tape. It is also possible to play back a consumer DV recording on a professional DVCAM VTR. In a pinch, it is possible to use consumer media in professional DVCAM hardware. But we don't recommend making a habit of it. Here's why:

Cassette memory. IC-equipped pro models offer four times the memory of consumer models.

Durability. Pro media has an optimized DLC layer and surface treatment. This improves performance for editing and long-term archiving.

Dropouts. Controlled surface finishing helps cut DVCAM tape dropouts in half, compared to consumer DV.

Interchange. Tighter slitting tolerances mean DVCAM tape works almost flawlessly when recorded on one VTR and played back on another.

Shrinkage. DVCAM tape cuts dimensional shrinkage in half, an important benefit for archival stability.

Running time difference. DVCAM machines use a transport speed
faster than DV machines. So you'll experience differences between the marked and actual recording times. For example, a 60-minute DV cassette holds only 40 minutes of DVCAM footage.

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When to Use Which?
From this analysis, we can develop a clear direction on choosing tape:

Consumer hardware. For general shooting, use Sony consumer DV tape. For critical shoots, archival recording, news stringers or wedding videography, choose DVCAM tape with or without cassette memory.

Entry-level DVCAM equipment. Users of the DSR-200 and DSR-30 should choose Sony DVCAM tape with or without memory.

High-end DVCAM equipment. If you use ClipLink operation, you
should choose only Sony DVCAM tape with Cassette Memory.

By following these recommendations, you'll be able to enjoy the full operational power of your DV and DVCAM hardware. And you'll be making the most intelligent use of the technology we build into DV and DVCAM media.

DVCAM - Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME).
Unlike Metal Particle (MP) tape, AME uses pure cobalt, undiluted by nickel. Unlike MP, AME uses an ultra-fine grain of metal that's vapor-deposited in a vacuum chamber! And unlike previous Metal Evaporated tape, AME protects the magnetic grain with Sony's super-hard Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) layer. The result is a breakthrough in recording density, retentivity and carrier-to-noise ratio.

AME is a key enabling technology behind the DVCAM system. And it's a key factor in the DVCAM success story We're pleased to see that demand for DVCAM media is booming. So we're aggressively adding capacity to our AME production lines. In the same way, we're adding new DVCAM tape models. And that's the subject of this TechPort.
With Sony's latest DVCAM tape product introductions

You'll have more options than ever before. You'll be able to record on DVCAM tape with and without cassette memory. That's in addition to exchanging tapes between consumer DV and professional DVCAM equipment. And you have an entire range of Cassette Memory functions in consumer entry-level professional and high-end pro equipment.

While choice is an undeniably good thing, it can get confusing if you're not paying close attention. That's why we'll review your DVCAM media options. We'll cover when to use which media What to expect in compatibility. And what Cassette Memory functions work on which pieces of Sony hardware.

DVCAM - An expanded line
Sony is responding to customer demand for a more affordable alternative that does not sacrifice picture quality. We're also accommodating the latest DVCAM hardware, models which do not include the cassette-memory-dependent ClipLink feature. So starting in November 97, Sony will be offering DVCAM tape that does not include Cassette Memory. The result is an extended line of 14 DVCAM models.

DVCAM - Cassette Memory and Its Uses
The proliferation of DV and DVCAM models means a growing range of applications for Cassette Memory. Consumer-grade machines can store date and photo data, which do not make intensive use of Cassette Memory. That's consistent with the 4 kbit memory Sony builds into IC-equipped consumer tape. Entry-level professional machines also make moderate demands on the memory chip. However, a key feature of Sony's top DVCAM models is ClipLink operation, which makes full use of the 16 kbit memory of Sony's IC-equipped DVCAM tapes.

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At the same time, Sony & Panasonic brought out their professional versions, named DVCAM and DVCPRO. Sony's professional DVCAM format, although similar to miniDV, runs 50% faster. So, its longest tape in the mini size is 40min. There is a 184min DVCAM tape, which will run 270 minutes in a DV machine! Recognition holes in the tape tell the machine what tape you have loaded. In addition the professional format of DVCPRO and DVCAM have locked audio.

Panasonic's DVCPRO runs at a faster speed than the Sony DVCAM, but its main difference is the use of MP tape as opposed to ME. Panasonic, inventors of miniDV and the ME tape, did not think the tape robust enough for professional use and chose to go with MP tape. The physical cassette size for DVCPRO is also larger than miniDV for the shorter lengths... a kind of a 'medium' size. Long lengths use the same size as DV. MiniDV can be used in a DVCPRO deck, but only with an adapter, and only for playback. (SB)

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There should be no issues as the only difference is the quality of the tape. The cassette shape is exactly the same. Panasonic has brought out a MQ Master tape to rival the DVCAM, and it is a miniDV tape. Also, because DVCAM cameras run faster than miniDV cameras, the PDVM-32N actually records 48 minutes and the PDVM-40N records 60 minutes in a miniDV Camera. Note that most miniDV cameras only fit smaller shell DVCAM tapes (the smaller shell PDVM-32N and PDVM-40N tapes). Please see the following articles for more information: DVCAM the Ultimate MiniDV Tape, DVCAM vs. DV Formats

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Large DV / DVCAM Compatible Cassette

MQ-Series:  Master Quality:  "DV Master" Series Model No. Recording Time Hardware Models that accomodate these Tapes   DV DVCAM Length Camcorders     Decks     AY-DV96MQ 96 min. 64 min. 111m AG-DVC200 DSR-300 DSR-370 DSR-500 DSR-570 AG-DV2000 Standard DVCAM Recorders AY-DV124MQ 124 min. 82 min. 143m AY-DV186MQ 186 min. 124 min. 213m AY-DV276MQ 276 min. 184 min. 315m AY-DVCLB Large Cleaning Cassette All Large Cassette DV & DVCAM Camcorders All Large Cassette DV & DVCAM Decks

PQ-Series:  Professional Quality Series Model No. Recording Time Hardware Models that accomodate these Tapes   DV DVCAM DVCAM Camcorders Decks AY-DV96PQ 96 min. 64 min. 111m AG-DVC200 DSR-300 DSR-370 DSR-500 DSR-570 AG-DV2000 Standard DVCAM Recorders AY-DV124PQ 124 min. 82 min. 143m AY-DV186PQ 186 min. 124 min. 213m AY-DVCLB Large Cleaning Cassette All Large Cassette DV & DVCAM Camcorders All Large Cassette DV & DVCAM Decks

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