Sony Points Out Crucial Differences Between Pro and Consumer DVCAM Tape

Cinematographers Learn First-Hand How DVCAM Tape Provides HighestLevels of Digital Video Performance

PARK RIDGE, N.J. - When Jamila Paksima was shooting a recentdocumentary, she ordered consumer DV tape for her DVCAM camcorder basedon price. While the DSR-PD150 DVCAM camcorder she was using cancertainly accept and play consumer DV tape, the consumer-grade tapecouldn't stand up to the rigors of the environment in which Paksima wasshooting and editing. She quickly converted to Sony's DVCAM tape forher next project about AIDS in Africa.

This highlights the recurring confusion about consumer DV tape andDVCAM tape offering the same performance capabilities, says Jo AnnVozeh, director of marketing for Sony Electronics' media andapplications systems division.

"Consumer DV tape is great for home and personal use, but under thestressful environmental conditions in which most cinematographers likePaksima work, DVCAM tape is the best choice," Vozeh said. "Paksima'sstory illustrates the need for understanding the advantages that DVCAMtape provides to professional cinematographers."

Like film stock, not all digital tape is alike; it's more than justbrands and variations in tape formulation. According to Vozeh, thereare fundamental differences between consumer DV tape and Sony DVCAMtape.

"It obviously makes sense to use the right media to optimizehardware performance and extend hardware life and minimizemaintenance," she said. "Using Sony DVCAM tape instead of consumer DVtape is essential to realize digital's full potential."

DVCAM Is More Than Enhanced Tape

DVCAM tape is, in fact, an enhancement to the format itself thatmaintains compatibility with the standard.

"Sony looked at the DV format and found ways to optimize and improveits performance," Vozeh added. "DVCAM tape extends DV capabilities toproduce the highest-quality footage that holds up under the mostrigorous editing environments. Over the long term, DVCAM tape'sdurability will also yield superior archives."

"Digital tape is, ultimately, a digital storage medium," Vozeh said."As with any digital storage technology, what's critical is the abilityto capture and retain information as well as transfer data consistently- without errors. With this in mind, DVCAM tape is inherently superior.It stores greater amounts of data to capture images. Playback hasincreased reliability, integrity and stability."