REVIEW -- CAMCORDER TAPES
HEAD
TAPE TEST '93 -- PART TWO
INTRO
In part two of our annual round of blank tape tests we consider the
current crop of Super VHS-C and Hi8 camcorder cassettes
COPY
Owners of Super VHS-C and Hi8 camcorders are in the unfortunate position
of having comparatively little choice of tape for their machines at the moment.
Compared with last year there are fewer companies marketing S-VHS-C tape but
this has been offset by a couple of Hi8 newcomers. In spite of this the average
prices of S-VHS-C cassettes have fallen slightly over the past twelve months.
In contrast Hi8 tapes, have generally risen in price, in some cases quite
dramatically, though, with one or two notable exceptions, there haven't been
the allied improvements and new formulations we've seen in previous years.
Please don't forget that the prices we quote are based on the
manufacturers recommendations and do not necessarily reflect what you'll pay in
the real world, or when tapes are being promoted, so always compare prices locally,
before you buy, you may find there are some worthwhile savings to be had by
shopping around.
You get what you pay for, though, and high-band tapes is just about the
best video tape you can buy, apart from the specially selected batches that end
up in the hands of the professionals. It's worth bearing in mind that these
tapes work perfectly well in normal VHS-C and 8mm machines, and in some
instances may even produce small but worthwhile improvements in picture quality
and in particular lower noise levels, with
a reduced dropout count.
Be warned that the somewhat erratic-looking pricing structure of Hi8
tapes is due to there being two different types, metal particle (MP) and metal
evaporated (ME). The Hi8 format was originally designed to work with
high-performance ME tapes, which are made by depositing a microscopically thin
film of metal on the tape in a complex process that takes place inside a vacuum
chamber. Recently it was found that higher grade metal particle tapes,
identical to those used in conventional
8mm cassettes gave acceptable results on Hi8 equipment, and in some cases,
better than acceptable. MP tapes are produced using conventional tape
manufacturing methods, and consequently tend to be significantly cheaper. The
differences between these two types of tape are now quite small, and may not
even be apparent at all on some machines.
We've put this years batch through our set of well-rehearsed test routines and once again compared the results
with finding from previous years. This is what we found:
S-VHS-C
FUJI SE-C30 PRO £8.29
Fuji's double-coating tape has always been a very close contender in all
of the major categories but this year, through a combination of exceptionally
good performance figures, and a great price (£1.00 cheaper than 1992) , it
takes this year's top-honours for S-VHS-C tape. Highly recommended!
Chroma noise: 9
Dropout: 9
Value for money: 9
JVC SE-C30 XG £9.99 (SE-C45
£11.99)
JVC have changed over to a magnetite formulation, and it shows, with
reduced noise levels, compared with last year, but there's been little or no
change in the number of dropouts, which are low, but by no means the lowest.
Always a safe bet.
Chroma noise: 10
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 6
KONICA SE-C30 £7.99
An impressive price but the tape inside rates as no more than average,
which is a surprise as like the 92 sample this one looks suspiciously as though
it may have come from one of TDKs production lines.
Chroma noise: 8
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 10
MAXELL SE-C30 XR-S £TBA
Another new magnetite formulation, which definitely seems to have some
impact on noise levels. Extra points to Maxell for the sliding recording
interlock protection tab. No firm details of price at the time of going to
press so VFM ratings will have to wait, otherwise well worth considering.
Chroma noise: 9
Dropout: 8
Value for money: TBA
PANASONIC SE-C30 XD £8.99 (SE-C45
XD £9.99 )
An old favourite that hasn't changed a great deal over the past few
years. The 45-minute tape comes in handy
for holidays and longer recording sessions. Good value, better than
average performance, Recommended.
Chroma noise: 8
Dropout: 9
Value for money: 7
SCOTCH SE-C30 £9.99 (SE-C45
£12.99)
We grumbled about the price of the 45-minute tape last year and now a
couple of pounds have been sliced off the SRP. Still quite pricey, even for
what looks like a JVC sourced product, but not, apparently, one of their latest
low noise formulations.
Chroma noise: 7
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 6
TDK SE-C30 XP-PRO £8.99
TDK have been toppled from their number one position by a price increase
and some very average dropout levels, otherwise the XP Pro is the same reliable
tape that in the past has always been the one to beat.
Chroma noise: 9
Dropout: 7
Value for money: 7
Hi8
3M P5-90 HXP £12.99
3M, who own the Scotch brand, have decided to put out a Hi8 tape under
their own name. They've rather grandly called it a Master Broadcast tape, but
apart from the red tape flap this fairly ordinary metal particle tape, which
looks a lot like it might have been made by Sony, has its fair share of noise
and an unremarkable price.
Chroma noise: 7
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 7
BASF P5-90 MP £13.99
The unmistakable hand of Sony hovers over this fairly expensive metal
particle tape which gives a fairly good account of itself , though the dropout
count could have been better.
Chroma noise: 8
Dropout: 7
Value for money: 6
BASF P5-90 ME £16.99
More reminders of Sony, this time more on performance than price, which
is well below what Sony are asking for their metal evaporated tapes.
Characteristically higher dropout count but very impressive noise figures.
Worth considering.
Chroma noise: 9
Dropout: 7
Value for money: 8
FUJI P5-90 HI DS £10.29
Fuji are back in the reckoning, basically by doing nothing, apart from
dropping their prices. Last year this tape had one of the lowest dropout
counts, and average to good noise figures, this year that puts it back up the
top of the tree and it emerges as our metal particle Best Buy!
Chroma noise: 8
Dropout: 9
Value for money: 9
MAXELL P5-90 XR-M £9.35
A very impressive tape that was first introduced last year. This year's
sample shows the same low noise levels and dropout, barely a whisker behind
this year's top-performing MP tape so
it must be worth shortlisting
Chroma noise: 8
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 10
MAXELL E5-90 XD-P £17.69
A definite improvement over last year's lacklustre sample which confirms
our belief that the better MP tapes could outshine some ME tapes, this year,
however, Maxell seem to have got it right and apart from a tad too much dropout
this is shaping up to be a fine tape.
Chroma noise: 9
Dropout: 7
Value for money: 7
SONY P5-90 HMP £12.99
Hot off the presses and only just making it into this year's survey, Sony
are claiming a 12% improvement over their previous MP tape. Our tests certainly
show some reduction in noise, though it has to be said it was pretty good start
with. Always a safe and reliable choice, only the higher than average price
stops it from being our MP top buy. Also available in a 120-minute length.
Recommended.
Chroma noise: 9
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 7
SONY E5-90 HME £19.99
Another latecomer, in by the skin of its teeth. Sony are claiming an
astonishing 25% improvement in the signal to noise ratio over their current ME
formulation, and again some differences are apparent in our own tests,
sufficient to widen the gap between it, and its nearest rival, confirming its
status as the number one tape in this survey. If you want the best, this is it,
and now available in a 2-hour length!
Chroma noise: 10
Dropout: 9
Value for money: 6
TDK P5-90 HMP £10.49
TDK's marketing edge has been eroded somewhat by price increases, though
the tape is as good as its ever been, with better than average results all
round. Definitely one to look out for if you're seeking a proficient metal
particle tape.
Chroma noise: 8
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 8
TDK E5-90 HME £19.99
This has been our top ME tape for the past couple of years but Sony have
pulled out all the stops, leaving this otherwise excellent tape in a very
creditable second place, and still high on our list of top performers.
Chroma noise: 9
Dropout: 8
Value for money: 6
VERDICT
The contracting Super VHS-C market, and various price changes have
brought some significant changes to this year's results. The Best Buy rosette
for 1993 goes to Fuji's SE-C30 PRO, it's not a new product, but this year's
samples performed very well, and Fuji's prices now make it look very
competitive indeed. We'd also keep a close look-out for tapes from Panasonic
and TDK, but always shop around. The money no object top performer came, as expected,
from JVC who have shown, as usual, that there are still improvements to be had.
Differences between metal evaporated and metal particle tapes have been
getting smaller in recent years and we'd be happy to use the cheaper MP tapes
in most machines, most of the time, except for those ultra-demanding jobs where
the last ounce of performance is needed, and cost is not a consideration. For
that reason we have come up with two recommendations for MP and ME tape: the
best all-round metal particle product is the Fuji P5-90MP. It is closely
followed by Maxel's XRM and TDK's HMP. The only ME tape to have caught our eye
was Sony's HME, it has the makings of a classic and will now be the benchmark
by which we judge other tapes.
---end---
R.Maybury 1993 1706
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