Video Tape Types Explained
| Type |
Comments |
Link |
| BetaMAX |
Beta max is a Sony development, whilst it competed head-to-head with VHS, VHS became the dominant domestic video tape format.
Size: 155 x 95 x 24mm The markings on these tapes represent the length of tape rather than the video recording duration so that for PAL/SECAM
L125 = 30 min
L250 = 65 min
L500 = 130 min
L750 = 195 min
For NTSC the tape runs faster (30 frames per second as opposed to 25) so that the duration will be less for the same length of tape. |
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| VHS |
Video Home Recording (VHS) Size: 188 x 104 x 25mm - these are what most people understand as a 'video tape'. Records analog video and audio - fairly poor quality by today's standards - about 240 lines. |
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| VHS-C |
Size: 95 x 60 x 25mm - This format is a small VHS tape cassette designed to be used in video cameras - to play this tape in a normal VHS player you simply need a special VHS cassette device that holds the VHS tape for playing. |
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Super VHS
(S-VHS) |
Same size as VHS - this format was intended as a High Quality VHS (400 lines) Whist it had some popularity it was far from a dominant type. To play Super VHS you need a player that can play the normal AND Super VHS types. |
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Digital VHS
(D-VHS) |
Better than S-VHS is D-VHS, because it records digitally. Currently it is the only consumer device that can record or playback HD material |
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| Video 8 |
Size: 95 x 62 x 15
This physical cassette is the same as High 8 and Digital 8.
Differences in resolution of recordings and tape speeds apply |
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| Hi 8 |
Size: 95 x 62 x 15
Hi8 (Said High 8 ) can be up to 400 lines - giving quite a good analog picture. |
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| Digital 8 |
Size: 95 x 62 x 15
Digital8, a way of recording Digital Video on Hi8 tape (same quality as MiniDV). Hi-8 tapes used for Digital8 will yield 50% of the Hi 8 recording time. In other words, a 120 minute Hi8 will give you 60 minutes of Digital8 recording capacity.
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| DV |
DV (larger than MiniDV) makers: Panasonic and Sony - Typically this tape type is intended for consumer recording, whereas the DVCAM tapes are used in the professional level equipment
Size: 125 x 78 x 15mm |
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| MiniDV |
Size: 66 x 48 x 12.2mm
MiniDV: Also referred to as "Regular DV" "Consumer DV" or just "DV," MiniDV is the most common DV tape format. MiniDV provides the most universal playback compatibility.
In the professional / broadcast industries, MiniDV tapes can be played in many DV devices (including DVCAM and DVCPRO) cameras and VTRs. MiniDV, DV, DVCAM and DVCPRO use the same tape width but their cassette sizes differ.
Small DV tapes made by Sony are often marked DVCAM and the tapes made by Panasonic are often marked DVCPRO, it is the device that determines which format is recorded; the tapes are identical. So if a Sony tape that is marked DVCAM is used in a MiniDV camera, the DV data will be recorded as MiniDV. MiniDV tapes are available in several quality forms: Consumer/Prosumer/Professional. Typically the professional will typically choose DVCAM or DVCPRO tapes instead |
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| HD DVC |
HD DVC (MiniDV size) With the arrival of the HDR-FX1/E, Sony has developed a new Mini DV Cassette for HDV recording. Designed for 1080i or 720p HDV recording and playback.
Size: 66 X 48 x 12.2mm |
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| MicroMV |
Smaller than MiniDV, the Micro MV is a Sony format for handycams including
Size: 46 x 30.2 x 8.5mm |
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| BetaCAM |
The physical size of this cassette is the same as the original BetaMax. The format has gone through several generations as noted below. There is also a small cassette for shorter recording lengths:
Small: 156 x 96 x 25mm (this is the same size as BetaMax)
Large: 254 x 145 x 25mm (often referred to as "wide mouth") |
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| BetaCAM SP |
Beta cam SP A Superior Performance version of Betacam. SP uses metal particle tape and a wider Bandwidth recording system. The interconnect standards are the same as Betacam |
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| BetaCAM SX |
This format is mostly used in Electronic News Gathering, that is news reporting, the Cartridges are Yellow but otherwise they are the same size cartridge. |
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| Digital BetaCAM |
Also referred to digi beta / digibeta - This format is current, but has now been superceded by high definition and blue ray dvd formats.
Digital Betacam Digital video tape format using the CCIR 601 standard to record 4:2:2 component video in compressed form on 12.5mm (1/2-inch) tape. |
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| MPEG IMX |
Same cassette dimensions same as Betacam but with new, higher density recording capability. |
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| HDCAM |
Same cassette dimensions as Betacam but with new, higher density recording capability. |
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| DVCAM |
DV Cam is somewhere between DV and DVCPRO with respect to video quality. The consumer version of this tape is DV |
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DVCPRO
(Said D.V.C. Pro) |
This is a Panasonic cassette used in range of their video cameras. There are two physical size cassettes the smaller one accommodates video durations of up to about 60 minutes and the larger over 60 minutes.
Small: 97.5 x 64.5 x 14.6 mm
Large:125 x 78 x 14.6 mm
DVC PRO is a professional variant of the DV by Panasonic. The only major difference is doubled tape speed. It is also capable of 4x normal speed playback. This means accelerated transfer of all of the information into a non-linear editing systems.
DVCPRO tapes can also be used on DCPRO50, however they run at twice the speed. |
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