DV Tape "stuff"

[ono]

So yeah, this is a thread for DV tape "stuff," because the more I shoot, the more I see a need for such things.

Don't know how many others out there who are in the same boat as me.  Maybe you've realized this already.  I buy my tapes in bulk when I can.  Used to be 10 at a time.  I'd get 'em for around $19.90 + S&H, which is a deal.  I recenly bought 20 in bulk for $45 + S&H from Pro-Tape.  Basically, if you can average less than $2.50 per tape after S&H, it's a good deal.

The main point though now is I'm looking for a carrying case.  In my mind's eye, I envisioned something that could carry 50 tapes at a time, and resembled something like the Sega Game Gear's carrying case used to look like.  Made out of ... I want to say nylon.  No such luck.  I've found a case that carries 24 tapes, but that hardly seems big enough.  Who knows though.  If anyone has any suggestions, or any better deals for DV tapes, or other info about the subject, yeah, here's the place.

[md]

why would you want to carry around 50 tapes?  i bought some minidv tape racks, holds 40 i believe, mounted them on my wall works great.  Seems to be kind of the standard for storage and organization, if you check on ebay there about 20 dollars. 

If you were going to shoot a documentary on the road (which you very easily could be doing) then i could see the use for it, but id be afraid to carry around 50 tapes, especially if they were important. 

[ono]

I just think 24 is such a small number.  I'm trying to think of the best, most economical way to store these things, and I'd think a case of 50 or a 100 would be it, then I could pick up and go when I need it, and if I wanted to carry multiple tapes, I can already fit between 10 and 20 in my camera bag.

[Pubrick]

stop buying 2-minute tapes.

[md]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=mini+dv+tape+rack&category0=

i still dont know why you need to carry them around with you.

[RegularKarate]

He clearly wants to destroy his camera by shooting nothing constantly.  Give him a break.

[soixante]

Can I ask some dumb questions?

I borrowed a JVC Compact VHS Camcorder from a friend, and I've been shooting some footage.  My question is, what is the best way to do post-production for this format?  If images from this format are digitized, does visual quality get degraded?

I should just break down and buy a newer camera, but I'm trying to be as cheap as possble (the camcorder I'm using is a 1997 model).

[md]

thats not a dumb question...

your best bet is to digitize it, by taking your rca out from the vhsc camera (the yellow red and white cables) and put it into the inputs of a minidv camera....you basically lose one generation since your making a copy....but once its digitized you should be set to edit with it on your nonlinear setup.

Quality wont be very good...but is decent enough to make a little film with it.  hope that helps!

[Reinhold]

best you can do with analog is to lose one generation as described.

JVC makes some acceptable low budget miniDV cameras if cost is your motivating factor.

the other thing i might suggest if you can't afford your own decent camera is to look into access cable stations in your area. for a one-time $60 training fee, i got pretty much unlimited access to tv studios, analog and digital editing suites, Sony VX-2100's (they're planning to get an HDV soon), an editing laptop, mobile TV studio setups in vans, boom/shotgun mics, mixers, and lighting kits. ... and then i moved back to new york. fuckall.