Data tapes for digital cameras?

September 19, 2005 5:55 AM

We have a bunch of unused 4mm data tapes (DDS3), a format we don't use for backup any longer. Any reason we shouldn't use them in a digital video camera?
posted by donpardo to Technology (5 answers total)

If you've already got a camera that writes to DAT (I've never heard of that, but won't be surprised to find out such a thing exists), go for it.
posted by majick at 7:01 AM on September 19, 2005

An update: since the tapes themselves are different sizes, there's no way it will work.
posted by donpardo at 7:18 AM on September 19, 2005

For the record, using backup tapes on audio DAT's was a nightmare when I tried it a number of years back. Lots of noise over the recordings, not recommended!
posted by rc55 at 7:27 AM on September 19, 2005

Audio DAT media was -- and may still be -- of considerably lower quality than "data grade." I wouldn't suggest audio media for any serious use at all, possibly with the exception of the PXL2000.
posted by majick at 8:17 AM on September 19, 2005

I may be misunderstanding what you're saying, rc55, but I've had the opposite experience. Using data grade DAT media for audio was preferred in the circles I frequented back in the day. It's been awhile, but back then everyone recommended koa gold 60m tapes for recording live shows if I recall correctly (always hated the tape swaps, though usually a switch between the end of the set and the encore was good enough). I remember when they stopped making them and everyone stockpiled!
posted by cmm at 11:27 AM on September 19, 2005