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So you're shooting on DVCPRO, or DVCPRO50 or DVCPROP or DVCPROHD. What's
the difference in the different DVCPRO tape formats?
The colour of the lid. Sorry to disappoint you.
So does that mean you can switch tapes between different formats? Yes.
Physical tape, yes. But you can't play a "better" format tape
in a lower format VCR. You can't stick a DVCPRO50 or HD tape in a DVCPRO25
deck and expect it to play. But, the VTRs are backwards-compatible with
lower formats.
Simply, HD tapes will last 1/4 of the rated time of the 25mbit tape,
and DVCPRO50 will last 1/2 the rated time of the 25mbit format.This
way, data density on the tape remains the same across the board.
The following chart illustrates the runtime of certain tapes in all
formats. The coloured tapes is same tape.
| Tape/Format |
DVCPRO25 |
DVCPRO50 |
DVCPROHD* |
| DVCPROHD 46L |
184 min |
92 min |
46 min |
| DVCPROHD 32L |
128 min |
64 min |
32 min |
| DVCPROHD 23L |
92 min |
46 min |
23 min |
| DVCPRO50 92L |
184 min |
92 min |
46 min |
| DVCPRO 126L |
126 min |
63 min |
31 min |
| DVCPRO 94L |
94 min |
47 min |
23 min |
| DVCPRO 66L |
66 min |
33 min |
16 min |
| DVCPRO 33 |
33 min |
16 min |
8 min |
| DVCPRO 12 |
12 min |
6 min |
3 min |
| * - operating in 1080i (24p will net
you slightly more run time) |
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