Medium D-5HD & D-5 / D-3 Cassette
Digital D-5 videocassettes from Panasonic are ideal for HD recording (at 4:2:2) because of their high output and low error rates. Panasonic tapes have finer particles and improved electromagnetic characteristics, as well as double the data bit rate of D-3. With an increased durability and high stability these tapes are strong enough to handle any HD or SD recording.
Panasonic uses Zetas Metal Alloy particles to maximize magnetic energy and increase the stability over time. The particles in this 12 minute tape are mixed with inorganic powders that are specially oriented and calendered for high packing density. Achieving extra magnetic energy output is made possible by the special particles. Packing the ultra-fine particles at high density results in more particles per recorded wavelength.
By enhancing the electromagnetic characteristics Panasonic has improved the C/N ratio by +1dB compared with D3. The high output of a tape creates fewer errors within the tape. The binder system used with the Pansonic D5 tapes enhances the durability of the tape. Panasonic employs a combination of two binders. By crosslinking one hard and one soft binder they can maintain strength at optimal points of the tape. The crosslinking of the binders provides the flexibility and shock absorption needed to keep the error rate low. Because dropouts occur when the tape lifts away from the heads Panasonic works to keep the tape in contact with the heads and reduce errors.
