Medium D-5HD & D-5 / D-3 Cassette
D-5 Digital Videocassettes from Panasonic feature a high output, high speed, and high stability. In order to achieve those characteristics Panasonic tapes have a finer particle size, improved electromagnetic characteristics and enhanced durability. With those advances Panasonic D-5 tapes double the data bit rate of D-3 and are perfect for HD recording.
Panasonic uses Zetas Metal Alloy particles to maximize magnetic energy and increase stability over time. The particles on the 33M are mixed with inorganic powders that have been specially oriented and calendered for high packing density and to achieve extra high magnetic energy output. More particles per recorded wavelength is made possible by packing the ultra-fine particles at high density.
The enhanced electromagnetic characteristics have improved the C/N ratio by +1dB compared to D3. The high output of a tape creates fewer errors within the tape. With a high output and high C/N ratio the D-5 tape achieves a low error rate.
The binder system enhances the durability of the Panasonic D-5 video tape. Because of the high speeds of the head cylindar revolution the tape needs flexibility and shock absorbing characteristics to keep the error rate low. A drop out occurs when the tape lifts away from the heads but a flexible binder will keep the tape in contact with the heads and reduce errors. Panasonic uses a combination of two binders, one hard and one soft, and by crosslinking the two types can maintain strength at the optimal points. They call this system the Zetas High Durability Binder System.
