View source for DV (video format)

===Magnetic tape===
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2016}}
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1    = Digital8, DAT, & MiniDV vert.jpg
| image2    = Digital8, DAT, & MiniDV hor.jpg
| footer    = MiniDV compared to Digital8 and DAT
}}

The table below show the physical DV cassette formats at a glance:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Cassette formats
! DV
! DVCPRO
! DVCAM
|-
! Small ''S-size'' / "MiniDV"
| {{ya}} || Only made MiniDV adapters || {{ya}}
|-
! Medium ''M-size''
| align="center" | - || {{ya}} || align="center" |-
|-
! Large ''L-size''
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
! Extra Large ''XL-size''
| align="center" | - || {{ya}} || align="center" |-
|}

DV was originally designed for recording onto [[magnetic tape]]. Tape is enclosed into [[Videocassette#Cassette formats|videocassette]] of four different sizes: small, medium, large and extra-large. All DV cassettes use {{convert|1/4|in|mm}} wide tape. DV on magnetic tape uses [[helical scan]], which wraps the tape around a tilted, rotating head drum with video heads mounted to it. As the drum rotates, the heads read the tape diagonally. DV, DVCAM and DVCPRO use a 21.7&nbsp;mm diameter head drum at 9000&nbsp;rpm. The diagonal video tracks read by the heads are 10 microns wide in DV tapes.<ref name="Tozer 2012 p473" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Trundle |first=Eugene |date=18 June 2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QmaQTIdoWmYC&dq=dv+9000+rpm&pg=PA373 |title=Newnes Guide to Television and Video Technology |publisher=Newnes |isbn=9780750648103 |via=Google Books }}</ref>

Technically, any DV cassette can record any variant of DV. Nevertheless, manufacturers often label cassettes with DV, DVCAM, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50 or DVCPRO HD and indicate recording time with regards to the label posted. Cassettes labeled as DV indicate recording time of baseline DV; another number can indicate recording time of Long Play DV. Cassettes labeled as DVCPRO have a yellow tape door and indicate recording time when DVCPRO25 is used; with DVCPRO50 the recording time is half, with DVCPRO HD it is a quarter. Cassettes labeled as DVCPRO50 have a blue tape door and indicate recording time when DVCPRO50 is used. Cassettes labeled as DVCPRO HD have a red tape door and indicate recording time when DVCPRO HD-LP format is used; a second number may be used for DVCPRO HD recording, which will be half as long.

Panasonic stipulated use of a particular magnetic-tape formulation—[[metal particle]] (MP)—as an inherent part of its DVCPRO family of formats. Regular DV tape uses Metal Evaporate (ME) formulation (which, as the name suggests, uses [[physical vapor deposition]] to deposit metal onto the tape<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Luitjens |first1=S.B. |last2=Stupp |first2=S.E. |last3=Lodder |first3=J.C. |date=1996 |title=Metal evaporated tape: state of the art and prospects |journal=Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials |volume=155 |issue=1–3 |pages=261–265 |issn=0304-8853 |doi=10.1016/0304-8853(95)00727-X |bibcode=1996JMMM..155..261L }}</ref>), which was pioneered for use in [[Hi8]] camcorders.

====Small size (MiniDV)====
[[File:MiniDV logo.svg|thumb|upright=0.5|MiniDV mark]]
[[File:Video 8, VHS and MiniDV.jpg|thumb|A MiniDV tape (centre) size comparison against a Video8 tape (left) and VHS tape (right)]]

Small cassettes (66 × 48 × 12.2&nbsp;mm),<ref name="borgotallo">{{Cite web |author=townshendj |date=26 March 2012 |url=https://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/archivesandmanuscripts/2012/03/26/media-recognition-dv-part-1/ |title=Media Recognition: DV part 1 |publisher=[[Bodleian Libraries]] |access-date=1 June 2025 }}</ref> also known as ''S-size'' or ''MiniDV'' cassettes, had been intended for amateur use, but were accepted in professional productions as well. MiniDV cassettes were used for recording baseline DV, DVCAM, and [[HDV]]. These cassettes came in capacities up to 14–20.8&nbsp;[[Gigabyte|GB]] for 63 or 90 minutes of DV or HDV.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://westcityfilms.com/images/Filmmakers_Handbook-4th-ed_data_rates.pdf |title=The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age |edition=4th |chapter=Appendix B: Data Rates and Storage Needs for Various Digital Formats |via=WestCityFilms.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216223027/http://westcityfilms.com/images/Filmmakers_Handbook-4th-ed_data_rates.pdf |archive-date=16 December 2014 }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=June 2025}}

====Medium size====
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1    = MiniDV DVCPRO adapter.jpg
| image2    = MiniDV DVCPRO adapter & cassette (cropped etc).jpg
| footer    = Adapter to place a MiniDV cassette to use with DVCPRO
}}

Medium or ''M-size'' cassettes (97.5 × 64.5 × 14.6&nbsp;mm),<ref name="borgotallo" /> which are about the size of [[8 mm video format|eight-millimeter]] cassettes, were used in professional Panasonic equipment and are often called ''DVCPRO tapes''. Panasonic video recorders that accept medium cassette can play back from and record to medium cassette in different flavors of DVCPRO format; they will also play small cassettes containing DV or DVCAM recording via an adapter.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

====Large size====
[[File:DVCAM cassettes.jpg|thumb|DVCAM cassettes in both miniDV and large size]]
[[File:Maxell DVCPRO DVP-126L.jpg|thumb|A 126-minute L-size Maxell DVCPRO cassette]]

Large or ''L-size'' cassettes (125.1 × 78 × 14.6&nbsp;mm)<ref name="borgotallo" /> are close in size to small [[MII (videocassette format)|MII]] cassettes and were accepted by most standalone DV tape recorders and were used in many shoulder-mount camcorders. The L-size cassette can be used in both Sony and Panasonic equipment; nevertheless, they are often called ''DVCAM tapes''. Older Sony decks would not play large cassettes with DVCPRO recordings, but newer models can play these and M-size DVCPRO cassettes.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

====Extra-large size====
Extra-large cassettes or ''XL-size'' (172 × 102 × 14.6&nbsp;mm)<ref name="borgotallo" /> are close in size to [[VHS]] cassettes and have been designed for use in Panasonic equipment and are sometimes called DVCPRO&nbsp;XL. These cassettes are not widespread, only a few models of Panasonic tape recorders can accept them.<ref>{{cite report |title=Panasonic DVCPRO Cassette Models and Recording Times |publisher=Digital Treasures |url=https://www.digitaltreasures.ca/docs/panasonic_dvcpro_cassette_models_and_recording_times.pdf |access-date=27 May 2026}}</ref>

[[File:Mini video tape 0699.jpg|thumb|A disassembled MiniDV cassette]]
[[File:Camcorder DV tape mechanism.jpg|thumb|Mini-DV tape mechanism inside an early 2000s Panasonic Palmcorder. Quarter for scale.]]