Most cameras have a compartment on the side that you can open up and then insert a mini-DV tape. There's usually a release button to push, and the cassette compartment will then slowly pop out.

On the Sony TRV900 the release button is blue and labeled Eject, and is on the right rear of the camera.

On the Sony PD150 and PD170 the release button is blue and labeled Eject, and is on the right rear of the camera.

On the Sony TRV11, the release button and tape compartment are on the bottom of the camera.

When the compartment is completely open, insert the mini-DV tape into the compartment, with the window on the tape facing out and the red end with the arrow pointing down.

Then close the compartment by gently pushing it back in.

On the Sony TRV900, PD150 and PD170 there's a button on the side labeled Push to tell you where to place your finger when closing the compartment. The compartment will not close unless you press on the Push button.

Mini-DV tapes are usually good for about an hour of recording (you can set the camera to long-playing mode to double the recording time, but we don't recommend it as that decreases the quality of the video - see the camera menu settings section)

Once you've recorded some video on a tape and you don't plan to record anything more on it, you can lock the tape to avoid recording over it. To do that look for the tiny white tab on the side of the tape and slide it over to lock.

Note: It's good practice to stick with one brand of mini-DV tape, rather than using different brands of tapes on the same camera.

Diifferent chemicals are used in the different brands of tapes, and when different tape brands are used in the same camera the chemicals can mix together and gum up the camera. So if you started out using one brand of tape - such as Sony tapes which we use in our cameras - stick with it for the same camera.