Hey guys,

I received my Canon XHA1 a week or so ago and have been just kinda messing around and shooting on the Canon DigitalMaster tape that shipped with the camera, I know your not supposed to switch tapes alot but am I gonna have a problem going to Sony DVC Premiums now that I started on the canon tape? Thank you for your input!

Switching shouldn't be a problem after using the canon tapes for such a short time.

You'll be fine shooting with the Sony Premiums. Not to worry. I believe Sony makes that Canon tape that comes with the A1 anyways.

The general consensus back in the archives here is to run a cleaner tape as soon as you get the A1 before recording the first DV tape. Make it the same brand as the DV tape you intend to use.

Cheers.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help!

im having problems with the sony premiums now, i use my sony cleaning tape, and 80% of my tapes are bad, completly messing up my shots, becoming really frustrating

thinking on switching, maybe going all hdv tapes, but dont want to spend the money, or go to panasonic

I had trouble with Panasonic AMQ tapes. Switched to Sony's expensive PHDVM Digital Mastering tapes and haven't seen a dropout yet.

If 80% of your tapes are bad, there's probably a problem with your camera. I'd send it in for service. That's beyond anything I've heard, even for cheap tapes.

Yeah 80% is very very high, and probably needs to be inspected. I have used Sony Premiums for the entire time that I have had my camera...almost two years. Haven't had the camera serviced, and have not used a cleaning tape yet. Virtually no drop outs to date. Pretty great performance for such an inexpensive tape.