Hey Everyone-

I just got my DVX100 on Friday and tested it out for about half an hour that night. Everything went well- so well in fact, that I decided to use it the next day as a secondary camera for a wedding.

Well, despite using the same tape type (brand new TDK DVM60), 5 minutes into recording I got the dreaded "X" in a red circle next to my time code that other people have reported in here (but of course is nowhere to be found in the manual). I played back my footage and there were horizontal lines everywhere. Good thing I still had my main camera with me. I tried using some Panasonic DVM60 tapes that my wife rushed out to get me, hoping that would solve the problem, but after 5 minutes again, the problem came back.

Why the heck is this happening to so many DVX100 users? I have had a GL1 for 4 years and nothing like this has EVER happened. Does anyone have a cure besides changing tape brand (which did not work for me) and cleaning the heads (this is a brand spanking new camera!!!!).

If you ask me, this is pretty ridiculous of an issue- it should never happen AND Panasonic should have listed the error icon IN THE MANUAL!

Comments? Suggestions?
Ted

FWIW - I started by using SONY premium mini DV tapes in my DVX (which I used for years in my other camera without problem) and within two or three hours had clogged heads. I ran the cleaner tape, switched to the Panny MQ tapes and haven't had a problem since.

Ted:

It seems to be a tape brand/lube issue. I've only use the Panny MQ tape (on three different DVX100's - I had to sell the first two I bought) and had no issues.

Of course, it's only ancedontal, but I would try it.

Stephen-

Why'd you have to sell your first 2 DVX100's? Did the lube ruin them that much?

Nothing wrong with cams - bought them (first that came into country and then I ran into severe financial problems a week later).

For some reason, I ALWAYS get dropped frames on the very first clip I record on a new tape. I stripe the tapes before using them and this happens regardless of the brand of tape I use.

It only happens with the very first segment on the tape. It ticks me off when I forget because the first thing I tape will always be ruined.

Does this happen to anyone else with a DVX100? It's very aggrevating.