Hi i now there has been a problem with the entire canon camcorders with this message. i have read 100s of posts about this problem. sometime you can solve this problem by using a tape head cleaner. if this doesn't work you have to send it off to canon in hong kong to get it fixed it as long as it is still proteted. Also i have noticed that this happen mostly with the NSTC version of the camcorder. I find PAL dont get these messages.

I find PAL dont get these messages.

Unfortunately that is incorrect. Mine is PAL and has this problem.

Just got the quote back for Canon for my XM2:

'Unit requires tape mechanism assembly (Recorder unit, Drive Gear Assembly, and Idler gear Assembly)'.

Total cost to replace, check and ship:

$414 or £232,

Ouch!

I think my XM2 is great, but am a bit miffed that I have to pay so much for what appears to be a design fault. I also would be contacting Canon to see if this fix resolves the problem or will I be faced with the same situation in 20 tapes time?

Comments?

Paul.

Hi Paul, please find out if there is a warranty on that work and if so, what the warranty period is -- thanks,

The work is guaranteed for 6 months.

Paul.

I think the warranty period on repairs in the US is 90 days. Every repaired piece of equipment has been returned with a document specifying 90 days. But I guess it is possible an extended repair warranty is being provided for some specific repairs.

Thought I would add my story to this thread as it see it's really struggling for replies. </sarcasm>

Granted this discussion is regarding the GL2, but I own a GL1 that has suffered from the Remove Cassette error consistantly throughout it's posh life in my camerabag. After 13 months of use, approximately 30 hours of filming, and maybe 6 hours of tape transfer to PC, my first set of "guts" started to act up. Eventually (like everyone else it seems) the unit mangled several tapes, refused to record, and generally put me off of Canon as it happened literally a month after the warranty had expired.

Several angry calls to Canon to bust everyone's chops that I could get ahold of, and about 2 weeks later, they had replaced the transport mechs and sent me on my way acting like they did me a favor.

Fast forward (no pun intended) exactly 94 days later and it was doing the same thing. This time I'm out for blood and about ready to drive an hour north to the New Jersey factory and shoot up the place. They get the camera yet again and this time it'll be a $700 repair on a camera that has maybe 45 hours on it and the rest of the time spent napping in it's bag away from the elements indoors. After some heated discussions with managers and the like they knocked the price down to something like $400 and replaced everything. It has worked fairly well ever since but I did get the error twice more over the last few months.

Moral of the story...

I'm a typical prosumer I feel, who probably spent more than I should have on a camera I don't use enough but would like to use more. Also, I use the camera for business ocassionally to produce web video content and the typical family gatherings a few times a year as well. I simply can't afford to deal with a piece of equipment that requires such measures to keep it running. If it dies again or starts down the slippery Canon slope towards inevitable demise, it will be sold.

Finally, I have vowed, since this experience and clearly after reading this forum and noticing the lack of progress on the issue years and models later, to never buy or recommend to others another Canon camera be it video or still.

Oh I should also add the following so that my post is more useful than just a rant (I do love a good rant though)....

When I purchased the camera I was familiar with the issue of differing brands of tape creating issues with the heads. My understanding was that it's the actual lubrication used in the tape, be it dry or wet lube. I remember, though not specifically, that if you shot with Sony tapes and ever switched to something else you would get screwed but good. Which is why I've used Panasonic tapes since day one....expect those times I was in a pinch and used TDK (about 25% of the time).

Being of little cash I was unable to buy a dedicated deck for importing/winding. What I'm looking into now is buying a super cheapo DV camera just for this purpose (and also to serve as a deck for connection to a helmet cam when I go biking/driving/snowboarding). Anyone have a camera that fits the bill? Preferrably with a busted lense so it's super cheap? ;)

Finally, I never made the mistake of touching the camera in the wrong spot in the tape carrier area.

I did however once use the camera outdoors in a snow storm mostly uncovered, and then take it back inside where it was probably harmed in some small way by the condensation. That was all pre-replacement btw.

I might as well throw my voice into the fray. My 18 month old GL-2 started up with the "remove cassette" message two weeks ago. I've used it quite extensively (over 100 tapes) and figured the heads or rollers must need cleaning. I came to the forum to see what's the safest way to clean it and here I find this megathread on the issue. And here I thought it was just me. Isn't it more than a coincidence that so many of us are getting this problem at more or less the same time?

It's so aggravating! And now if I was to sell the GL2 I wouldn't be able to get a good price for it.

My old Sony Digital 8 lasted 5 years (200+ tapes) before it's tape mechanism konked out. I think I'll be sticking to Sony from now on.

Just curious, Aldo, have you tried running a cleaning cassette for about 5-6 seconds in your GL2 yet?

Yeah, I did. In fact, roughly the same time the "remove cassette" issue came up I once had the message that the recording heads were dirty (in the middle of taping my friend's wedding!!). For whatever reason, I had the dirty heads warning come up about 2 months after I first bought the GL-2 and so after that I always made sure I had a head cleaning tape in my camera bag at all times. Even after using the head cleaning cassette I still have problems rewinding tapes. I can work around it because I do have a mini-DV rewinder, but nowadays I capture larger segments rather than fastforwarding or rewinding to the specific clip I want. Very annoying, to say the least.

And I've always used Panasonic tapes.

If you are talking about the "remove cassette" message when trying to rewind the tape back to the beginning .... I just had my first error in this area. It took 3 attempts to get the tape back to the start. Noticed the eject was in stages also....hmmm.

Don't think it has anythine to do with switching tape brands. This GL2 has only had one brand of tape during its 14 months of usage.

Will canon still take the camera to try to repair it if we want to send it in?

...Don't think it has anythine to do with switching tape brands. This GL2 has only had one brand of tape during its 14 months of usage...I've never thought so either. I think that some inferior part, or the design itself wears out, on some faster than others. Variables contributing to the variation in how long it takes could be
1. the extent of the part defect
2. how well or how poorly the individual unit was assembled
3. how much drag has been offered by the cassettes used (I've seen variation in this)
4. how much rewinding has been done
5. how touchy the Remove Cassette sensor is
6. etc.

Will canon still take the camera to try to repair it if we want to send it in?Yes, but if your unit is out of warranty they charge on the order of $250 US to fix it. Some people have had success arguing that figure down, some haven't

Perhaps we need a regristry of Cannon owners to collectively request an "official response" to what must be a common problem. Surely they know the root cause. With all the GL2 cams sold I would think they would have some interest in gaining some "brand loyality" through correspondence with current owners ... otherwise "Sony" may pick up on the opportunity and offer a "trade-in" to current GL2 owners to switch to Sony. There is strength in numbers.

I agree with the sentiments above. Still waiting for my XM2 to come back. It appears that the tape mechanism is very delicate!

The thing that puzzles me is that it can't be that different from the XL1 which - from my limited readings - appears to be fairly bomb-proof. I also don't see many posts on here from GL1/XM1 owners on the same issue - does this hint of an inherent design fault on the GL2/XM2?

The irony is that I have an old Sony TRV11e that has survived many experiences and rough handling (see www.paranormalhunter.co.uk !). I get the sinking feeling that a VX2000 may have been a better buy. Perhaps a Sony dealer would like to make us an offer we can't refuse :)

Yeah, my Sony TRV-110 has lasted me 5 years and is still going strong. It's been quite beaten up too, dropped a few times, the beach, the snow, you name it. I'm very impressed by the quality of this little low-end consumer camera.

My GL2 has been babied for about 18 months and still gives me problems that Canon denies are in existance.

Not to turn this into a Sony vs. Canon thread or anything...

Canon must know something about the problem they have a service note on it.http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode=2112&fcategoryid=227&modelid=7512

Hi to all

My XM2 (PAL version of GL2) also starts with "remove cassette" problem.
Heads and rollers are perfect clean. Over 50 tapes used (TDK).
After some experiments with rewinding process I've figured out
that chances to recieve "remove cassette" message on XM2/GL2
are very small if I rewind tape when camcorder is in up-side down
position.
Does it work on other camcorders or It's just about some magic?

Sergey Saushkin
Naberegny Chelny, Russia

That's interesting. Would be good if it's as simple as that - although it would be a bit of a pain to have to keep turning the camera upside down...

Does this little trick work for anyone else?

Mmm - the 'upside down' fix sounds interesting!

I've just got my XM2 back from Canon at a cost of £232. In their defence I found them to be fairly helpful on the phone.

I got a photocopy of a report with the following advice - don't re-use old/damaged cassettes and keep the heads clean. I was a bit taken aback by this as I always shoot with a brand new tape, and use a tape head cleaner on a regular basis.

So, I spoke to a technician explaining the above and pointed out that from the internet it appears that this is well-known problem. In response to the tape question, given the use of new tapes and keeping it clean, he stated that it was probably a torque problem with the gears, and that the repairer had 'probably' installed stronger gears. As to this being quite a common problem he stated that it could be several different problems that give the same error, and people end up thinking it's the same problem (judge that for yourselves!).

Final advice - keep cleaning, never re-use cassettes, and return it for a service if it's getting a lot of use. Cleaning the heads before 'mothballing' the camera for periods is also recommended.

Well, I'm going to see how things go from here. One thing I've decided is to use another cheap camcorder to rewind cassettes. I don't intend to do it in the XM2 again.

I just want to add my story to this thread for cathartic reasons...

I purchased my GL2 in the US, Dec - 2003 and have been in Tanzania on assignment (not shooting, I'm a linguist!) since January 2004. The 'remove cassette' message has showed up periodically from day one but I never thought much about it. I would just pull the tape out, smacked it around a little, (an old habit from my cassette-wound-too-tight days as a child), put it back in, and voila, problem solved.

After six months or so I had my first chewed tape. I 'blacklisted' the tape thinking that was the problem. After a couple more chewed tapes I thought it was a TDK issue and decided to commit the brand-change-sin to FUJI tapes. I had a pile brought over from Canada but the problem has resurfaced on those cassettes as well.

-The camera has had no more than 30 hours of recording time.
-It lives in air/water-tight Pelican 1520 with 1527 soft insert.
-I baby this thing because I know I am far from a Canon service rep.
-I've reused three tapes but only once each. All other tapes have only been used once.
-I've never left a tape in the transport when not recording, even for an hour.
-Having no secondary deck I do use the camera for log-and-capture / rewind-playback.

One thing I can rule out for sure is the moisture/humidity issue. I live and work in the Tanzanian Southern Highlands and the problems persist in the dry season when you can't even keep your eyes moist here.

Things have only gotten worse and I was driven to start searching on the web yesterday when a brand new, fresh tape got chewed right out of it's package. Couldn't record an important event. After reading what I have in this and other forums, I basically feel like my video recording days are over until I return to Canada late 2007 when I can purchase a different brand of camera for my next assignment. :-(

I had a pixel problem fixed under warranty. This is a good thing. Then why did they also replace the transport mechanism? Something they know, that we don't? Oh yes, I was NOT having transport issues!

Grazie

I had a pixel problem fixed under warranty. This is a good thing. Then why did they also replace the transport mechanism? Something they know, that we don't? Oh yes, I was NOT having transport issues!

Grazie

I'm starting to hope that my new GL2 has some issues so I can send it in under warranty. Better now under warranty than later with $250. I have no clue if there's a Canon repair center in Greece or not. Here's a thought - maybe we've figured out the reason Canon has been giving $250 rebates on GL2s for the past few years.

Steve

Wow. Quite the thread going here. I'll give my 2 cents of experience.

I've owned my GL2 for about 2 1/2 years. First tape I used was a Panasonic. Every tape since has been Fuji. Also, I always use 60 minute tapes...never 80 minute.

I've only experience the "remove cassette" error twice. First time was within a month of purchasing the camera. The second time was about a year or so later. I was shooting outdoors each time, during the summer. It was probably in the 70's or 80's (fahrenheit)...might have been humid...I don't recall. Each time I received the error, I simple turned the camera off for a few seconds, and turned it back on...with no further problems.

Usually after recording an event, I'll rewind the tape (in camera) and take it out and store it until I'm ready to edit in my NLE. Then, I dump the contents to hard drive, rewind the tape, and put it back into storage. I don't use the camera like a VCR and do a lot of fast forward and rewind.

I've only shot about 20 hours or so in the past 2 1/2 years, so I'm a light user, I suppose. Oh, I've never run a cleaning tape through yet, either, and I've never experiened any "drop outs". Maybe I'm fortunate and have a particularly good GL2.

Speaking of tech support...have you ever tried contacting JVC Professional Sevices support? Ah, but I digress.

All in all, I'm very happy with the Canon GL2, and I'd buy another. The picture is superb, and the camera has been very good to me. :)

Tim

I have just spent months researching which camera to purchase and all of this is starting to really concern me. Everyone I speak to tells me to buy a canon. It seems to be a toss up between the XL and GL but this transport issue is a hard one to overlook. Do both cameras use the same transport? Is one more prone to the issue than the other? Tuesday is order day for me and I hope I dont make a bad decision.

Hey Bob - I've had my GL2 for about two months, and I've had nothing to complain about. One thing you have to keep in mind is that there are tens of thousands of GL2s out there, maybe more, and even if you read 1000 postings about people contracting that error, it's still just a drop in the bucket.

On top of that, it seems that to fix this it only costs $250, or free if it happens within the first year. Considering the GL2 is one of the cheapest of the 3ccd prosumer camera, and the fact that they give you a $250 rebate, I would say it's worth the risk investing in a GL2. Even if you do get that error, it will be fairly cheap and easy to replace, and you'll still get many, many happy hours of good video. Anyway, that's my thoughts...

Oh, and I'm not sure whether they use the same transport mechanism, though I have heard of people with the XL having the same problem. So maybe they do. Can anybody tell us for sure?

Steve

One comment Steve: Do the Sony OR JVC OR Panasonic forums have instances of such an issue?

And yes, I agree with everything you say, but would colour my comments as to IF other main-line suppliers have had this crop up - yeah?

Grazie

One comment Steve: Do the Sony OR JVC OR Panasonic forums have instances of such an issue?

And yes, I agree with everything you say, but would colour my comments as to IF other main-line suppliers have had this crop up - yeah?

Grazie

You're completely right, thanks Grazie. I'm not at all against Sony or JVC or Panasonic - I think they all make fantastic cameras. I don't know if they have any instances of such an issue - I'll look into it on the threads, though.

"The message appears when the tape is close to full rewind (...) For a short fraction of time before the message, the time code would show "-:--:--:--" like the camcorder looses the signal from the tape or something" Sounds familiar to me.

After that, several times, I opened and took out and put inside the cassette with effect like it is written before. In the end, I did it one more time, I started to rewind and when tape was rewinded on full speed, counter went mad, than well known information was displayed - "remove the cassette". I did it, but transport mechanism ate the tape. Not good. The camera is curently visiting authorized canon service. We will see, what they will tell tomorrow.

I make movies in general for family, sometimes concerts, or sth like that. Personal and commercial use. Camcorder is 2 years old. I wrote it to show, that it happens to often and it seems that it is some kind of....mistake?

A little off-topic, but...

When my GL2 came back from being repaired for this problem, it also got updated firmware/software or something. I know this because now everytime I turn it on, it has a little blue "tunnel-like" startup screen with the Canon logo. Also, all my little messages that pop up on the screen now have a new font and a blue border! I wonder what happened?

Remove the cassete /when rewinding on high speed/
In Poland repair cost /out of warranty/ is about 185$ /new transport mechanism and some telemetric settings/. It will take 2 weeks /they have to order new parts/ warranty for repair is 6 months/
........

I purchased an XL1S 14 months ago and guess what...Its just developed 'Remove the Cassette' syndrome (2 months out of warranty, I add). And yes this occurs when rewinding a tape...Timecode flickers in EVF then "Remove the Cassette" appears. When ejecting, the tapes are always munched. This occurs randomly. So far £40 worth of tape has been destroyed. I do wedding videos, but have so far been 'lucky' in that it has been other non important footage that has been eaten.

The XL1S wasn't cheap, paid nearly £2500 GBP. Had no idea what was happening at first but after doing a google search this thing seems quite common! (with the GL1+2 anyway). Shame Canon don't tell you this before you part with your hard earned.

This camera has been babied since new. I have only ever used one tape brand (Panasonic DV83MQ), tape is removed from machine after every shoot, Heads are cleaned every 30 hours or so etc, etc.

I have just purchased a MiniDV rewinder (£13) and will use this from now on.

"Shame Canon don't tell you this before you part with your hard earned"

actualy, I'm convinced that this is not a "canon only" issue. I've seen it on a VX2100 as well. They display something like "error xxx" or whatever. But is the same problem.

The firckin' miniDV tape mechanism is so fragile...

I truly hesitate, and then some, if I am ever tempted to review work on any of my XM2s. I try to keep the mechanism just going "forwards" - if you know what I mean?

Cosmin? Is that a famous Romanian oath "firckin'" ? Would that be the "Firckins" of Bucharest or Jassi? LOL!

Grazie

Hehe! typing late at night... I bet my english is better than your romanian! :)

I'm from Timisoara, actually.

"I try to keep the mechanism just going "forwards" "
aaa... so you have a miniDV VCR or another camcorder for playing tapes. I'd like that too, but I'm "financially chalanged", if that's a freeking expresion! :lol

Hiyah Cosmin!

I do have a 2nd hand ( used ) Panasonic Deck. Takes big tapes too. As I say, there has to be a REALLY good reason why I would want to review on site - and no I don't have a miniTape deck to review on site .. . me too .. on the financially challenged thing - LOL! . .Your English is FAAaaarrr better than my Romanian . .

1. Buy a mini dv re winder
2. Buy a cheap camcorder so that you can use it whenever you are using a GL2/XM2 other than the shooting(editing/play back etc.).
3.Go for the tape less recording and editing.
These are some of the informations I have gathered from this site!

Cosmin:

I too have been plagued with the eject cassette problem. I suspected the same thing that you suggested, "backlash" in the tape caused by not enough tape tension. Your video proved it. I applied a couple drops of trichlorethylene (hard to get) on the white gear in the center of the drive, like your photo shows. I got an immediate result. I was able to rewind several tapes. Then the problem showed up again, a couple drops more, problem fixed. The next day, it happened a third time, many tapes later. A couple drops, and haven't had a problem since. I suspect that there is a friction surface under the white gear that either has a build-up of lubricant or some other matter. Cleaning it seems to solve the problem. YOU are the only one who has suggested this fix and it worked for me, so far. If it happens in the field, I always carry some lens cleaner, alcohol, so a couple drops will take care of the problem.

Why doesn't Canon tell us about this problem? Why do they just keep hitting customers up and sell them a new drive deck with the same potential problem?

Spread the word on this fix, it worked for me.

Jim - emptech@netzero.net

Hey people. I experienced the error yesterday while getting ready to shoot a party for a friend and while i was rewinding the tapes to see what to tape over and i got the message. this morning i went down to PC World in cardiff and luckely enough there was a Canon official. i asked about the problem and he said "there's nothing to worry about. 80% of people who get the message think there is a major problem with cassette drive but infact its caused by condensation. theres no point sending it in because there is nothing canon can do unless there is a problem with the drive. if you send it in. it will cost £40 for them to look at it and if there is a problem they will replace the drive for free or if it is under 1 year old they will completely replace the camera and give you vouchers. This message was only programed to come up if there was condensation detects. look at page 140 in your manual. if there is problem with the drive it usally come up saying cassette drive error" when i got this message it was very cold and there was condensation all over the lens and cassete drive.

Bully for you Nat! Now where is Cosmin when yah needs him?

G

Sounds plausible, and I'm a GL2 supporter, and I mean no offense to Nathaniel, but I'm quite sure that every Canon rep who spends time in the field has learned to dispense with this inquiry in an informal verbal fashion. My default response is to think "bullshit" until such time as Canon publishes a statement.

i got to agree with fred. i think some of that is bullshit

It is bullshit. There is a design flaw with this camcorder and Canon will not admit to it. If only condensation in 80% of the cases, then how come it does not occur as frequently with other camcorders? Why is it that the problem starts occurring more and more to the point where you can no longer use the camcorder?

Nathaniel, can you confirm something - did your guy at PC World say that the drive would be replaced for free if they find a problem, regardless of the age of the camera? My cam is out of warranty and, as you would expect, the problem started about eight seconds AFTER the warranty expired.

I have no doubt that the error is caused by condensation (I've experienced it in such conditions) but I'm not convinced this is the only cause and I tend to agree with other posters that suspect a design fault.

If Canon are offering free drive replacements then I'd like to sign up!

A stiff casssette (one in which the tape mechanism is binding a bit and the tape does not spool freely) may also cause the message, as could a cefective cassette, or some foreign object in the tape path; e.g., a piece of label.

Condensation can also cause the message, and is a likely cause, especially if the camcorder just came from a cold location into a warm location.

the rep in pc world said they would fix it for free. but it costs £40 for them to look at it

Well that sounds like good value to me! I shall investigate further!

Thanks for the info.

as long it is in warrenty also if it is under 1 year old you got to take it back to the people you bought it from and then they have to replace it.

My GL2 "Remove the Cassette" problem started in Dec 2005, It finally died Jan 15 2006. I was out of Warranty. I called Canon in Irvine Ca. and after several weeks they replaced the entire tape transporter mechanism. THey Charged me 62 USD and advised me this was a courtesy rate. I'm thinking to myself, there's a flaw here with all the postings in several DV and Video forums......(WTF about this courtesy rate). I got the camera back and seems to be working for "Now".
I might keep the research info I did on the Sony VX2100 just in case. I'm soured by this whole event even though in the end they did fix it and was never treated bad or disrespectful during the entire transaction/Event.
It's the principal of what I paid for what was suppose to be a relaible camera.