Did you switch on and immediately push record button so the red light on the media might have been on while you pushed record. It takes a few seconds for the camera to examine the media and give a green light to attached media.
Ron Evans

I'm certain that I didn't press record button too quickly on powerup - I was trying to be pretty slow and deliberate with my actions because of the reported problems. To be honest I am not sure if I even pressed the record button - the error may have come immediately on power application (that was my initial recollection of the event - and is what I wrote down when I first had a chance). All I know is that once the data recovery message appeared I had fingers flying trying to clear the error and start recording again.

When I turned the power off (after the first 35 minutes) I waited a good 15 - 20 seconds after all activity ended.

Brian