One more stupid question is there a way to turn off the auto shut off? while filming deer sometimes i have the camera in the pause mode for more than 5 min in the woods it sounds like a cement mixer when you turn the camera back on.

Eddie

Setup a custom key button to stop tape.Go to menu in camera mode,down to custom key,select button 1 or 2 ,choose VCR stop.As soon as you go into record pause, press the custom button and the tape transport will stop.The reason for the auto shutdown is in pause mode the heads are in full contact with the tape and long periods of the heads grinding away on the tape at the same spot can give you big problems.

Idid that the problem is the nise when the head disengages.

Eddie

I guess you have a way to keep the camera from powering down.Your problem seems to be the noise.One solution would be not to pause recording.Either let her roll till the tape is full then change tapes or get an external drive . Laptop or Firestore would allow constant rolling.I dont know how noisy the Firestore is but my laptop is very quiet.Hope this gives you some ideas.