When shooting the first one to two minutes of any recording at the beginning of a tape, I get recording errors best described as 4 horizonal lines freeze frame with the rest of the video recording. There is static as well. I set the camera up at home and started recording at about 4 minutes into the tape, for well over 30 minutes and no tape/recording errors/static.

This is a used camera and appears in excellent shape. I do not know when it was last serviced.

Any suggestions?

TEDean

Did you run a cleaning tape through it? What brand tapes were being used in it before you got it?

Mike

I am not sure what type of tapes were used before.
I am using either Fujifilm or TDK. These tapes were use in another camera I had owned.
I did run a Dynex cleaning tape only once. I have read mixed reviews on using them.

TEDean

I've got that same problem. Also wondering how to solve that

Buy NEW tapes, I use Sony Premium without a dropout or problem. Run a new cleaning tape through again. Try with the new tape, if it still does it run the cleaning tape again, until problem is solved.

Do not reuse the cleaning tape, it is one use only, no rewind.

Do not be afraid to use the cleaning tape!

Mike

Start by reading these posts------

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=80598


http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=80905

Ah... your experience is very frustrating. I had the same experience a few months ago while working on a relatively large project.

The previous comments are right on. Use a cleaning tape "dry" and see what it does. It may not help the first time threw.e problem.

I had also learned like you did that I had good luck if I just ran the tape for first 5 to 10 minutees before caring what was recorded.

I first thought that my experience as related to condensation on the heads, because I was getting the Clean Heads message in my view finder. As others mentioned stay with the same brand of tape - Sony or Panasonic in my opinion.

Chad

Perfect information. Thank you! I regret I did not do a better search before the my post.

TEDean

I have a similar problem which came from reusing pre-recorded tapes. Doesn't matter whether the camera is my XL1s or my old, tried and true GL1. I think this is an issue of incomplete erasure in the rerecording process, but I don't know why.

Both cameras get tape cleaning cassettes run through them every ten or so hours.

Most important, only one brand and kind of tape is ever used on my cameras. For availability reasons, I use SONY Premium. The reason for using only one brand and type of tape has to to with the chemical formulation of the tape. The backing is almost universally mylar. It is the medium that is important, and every manufacturerer uses a slightly different formula. Video recording heads attract and hold on to some particles of this media, and mixing media brands can clog the recording heads.

So, be brand loyal, and clean your camras recording heads regularly.

For the record...
The contacted the previous owner and they used Sony Premium tapes.
I switched to the Sony P tapes and the recording now great.

TEDean