Bought my GL-2 new last November and I'm just getting out now for testing. However, each time I playback tape I have at least one audio drop-out and a pixelated frame. I've used nothing but Sony Premium tape (DVM60PRL or DVM60PR2) since day one. Any ideas why a new camera has this problem? I need to gain confidence in the camera's perfomance since weddings start next month.
Thanks for any help,
Bob

I found that with a brand spankin' new cam, you can get dropouts in the first tape or so, so, clean the heads. However, after cleaning your heads you might want to switch to Fuji miniDV.

I assume that (a) the camera is factory-new and, (b) that the tapes you're using are reasonably new and not on their 10th lives.

If that's the case, you should contact Canon service. It's not normal. If you send the camera to Canon be sure to send a sample tape along with it.

I also had dropouts with my brand-new GL2 and I did a 5 second cleaning tape run and all has been just fine since, so I'd at least try that as a simple step to take before looking toward Canon support. Anytime you have dropouts like that the first thing to try is a quick cleaning tape. Even multiple passes (after a momentary rest), like canon recommends might be needed, but if the problem continues after 3 or four attempts to use a cleaning tape, THEN I would contact Canon to have it cleaned professionally.

Strange, you guys have using these much more expensive cameras and having problems. I have just a Panasonic DV52 ($400) and I've recorded over some Fuji tapes atleast 6 times, and never got a dropout, ever...hopefully I don't either... *knocks on wood* :)

Alex, 99% of the time heads get clogged/drop-outs because of the tape. That's been my experience. However, from reading people's complaints over the years, with buying a new cam, leads me to believe that a new cam may experience this with the first tape.

Since we're talking about a new camera, I was wondering if any of you knew what testing they do at the factory before releasing for sale. Are they running a tape over the heads so that there may be some residue?
Bob

I thought there was something in the manual stating you should use a tape cleaner as soon as the first 24 hours of use?

Actually, the manual states that the heads should be cleaned after 20 hours of use.
Bob

My own firm recommendation is: run a head cleaner (never for more than 5 seconds at any time) on these occasions:

1. Upon opening a brand new camcorder, fresh out of the box, *before* recording that first tape.

2. Periodically about every 20 hours of recording time.

Send the camcorder in for professional cleaning at the manufacturer's service center on these occasions:

1. Once per year of occasional light-duty use,

2. Twice per year of frequent heavy-duty use.

I would consider the charges incurred for professional cleaning to be part of the normal operating costs of the camcorder. Hope this helps,

Bob,

I just purchased a GL2 from Brian at Zotz digital and he gave me some insight into different tapes. Basically, it's only recommended that you use Panasonic tapes in the GL2, more specifically, the Panasonic 63PQ.

It turns out that Panasonic manufactures tapes for Panasonic, JVC and Canon. They use what's called a "dry lube" process on the tapes, vs. the Sony tapes which use a "wet lube" process. I've read about this before and Brian confirmed it for me.

You might want to try cleaning the heads and then using only Panasonic tapes in the camera, should clear up your problems.

Michael

What about fuji tapes? Dry or Wet???

I believe that all tapes other than Panasonic use the "wet lube" process during manufacture, but I can't be 100% sure as info regarding this is difficult to find. I'm currently trying to contact someone at the Panasonic factory to see if they have any white papers, etc. which detail the processes involved.

Michael

Fuji is dry.

One of the links I have here,
http://www.dvfreak.com/tape.htm
has a list of tapes which says if they're dry or wet. It's not a complete list, though.

Unbelievable!! So the Panasonic tape that was recommended to me as "dry" is, in fact, WET!

Man, my head hurts! :-)

I think I read in that article that Frank wrote that FUJI makes tapes for PANASONIC. If that is so, then those tapes would be dry as well. Right??

Tustin, correct, there's only really a few manufactures that make different tape, but they are marketed under different names and crap...

Fuji would make the tape according to Panasonic's specifications. And I don't know if Fuji makes all of their tape and all of the time or some of the time. Right now, Fuji may not even make any tape for them. I say this because I got that information a few years ago.

A few years ago, regardless of labeling, MiniDV tape was either Sony-style or Panasonic-style. Both were "wet lub" formulation. The eraly days were the era of the incompatable lub issue, which was resolved between Sony and Panasonic when Sony had the convenient tape factory fire that made MiniDV tape very scarce for a while. And presto, the incompatible lub issue swas mostly resolved. (But characteristic wear deposits may still present an issue when changing tape brand.)

Then Panasonic added their dry lube tape as a premium pro tape, so Panasonic offers both types of lub tape now. AS I recall the reason for the dry lub was to ensure compatability with the lub used on their DVPro tape and playback products that can play MiniDV as well as DVPro.

One thing seems certain, there is no concensus on tape brands except to stay consistantly with one manufacturer. I used a cleaning cassette following instructions for 10 seconds. Ran a 15 minute test yesterday with no pixelation or drop-outs. Hope that continues.

The Panasonic tapes sound interesting especially if they're making them for Canon. I've got to much invested in Sony right now but may switch next year.

By the way, the images from a GL-2 are stunning and regardless of geometry and CCD arguments, you can achieve shallow depth of field with a little practice.

Thanks to all,
Bob