How often do you clean the video heads? at DVinfo.net

Bill Edmunds · November 6th, 2007, 03:26 PM

The XH-A1 manual says to clean the heads frequently. I had always thought that over-cleaning was damaging to the heads...?

Richard Alvarez · November 6th, 2007, 05:32 PM

And 'under cleaning' is damaging to the video you are shooting, except you won't notice it until playback.

My rule of thumb, is to clean the heads on my XL2 for about ten seconds, before an important commercial shoot. What that might come to between shoots... could be ... ten or fifteen hours or so? Basically, I do a test record first. If it all looks good, and I feel like I don't need it. I don't do it. But it seems like the more 'imporant' the shoot, the more likely I am to clean first. So basically, its a 'peace of mind' issue. What do YOU feel comfortable with?

At the same time, I figure to ship the camera to Canon once a year for routine testing, cleaning, alignment maintenance as well. Figure that's just the cost of doing business.

I really don't worry too much about OVER cleaning. At least, not as much as running the chance of dirty heads in an important situation.

So it's really a personal peace of mind thing.

ADD: I always shoot with the same Panny tapes, but IF for some reason I have to shoot with another brand, I clean before and after that switch.

Eric Weiss · November 6th, 2007, 05:42 PM

Roughly every 10 hours of taping.

Jae Staats · November 6th, 2007, 07:58 PM

Do you guys just use a cleaning tape? Maybe this is crazy, but I owned my XL1 for 8 years and my XL2 for 2.5 years and never cleaned them once with a tape cleaner. I sent my XL1 in for a Canon cleaning one time, but again, never used those tape cleaners as I always heard negative things about them.

And my camera never had any picture deterioration or any problems whatsoever. Now I am a total neat freak and keep my camera in absolutely pristine condition, but I always thought it was better to let them go until you actually saw an issue. And like the post above, I always use one brand, for me the Sony Excellence tapes.

Simon Denny · November 6th, 2007, 08:10 PM

I use the Sony pd 170 and I clean my heads every day I go out shooting for about 10sec . IF I'm doing an all day shoot outside with bad weather I might do it again.
I have been caught out where I was filming some great stuff only to find that my heads were dirty and lost all footage.
Have learnt my lesson.

Cheers
Simon

Eric Weiss · November 6th, 2007, 08:31 PM

I only use Sony tapes and use the Sony DVM12CLD cleaner. I carry it with me. With the rigors of travel and rapid temp changes, the heads require cleaning often.

I've never sent in my Canon cameras to be cleaned. How much does that cost and what is the turn around? I'm shooting a minimum of 100 hours per month, so if I ever noticed anything suspect with my cams I would quickly replace them.

Bill Pryor · November 7th, 2007, 06:47 AM

Back in my Betacam days, Sony recommended using the head cleaning tape for 5 seconds after every 50 hours of tape. I still do that with other cameras and it seems to be a good practice. The only time I go more than that is after I've been shooting in dusty conditions; and then I'll use it after the shoot is over.

Mark Fry · November 13th, 2007, 11:12 AM

I had a few problems with "head blocking" on an XM1 a couple of years ago. It went back to Canon and had some bits replaced and came back fine. The problem wasn't that the heads hadn't been cleaned, but I asked how often I should be cleaning them. The Engineer at Canon UK recommended running a head cleaner tape for about 5 - 10 seconds after every 5 - 10 tapes, depending whether I was just recording (less) or using the cam for playback as well (more). He gave me a Panasonic head cleaning tape, too.

November 6th, 2007, 03:26 PM	#1
Bill Edmunds Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Conway, NH Posts: 574	How often do you clean the video heads? The XH-A1 manual says to clean the heads frequently. I had always thought that over-cleaning was damaging to the heads...?

November 13th, 2007, 11:12 AM	#8
Mark Fry Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 425	I had a few problems with "head blocking" on an XM1 a couple of years ago. It went back to Canon and had some bits replaced and came back fine. The problem wasn't that the heads hadn't been cleaned, but I asked how often I should be cleaning them. The Engineer at Canon UK recommended running a head cleaner tape for about 5 - 10 seconds after every 5 - 10 tapes, depending whether I was just recording (less) or using the cam for playback as well (more). He gave me a Panasonic head cleaning tape, too. __________________ Steam Age Pictures - videos in aid of railway preservation societies.

November 6th, 2007, 05:32 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	And 'under cleaning' is damaging to the video you are shooting, except you won't notice it until playback. My rule of thumb, is to clean the heads on my XL2 for about ten seconds, before an important commercial shoot. What that might come to between shoots... could be ... ten or fifteen hours or so? Basically, I do a test record first. If it all looks good, and I feel like I don't need it. I don't do it. But it seems like the more 'imporant' the shoot, the more likely I am to clean first. So basically, its a 'peace of mind' issue. What do YOU feel comfortable with? At the same time, I figure to ship the camera to Canon once a year for routine testing, cleaning, alignment maintenance as well. Figure that's just the cost of doing business. I really don't worry too much about OVER cleaning. At least, not as much as running the chance of dirty heads in an important situation. So it's really a personal peace of mind thing. ADD: I always shoot with the same Panny tapes, but IF for some reason I have to shoot with another brand, I clean before and after that switch.

November 6th, 2007, 05:42 PM	#3
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	Roughly every 10 hours of taping.

November 6th, 2007, 07:58 PM	#4
Jae Staats Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: United States Posts: 51	Do you guys just use a cleaning tape? Maybe this is crazy, but I owned my XL1 for 8 years and my XL2 for 2.5 years and never cleaned them once with a tape cleaner. I sent my XL1 in for a Canon cleaning one time, but again, never used those tape cleaners as I always heard negative things about them. And my camera never had any picture deterioration or any problems whatsoever. Now I am a total neat freak and keep my camera in absolutely pristine condition, but I always thought it was better to let them go until you actually saw an issue. And like the post above, I always use one brand, for me the Sony Excellence tapes.

November 6th, 2007, 08:10 PM	#5
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	I use the Sony pd 170 and I clean my heads every day I go out shooting for about 10sec . IF I'm doing an all day shoot outside with bad weather I might do it again. I have been caught out where I was filming some great stuff only to find that my heads were dirty and lost all footage. Have learnt my lesson. Cheers Simon

November 6th, 2007, 08:31 PM	#6
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	I only use Sony tapes and use the Sony DVM12CLD cleaner. I carry it with me. With the rigors of travel and rapid temp changes, the heads require cleaning often. I've never sent in my Canon cameras to be cleaned. How much does that cost and what is the turn around? I'm shooting a minimum of 100 hours per month, so if I ever noticed anything suspect with my cams I would quickly replace them.

November 7th, 2007, 06:47 AM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Back in my Betacam days, Sony recommended using the head cleaning tape for 5 seconds after every 50 hours of tape. I still do that with other cameras and it seems to be a good practice. The only time I go more than that is after I've been shooting in dusty conditions; and then I'll use it after the shoot is over.