what kind of cleaning tape do you use with XH A1?
 

what kind of cleaning tape do you use with XH A1?

I've finally reached 100 hours on mine. (50 tapes
used so far... figuring 1 hour recording + 1 hour
playback, times 50 = 100 hours) I never re-use
the tapes...

Any advice appreciated!

And brand name dry MiniDV cleaning tape should be OK. See page 147 of the Instruction Manual. I've been using Sony brand with other Canons but have a new Panasonic brand on order.

I use Sony HDV tapes for recording...but Maxell cleaning tapes. No issues. I might suggest cleaning a little more often than 100 hours though. My typical regime is about once every 10 hours or so.

do you need a new cleaning tape for every use?

The cleaning tape is only run for approximately 10 seconds per use. The tape itself is probably 5-10 minutes in length. You use it for the 10 seconds and remove it. When you run out of tape you throw it away.

Never rewind the cleaning tape or you will be putting what you cleaned off before back on!

I don't believe the brand makes any difference.

Mike