Sony DVC HD (DVM63HDR) Failure at DVinfo.net

Jay Cash · October 13th, 2010, 10:09 AM

I am sick!

Does anyone have past experience with the SONY HDV HD mini dv tapes not recording or capturing any video?

I was the sole videographer for a wedding this past weekend and I switched to a brand new clean tape, During the wedding it looked like all was normal and recording time code just as any other tape would in the hundreds ive used in the past.

I used a Canon XHA1, The mini dv tapes say they are for hdv /dv, I was shooting in HD.

Perhaps the camera can't play back video off of these tapes? but that seems ridiculous?

It was a two pack of tapes, i just opened the 2nd tape and recording 1 minute and then tried to play back, and I got nothing.

oI used another brand tape and it worked fine.

any suggestions?

I need all the help I can get here!!!!!!!

Greg Laves · October 13th, 2010, 07:22 PM

I have used a variety of tapes, including Sony, but I have never had anything like this happen.

Jay Cash · October 14th, 2010, 09:39 AM

I found a review on B&h video's website for these tapes and someone mentioned they had this same exact problem. I am sick..

Dave Blackhurst · October 16th, 2010, 10:56 AM

Generally Sony tape is pretty reliable, but you can run into tracking issues. I had one (Sony!) camera that would only track properly with Panasonic tapes, but other than that, most of the time Sony tapes have worked for me... any problems have been camera related.

This is one reason to do a "test take" of a minute or so at the beginning of each tape, and make sure it's recording and playing back.

Any chance if you FF/REW while in play mode that you can see anything recorded? Have you tried record/playback with another camera by any chance? It's possible you got a defective pack of tapes since you apparently can R/P on another tape you have...

Certainly sorry to hear about the situation, understandably a tough one, hopefully this wasn't a "paid" gig - this is one reason to always have backup gear, even if it's a handycam, at least if you test and have a problem, you can shoot SOMETHING...coming back with nothing because of a primary piece of gear not functioning has got to be painful... I think we've all been there, that's why I shoot multicam, and went tapeless - I'm pretty sure I'll hae something one way or another.

Adam Gold · November 17th, 2010, 01:28 PM

Looks like you're not alone, Jay:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/digital-...-hdv-tape.html

October 13th, 2010, 10:09 AM	#1
Jay Cash New Boot Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 24	Sony DVC HD (DVM63HDR) Failure I am sick! Does anyone have past experience with the SONY HDV HD mini dv tapes not recording or capturing any video? I was the sole videographer for a wedding this past weekend and I switched to a brand new clean tape, During the wedding it looked like all was normal and recording time code just as any other tape would in the hundreds ive used in the past. I used a Canon XHA1, The mini dv tapes say they are for hdv /dv, I was shooting in HD. Perhaps the camera can't play back video off of these tapes? but that seems ridiculous? It was a two pack of tapes, i just opened the 2nd tape and recording 1 minute and then tried to play back, and I got nothing. oI used another brand tape and it worked fine. any suggestions? I need all the help I can get here!!!!!!!

November 17th, 2010, 01:28 PM	#5
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Looks like you're not alone, Jay: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/digital-...-hdv-tape.html __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

October 13th, 2010, 07:22 PM	#2
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	I have used a variety of tapes, including Sony, but I have never had anything like this happen.

October 14th, 2010, 09:39 AM	#3
Jay Cash New Boot Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 24	I found a review on B&h video's website for these tapes and someone mentioned they had this same exact problem. I am sick..

October 16th, 2010, 10:56 AM	#4
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Generally Sony tape is pretty reliable, but you can run into tracking issues. I had one (Sony!) camera that would only track properly with Panasonic tapes, but other than that, most of the time Sony tapes have worked for me... any problems have been camera related. This is one reason to do a "test take" of a minute or so at the beginning of each tape, and make sure it's recording and playing back. Any chance if you FF/REW while in play mode that you can see anything recorded? Have you tried record/playback with another camera by any chance? It's possible you got a defective pack of tapes since you apparently can R/P on another tape you have... Certainly sorry to hear about the situation, understandably a tough one, hopefully this wasn't a "paid" gig - this is one reason to always have backup gear, even if it's a handycam, at least if you test and have a problem, you can shoot SOMETHING...coming back with nothing because of a primary piece of gear not functioning has got to be painful... I think we've all been there, that's why I shoot multicam, and went tapeless - I'm pretty sure I'll hae something one way or another.