Sometimes jerky video. Did you switch tape types?

John

No, haven't switched tape types. I've been using Sony DVM60PRL tapes in a Panasonic GS70. There is maybe about 30 hours of record/play time on it. Playback of the last tape I recorded last week began to show a kind of rippling displacement of pixels over portions of the image lasting only a fraction of a second. This started to show up sporadically about half way through the tape, occurring maybe once or twice a minute, and becoming a bit more frequent toward the end. I captured the tape using a GL2 and the image was fine. I played the same tape again in the GS70 and the problem was still there. So I'm thinking maybe a dirty playback head? Can anyone definitively confirm whether this is a dirty head problem? I'd rather not use a cleaning cassette unless it's necessary. Thanks.

JL

We have found that the Sony MiniDV tapes have had a lot of dropout problems in various decks we have played them back in. Might want to clean the heads and then try a diffrent brand of tape. We pretty much use Panasonic tapes exclusivly right now and haven't had nearly as many problems as we have had with the Sony ones. I know there are some people out here that do use the Sony tapes and don't have any problems. But it's just something you could try to see if it fixes the problem.

Update: I just ran a Panasonic AY-DVMCLA cleaning cassette in the GS70 for 5 seconds, retried the problem tape, and it now plays without a glitch.

Also, I found some info on but none of the examples look like what I was seeing.

JL

If you decide to use Panasonic tapes, be advised that the MQ tapes are not compatible with the PQ tapes (dry vs. wet lubricant). The garden variety EJ tapes ARE compatible with the PQ tapes however.
I also used to worry about using tape head cleaners. I don't any more. I get more worried about tape dropouts while shooting which I may end up discovering in post after it is too late.

John

I just discovered that I had a bunch of sporadic tape dropouts from
on of my camcorders. I ran a cleaning tape and I think that solved the
problem but I don't know for certain. As far as I can tell the rollers and
the head are clean (very shiney). Does anyone here regularly take their
gear out to be cleaned professionally? If so, how about the rates?
I wouldn'y mind spending $200 a year if it meant I was less likely to have
tapes with many dropouts.

Interesting to know about the Panasonic MQ and PQ tapes being different. Does that mean the Sony and the MQ tapes are similar?

If so, what's the best way to clean the heads when switching from PQ to MQ tapes? I have been using PQ tapes in a Canon GL2 and just bought about 50 MQ tapes because they were on sale. It would not be very fun to start having drop outs.

JBJones

My nephew, bless him, has 2 Panasonics. Neat tiny beasts. He swore both of them were ruined. Ran my Sony miniDV head cleaner tape tape for the 5-10secs [ ? ] brought them back to life! - I'm his hero now! . . "Did you use diffrerent tapes? "- " . . er . yes . ." , "Well I don't and found keeping to one brand best practice."

Rollers can be misaligned guides too. You wont know this until a service is done. I got my Canon XM2 back to the Canon Garage within 2 weeks of the warranty - phew! - they had to do some replace and overhaul of the tape shuttle thingy . .don't ask . . ;-)

IMHO you have two options:

1 - Head Cleaner Tape

2 - Send away for Service

As has been said - Don't mix brands and inter-brand types. I try not to use tapes FROM another cammie PLUS one SOMETIMES needs to tension a tape "played" on another deck/cammie for ANOTHER cammie/deck to read by fast forwarding and rewinding .. old trick seen it done .. didn't believe it myself until I saw it with my own eyes too!

. .end of the day it's going to be about money, sanity and getting back to making movies - yeah?

Grazie

I use a Sony head cleaning tape. You can also use a Panasonic head cleaning tape. Both work. Don't worry about wearing out the heads from using them. Professional cleaning is really expensive and "sometimes" they don't put the cameras back togetjer properly.
Blame the tape manufacturing industry for their competition at your expense in terms of standardized manufacture of DV media.
Same with DVD media outsourcing and resulting compatibility problems.

John