The tape is set for erasure prevention
 

Hello, I have a problem with my xh a1, well first I have this horrible grainy issue in places that don't have enough light, but thats for later on my next problem is, why does the camera say The tape is set for erasure prevention, and won't let me take any footage? It seemed to happen after I used HDV split any suggestions, heres a pic of the grainy...
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1106/img0277ya6.jpg
[img=http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1106/img0277ya6.th.jpg]
The grainy isn't as noticeable when taking movies but its still there. Do I need to RMA this camera.... because so far its a piece of junk :(

That appears to have been shot at a high gain. Unless you're doing TV news, you really don't want to shoot at anything over a +3 or +6 db with any camera. Have you turned off all the automatic stuff? When I got my camera out of the box, everything automatic was on--auto iris, auto shutter, auto gain, auto focus. First thing to do is make sure the auto gain and auto shutter is off.

If you're getting the message the tape is set for erasure prevention, then it is probably true. Pop the little erasure prevention tab back into the recording position.

Err nm ignore this post

Also where is that erasure switch I dont see it?

I looked at my gain settings they were at +12... I think that was my problem, I'll compare the photos later right now its counter strike time :)

So I set the settings to -3 but its still grainy but looks better nonetheless

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/294/img0285yr4.jpg

The erase prevention tab is on the spine of the MiniDV cassette, is slides to open/cover a recess in the cassette that the camcorder senses to allow recording or protect (between locekd and unlocked). The cassette typically has icons showing locked and unlocked.

You maybe able to better manage the apparent grain issue using custom presets. See the custom presets theads.

Turn AUTO GAIN Switch OFF!!

I believe I will :)

Bill

Where is this holy gain switch you speak of? and what custom preset woudl you reccomend

I found a switch called agc I took a before and after shot is this that switch?
Before http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2250/img0306ji0.jpg
After (as in off) http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6776/img0307se9.jpg

Depends on what effect you want to achieve. Read, and experiment. If shooting in poor light is your thing, try the low light one as a starting point.

May I suggest referring to the instruction manual? (I'm not saying this to be rude, or mean).
Its a last resort for most of us, but I'm a former network cameraman with 18 years of experience on various rigs...and I'm still learning the XH-A1's quirks.

if you don't like reading the book.
Spend some money and get the Vasst DVD. : inside the Canon XHA1 & XHG1

It helps you understand the camera alot more. It covers the basic and advance setting of this camera.

You get a 10% discount if you use the dvinfo discount.