Switching tape brands with XL2 at DVinfo.net

Marco Leavitt · June 28th, 2007, 12:36 PM

I recently bought a used XL2 for which the original owner meticulously used only Canon tapes. I'm a believer in brand fidelity too, but sheesh, that's the worst possible brand he could have picked! I'm not knocking the quality, but those tapes are almost impossible to find and are shockingly expensive. Do I really have to have the camera professionally cleaned before switching brands, or can I just make the switch and hope for the best? There's no reason to use Canon tapes in Canon camcorders is there?

Bill Hamell · June 28th, 2007, 02:17 PM

Just clean the heads and use the brand you want.

Bill

Richard Alvarez · June 28th, 2007, 02:24 PM

I concur, run a tape head cleaner through, and switch to your preferred brand. Check it after a few tapes run through to see if it needs another cleaning, and then clean thereafter 'as needed'.

Bill Hamell · June 28th, 2007, 02:33 PM

I'll add this run a test before you record anything important clean and test!! :-)

Bill

Jay Gladwell · June 29th, 2007, 06:48 AM

CAUTION: Only clean your heads when you have to!

Cleaning tapes use a very fine abrasive. Each time that tape is dragged across the heads it "polishes" them, removing not only the dirt but a fine layer of the heads themselves. Cleaning heads with tape is both constructive and destructive. Too much cleaning can ruin the heads.

Each cleaning should last 10 second at the most!

USE SPARINGLY!

Andy Joyce · July 1st, 2007, 03:31 PM

Yep, tapes can be quite different. Sony tape's lube has been the worst at gunking up the heads and causing the wonderful "venetian blinds" effect all too often.

I have had very good luck with Panasonic. I'm surprised that they don't have a DVX only chip in them, he he he.

Anyway, even the retail outlets around here have had great deals on Panasonic 8 packs (or was it a 10 pack?). That brand has my vote.

June 28th, 2007, 12:36 PM	#1
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Switching tape brands with XL2 I recently bought a used XL2 for which the original owner meticulously used only Canon tapes. I'm a believer in brand fidelity too, but sheesh, that's the worst possible brand he could have picked! I'm not knocking the quality, but those tapes are almost impossible to find and are shockingly expensive. Do I really have to have the camera professionally cleaned before switching brands, or can I just make the switch and hope for the best? There's no reason to use Canon tapes in Canon camcorders is there?

June 28th, 2007, 02:17 PM	#2
Bill Hamell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mystic Ct. Posts: 477	Just clean the heads and use the brand you want. Bill __________________ Cinematographers Bring Shadow To Light

June 28th, 2007, 02:33 PM	#4
Bill Hamell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mystic Ct. Posts: 477	I'll add this run a test before you record anything important clean and test!! :-) Bill __________________ Cinematographers Bring Shadow To Light

July 1st, 2007, 03:31 PM	#6
Andy Joyce Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 61	Yep, tapes can be quite different. Sony tape's lube has been the worst at gunking up the heads and causing the wonderful "venetian blinds" effect all too often. I have had very good luck with Panasonic. I'm surprised that they don't have a DVX only chip in them, he he he. Anyway, even the retail outlets around here have had great deals on Panasonic 8 packs (or was it a 10 pack?). That brand has my vote. __________________ ----------------------------------- XL2: power to go, quality to impress

June 28th, 2007, 02:24 PM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I concur, run a tape head cleaner through, and switch to your preferred brand. Check it after a few tapes run through to see if it needs another cleaning, and then clean thereafter 'as needed'.

June 29th, 2007, 06:48 AM	#5
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	CAUTION: Only clean your heads when you have to! Cleaning tapes use a very fine abrasive. Each time that tape is dragged across the heads it "polishes" them, removing not only the dirt but a fine layer of the heads themselves. Cleaning heads with tape is both constructive and destructive. Too much cleaning can ruin the heads. Each cleaning should last 10 second at the most! USE SPARINGLY!