Does the 200 like DV mode?
 

I'm getting use to my new 200 and shot a couple of things early on in Dv mode using brand new Sony DVM stock, and both times in the first 2-4 minutes, I'm getting what looks like bad head clog and then it clears up.

I noticed something in the manual about rolling a couple of minutes off in the front, but dang this scares the you know what now having to worry if I got enough preroll going.

Is this a normal kind of thing? Does using the HDV tape stock ( which I've got, just didn't want to use it on a regular DV shoot) reduce these 'issues'

I've shot plenty of straight DV without any issues.
It might be a tape stock issue. Are you using Sony HDV tape as well?
Changing brands can cause head clogs. The beginning of a tape is always a bit risky (another reason to run bars and black, which you can do automatically with the camera with a cute shortcut).
Clean the heads and maybe use a different type of tape. The tape can be even more of an issue with HDV.

[QUOTE=Sean Adair;815681]
Changing brands can cause head clogs.

Hi John,

Changing brands of stock should always be done with a head cleaning tape as the change in formula will cause corruption 9 times out of ten.

I have found the Panasonic pro stock to be the best for the JVC cameras from the 101 up to the 251. It is slightly cheaper than the JVC stock also.

Allan

thanks Sean & Allan.
I guess the reason I'm a tad concerned is 1) I've shot a ton of this same tape stock on the DSR-300 / PD-150, & 170 and haven't seen an issue like this before. and 2) the 200 had roughly 5 minutes of time on the heads before the first tape I had an issue with.

Hello i used panasonic tapes on my Canon XL1S/ Sony FX1/ JVC HD110U
When i was using Tape on MY 110 only shoot tape less now

i used Panasonic AY-DVM60EJ tapes for DV/HDV NEVER had a problem
on any of my cameras, In DV/HDV mode Dv only XL1S

Joe