problems with Canon at DVinfo.net

Thomas OHara · May 14th, 2005, 03:18 PM

I'm not super experienced with lots of cameras, but hear me out. my brother owns a canon zr-50, and a JVC gy-dv500 (i know, huge difference). We have had sooo many problems with the zr-50, right now the biggest one is I can't seem to go a half hour without it wanting me to "REMOVE TAPE". that annoying beeping sound is driving me insane! For a school project we rented a canon GL2 from our school, because the JVC is in the repair shop. Well, i don't know if I just have bad luck, or if Canons really suck because I'm having loads of problems with both Canons. The GL2 has eaten 3 of our tapes, and the zr-50 is just pissing me off to the point where i want to chuck it out the window!

so i guess my question is = Are all Canons tape loading mechanisms this bad? And if not, am I doing something wrong? I have a deadline approaching quickly and I really need to figure something out.

missing the JVC badly,
TOM

Dan Mumford · May 14th, 2005, 03:26 PM

Using a camcorder that has been used by numerous people who don't own said camcorder, usually means it could use some maintenance. Get a tape head cleaner and run through the camcorders, (both Canons) following manufacturer's instructions. I've owned two Canons (GL1 and currently an XL2) and can vouch for the quality of their equipment, when properly maintained. Hope this helps.

Dan

John Sandel · May 14th, 2005, 08:13 PM

Thomas, school and other institutional equipment are not very good indicators of a brand's reliability. My Canon tape drives chug long just fine, after thousands of hours.

Dylan Couper · May 14th, 2005, 11:26 PM

I have 7 Canon cameras, video and still. Never had a problem with a single one, that wasn't my fault (like switching tapes and not cleaning the heads).

Thomas OHara · May 15th, 2005, 02:11 AM

thx for the replies, I bought a cleaner tape and i hope it does the trick!

Cory Moorehead · May 15th, 2005, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas OHara

thx for the replies, I bought a cleaner tape and i hope it does the trick!

Check out the camcorderinfo.com Canon Forums...alot of users are having problems with the ZR series cameras. Though i had 2 and they worked flawlessly.

Chris Hurd · May 15th, 2005, 10:47 AM

The ZR series is at the bottom of the camcorder food chain. The 50 model is now three generations old. If this particular camcorder has never been sent in to Canon service even once for a professional cleaning, then it's just asking for trouble. A head cleaning cassette is only a temporary fix. These are consumer items... it might be time to get a new one, and if you do, be sure to send it in for a professional cleaning at least once per year.

Thomas OHara · May 15th, 2005, 11:53 AM

yeah, i know it's a cheap camera. I've found that if I wind the tape tightly before i put the cassette in, it doesn't give me the "remove tape" error. It usually only gives me trouble on playback, like if I rewind. The highspeed rewind usually messes it up, so I just use the slower rewind.

for instance, it was recording fine when i was doing the school project, then some of the girls wanted to see what the shot looked like. So, I tried to rewind it, but "remove tape" error flashed it's ugly head. So I guess as long as I don't rewind too often, i'll be ok. I think I've mastered this thing. =)

Lee Faulkner · May 22nd, 2005, 02:15 PM

My facility (educational) runs 4 Canon XL-1s, 4 GL-2 and 2 GL-1's.

Thay are lent to students 7 days a week 10 months of the year.

I can too can vouch for their build quality and tape handling reliability.

In 6 years we have never had a tape stick or munch in these cameras. The GL-1's are now 5 years old and never needed new heads or anything.

However the heads are cleaned every month, and the units religiously returned to Canon for a full service annually. Tapes are fast forwarded and rewound (in camera) before shooting (if I have any say) and we *never* employ LP mode.

With proof of maintainence, the cameras hold their value remarkably well. I traded our 4 original XL1's (4 years old) for the XL-1's two years ago and recieved almost 50% of the original XL1 price for them!

Not bad methinks.

Lee

May 14th, 2005, 03:18 PM	#1
Thomas OHara Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 37	problems with Canon I'm not super experienced with lots of cameras, but hear me out. my brother owns a canon zr-50, and a JVC gy-dv500 (i know, huge difference). We have had sooo many problems with the zr-50, right now the biggest one is I can't seem to go a half hour without it wanting me to "REMOVE TAPE". that annoying beeping sound is driving me insane! For a school project we rented a canon GL2 from our school, because the JVC is in the repair shop. Well, i don't know if I just have bad luck, or if Canons really suck because I'm having loads of problems with both Canons. The GL2 has eaten 3 of our tapes, and the zr-50 is just pissing me off to the point where i want to chuck it out the window! so i guess my question is = Are all Canons tape loading mechanisms this bad? And if not, am I doing something wrong? I have a deadline approaching quickly and I really need to figure something out. missing the JVC badly, TOM

May 14th, 2005, 03:26 PM	#2
Dan Mumford Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Posts: 99	Using a camcorder that has been used by numerous people who don't own said camcorder, usually means it could use some maintenance. Get a tape head cleaner and run through the camcorders, (both Canons) following manufacturer's instructions. I've owned two Canons (GL1 and currently an XL2) and can vouch for the quality of their equipment, when properly maintained. Hope this helps. Dan __________________ Wow! That thing must have cost an arm and a leg! - - - It did! I used to have three of each.

May 14th, 2005, 08:13 PM	#3
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	"when properly maintained" Thomas, school and other institutional equipment are not very good indicators of a brand's reliability. My Canon tape drives chug long just fine, after thousands of hours. Last edited by John Sandel; May 14th, 2005 at 11:46 PM.

May 14th, 2005, 11:26 PM	#4
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I have 7 Canon cameras, video and still. Never had a problem with a single one, that wasn't my fault (like switching tapes and not cleaning the heads). __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 15th, 2005, 10:47 AM	#7
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	The ZR series is at the bottom of the camcorder food chain. The 50 model is now three generations old. If this particular camcorder has never been sent in to Canon service even once for a professional cleaning, then it's just asking for trouble. A head cleaning cassette is only a temporary fix. These are consumer items... it might be time to get a new one, and if you do, be sure to send it in for a professional cleaning at least once per year. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 15th, 2005, 02:11 AM	#5
Thomas OHara Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 37	thx for the replies, I bought a cleaner tape and i hope it does the trick!

May 15th, 2005, 11:53 AM	#8
Thomas OHara Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 37	yeah, i know it's a cheap camera. I've found that if I wind the tape tightly before i put the cassette in, it doesn't give me the "remove tape" error. It usually only gives me trouble on playback, like if I rewind. The highspeed rewind usually messes it up, so I just use the slower rewind. for instance, it was recording fine when i was doing the school project, then some of the girls wanted to see what the shot looked like. So, I tried to rewind it, but "remove tape" error flashed it's ugly head. So I guess as long as I don't rewind too often, i'll be ok. I think I've mastered this thing. =)

May 22nd, 2005, 02:15 PM	#9
Lee Faulkner Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 35	My facility (educational) runs 4 Canon XL-1s, 4 GL-2 and 2 GL-1's. Thay are lent to students 7 days a week 10 months of the year. I can too can vouch for their build quality and tape handling reliability. In 6 years we have never had a tape stick or munch in these cameras. The GL-1's are now 5 years old and never needed new heads or anything. However the heads are cleaned every month, and the units religiously returned to Canon for a full service annually. Tapes are fast forwarded and rewound (in camera) before shooting (if I have any say) and we never employ LP mode. With proof of maintainence, the cameras hold their value remarkably well. I traded our 4 original XL1's (4 years old) for the XL-1's two years ago and recieved almost 50% of the original XL1 price for them! Not bad methinks. Lee