tape error on a1
 

I seem to get a tape error just after about 40 minutes into a dv tape shooting hdv. it says please reinsert cassette. when i try to eject the mechanism is VERY slow. is there a problem with the mechanism? the camera has only been used for about 20 hours.

What kind of tape brand & Part#?

the one it has just done it with is panasonic ay-dv563pq

It'll be because the tape tension is TOO great and the camcorder therefore "concludes" that the tape is jammed/stuck or nearly jammed.

I would ditch that tape and use another. sony Premiums are good.

If it happens again, immediate best chance for a fix is "full fast forward to tape end, then full rewind to tape start, then go back to the correct point on tape and try to continue recording".

Take the battery off and......HIT IT!

it seems to be happening sometimes on my sony HDV tapes too...surely a problem with the camera?

Phil.
Our A1 did the exact same thing after about 2 tapes.

Sony replaced it, so I would send yours in if you can.

It's not the tapes as we have been playing and re using the same tapes it had problems with in the new A1 no problems. Sony Premium DV and HDV & Panasonic and Sony DVcam tapes all work fine in the new one and in our FX1.

Go figure...

Yes we tried the hit trick and head cleaners. Just use to get to about the 40 min mark and that was that...error.

thanks, guess I will be caling Sony support in the morning! They only give you a replacement if it takes longer than 10 days don't they?

There wouldn't be any DVCAM programming lurking around in the camera's internal software would there? That 40 minutes?? Is it always the exact same point?

I think there is a history of some weird stuff happening with the FX1 related to recording DVCAM when it is supposed to be unable to discussed somewhere else here?

Hi Bob,

That sounds interesting, i will do a search. I phoned Sony and they are coming to get my A1 on Friday for repair. Shame, got a nice gig in the Maldives next week that I would love to have used the a1 on with a nice underwater housing, will need to see if i can get one for my z1.

Wish it didn't have to go in for repair!!!