Which Head Cleaning Tape

[Carl Adams]

I have just recently purchased a HVR-Z1E which has a Sony DVM4CLD head cleaning tape with it. Now I am not sure if this is the apropriate tape for this camcorder.

When I had my Sony HVR-A1E I remember reading somwhere that the Sony DVM12CLD was the apropriate tape for that camcorder. This happened to be the more expensive cleaning tape! and it worked just fine.
I can not find any info on the HVR-Z1E and which head cleaning tape to use. All my searches mostly refer to the newer model Z's.

Does anyone know which Sony Head Cleaning Tape I should use?

What's the differance between the 4 and the 12? is it possibly just the length of tape?
any help on this would be apreciated please.

And if we can start a thread on head cleaning maybe it could be of interest to people. How often should we clean the heads, does it put extra wear and tear on the heads each time we clean them. I heard some head cleaning tapes can be abrasive! what sort of liquids do they have on them, is it just some form of alchahol based cleaning solution or are they dry.

Ok, so my main question is Which Sony Head Cleaning Tape Should I use on my Z1 is it the DVM4CLD or the DVM12CLD?

Thanks (:-})

[Adam Gold]

Originally Posted by Carl Adams

What's the difference between the 4 and the 12? is it possibly just the length of tape?

I'm pretty sure that's it.

Originally Posted by Carl Adams

And if we can start a thread on head cleaning maybe it could be of interest to people.

Lots of posts on this already in the Tape forum.

Originally Posted by Carl Adams

How often should we clean the heads

According to the white paper just published by Sony (and linked to in the Tape forums), about every 50 hours.

Originally Posted by Carl Adams

does it put extra wear and tear on the heads each time we clean them

Yes, a little, so it's important to follow the directions.

Originally Posted by Carl Adams

I heard some head cleaning tapes can be abrasive!

Yes, that's how they work.

Originally Posted by Carl Adams

what sort of liquids do they have on them, is it just some form of alcohol based cleaning solution or are they dry.

They're dry.

Originally Posted by Carl Adams

Ok, so my main question is Which Sony Head Cleaning Tape Should I use on my Z1 is it the DVM4CLD or the DVM12CLD?

Whatever came with your cam will be fine.

[Carl Adams]

Thanks for the reply Adam,

So basically the 4 or 12 in the DVM CLD is the running time of tape. And the Sony cleaning tapes are dry with abrasive qualities, so should not be used more than is necessary.

Did not know there was a tape forum, I shall go check that out now!

Many Thanks (:-})