Slightly off-topic but...
 

I have 1 VX2000 & 2 VX2100s. On the advice of others on various forums, I bought a cheapie "pocket-sized" camera (DCR-HC26) to use for capturing into my computers, to keep the run time off the more expensive machines.
After just over one year, this little beast (nicknamed "Stewie") is creating one- and two-frame audio dropouts in random places (recapture same footage proves the randomness).
Can't say for sure how many hours Stewie has on it, but I'm guessing 250 recording hours and another 200 or more playback hours. Probably had over 500 tape load operations (dance festivals - upwards of 100 tapes per festival..., plus numerous other events, weddings, etc)
I've read some threads about expected head life on VX's, and Mike Rhemus mentioned that the sub-sub-miniature marvels are the smallest of all (by which I think he meant their expected head life is the shortest of all models).
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?...6&postcount=22
So my questions are:
a) is Stewie worth servicing or is it time to replace him? (Bearing in mind the head hours I cited above, the replacement cost, and likely servicing cost) - I think I know the answer to this one...
b) is another "stewie" the best way to keep head wear off the "real" cameras? (I'm a little concerned about cheap cameras being less kind to tapes during re-wind and load operations). If not, what other options should I consider?

Just clean the capstan with chamois sticks and cleaner and then run a head cleaner. This method work beautifully. Make sure not to use cotton Qtips.


See this tute: http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/trouble/capclean.html