View Full Version : Head cleaning for XH-A1


Guy Shaddock
May 30th, 2008, 07:55 AM
I just purchased an XH-A1. I did quite a bit of research on the camera before I bought it but never really read anything about clogged heads. I own a Panasonic DVC 80 and have had a couple of incidents with clogged heads that were easily solved with a tape head cleaner. I have only ever used Panasonic Pro tapes in it.
I have also owned an Optura Pi for many years, run many different types of tapes through it and oddly never had a head clog.
Was I just lucky with the Pi? Is there a good brand of tape for the new XH-A1...has anyone had problems with clogged heads with this camera? If so what type of head cleaner should I buy?

Steve Siegel
May 30th, 2008, 04:26 PM
I'm not sure what you mean by "clogged" head. Do you mean dirty head? The XL H1 heads will get dirty if you shoot for a couple of days in windy, dusty country, and may require multiple passes with a cleaning head (any brand), but no permanent problems. It is no worse than any of the previous XL camcorders. Some duct tape to seal the tape compartment door helps, too.