I have two A-1's I've shot five weddings with them over the past two months. The second cam is a rear static shot. After reviewing the footage on that camera I've noticed (about 20 min into the footage) their is a time code break for three seconds, the video looks as if you paused the cameras recording and then started it back up a second later, no tape fallout or anything, I've had this happen twice now, (A big headache when your out of sync after that point)..I'm shooting in the HDV mode with Panasonic M63MQ tapes. Anyone with this problem...Gary

Actually it sounds like a tape glitch or dropout. Since HDV uses a 15-frame Group Of Pictures, a single hit will wipe out half a second... two in quick succession will take out 30 frames, or a full second.

You might consider using a direct-to-edit recording solution such as the FireStore FS-C, it gives you dual recording (simultaneous to tape, for archive / backup, and to disk, for edit-ready ingest without capture and long recording times).

yes, that's drop out. timecode across all dv can be a wicked bitch.
i actually carry a flash and set it off at calculated times during multicam shoots as reference points in case of dropout.

Gary, I use the same tapes as you and have also experienced this problem. Out of about 40 hours of footage I'd say it happened about 3 or 4 times.

Thanks guys, Steve, do you think it's the camera or tape, (i've used Sony excellence tape for my old school GL-1's for eight yrs and never had this problem). This morning I've recorded two one hr tests, no problems. So just live with it, (don't want to), switch tapes to sony, or is it in the camera...Gary, Thanks again for help..

Haven't a clue, Gary. I hate to switch tapes at this point. If it becomes a big issue, I might consider going direct to a firestore solution. So far, though, it hasn't been a big problem.

Steve,I feel a little better....if it's more on the tape side and not the camera. would a tape head cleaner help, or has anyone had this problem with Pana, and then switched to Sony to solve???...

There's probably a million reasons why something like this could happen, dust, etc. It's just really hard to know. I've used these Panasonic tapes for about 5 years and have had minimal problems with them. I've definitely encountered the odd dropout on my DVX but it never became a big problem.

If it continues, I would switch tape brands as a first course of action. If it continues with the new tapes, have it looked at by Canon. If you still can't get anything resolved at that point, I would look into getting a firestore.

As a last resort, I would run around the altar six times backwards at midnight during a blue moon.

I always do the runaround first, which usually fixes everything..especially being a Catholic altar boy in the early 60's...After only 5 hrs on the pana tapes, if you were me would you consider a switch to Sony at this point..Gary

No, I'd stick to the Panasonic, there maybe bigger repercussions switching tape brands.

oddly, i've only expereinced dropout on sony hdv tapes.
premium and excellence have been fine.

My last thought, is that since I own two cameras bought at the same time (B&H) and only one of the cameras is showing this problem, is it leaning towards the camera (or to early to tell)...if so is a replacement camera possible... what do you thind B&H would say..Gary

The question is still the same. It may be the tape you are using. If it's a bad tape, the problem is not going to show up in your other camera. I don't think B&H is going to replace the camera, I think they'll recommend you have a Canon service technician look at it.

You might want to have a chat with a Canon rep if you need more peace of mind.

if you did two 60 min tests with no error, it's not the cam.
further, i dont think its even the brand.. it was probably just THAT tape
or something related to that tape at the time...such as condensation or dust upon tape change.

Yeah, I agree...

Thanks again Eric, and Steve, Just did a third hour and no problems...!!..another non related question. When capturing a still to the memory card the res is higher than a capture from the tape at a later time, correct.???

I am sure that most cameras have run a tape to be tested in factory. In that case maybe they used a different tape with different tape lubricant. That could cause your tape to clog up your camera.

Did you run the tape cleaner before you used the camera? Did you run a full tape and checked it before doing a paying job?

That was always recommended with DV cameras. Did I do it? Of course not.

Another question. Have you ran a tape cleaner after you had a drop out?

I once had a tape record the same image for a half hour. The good thing is that I was also using a switcher and recording to another tape.

I have another question.

There is a new thread with basically the same problem.

Did you use the Canon tape that comes included with the camera?

It seems like you get this drop out after running Panasonic tapes after a while. I have used Panasonic tapes for over 10 years so I know it is not a bad tape. Knowing that mixing tapes causes this problems I have to assume that the tapes that Canon used are not compatible with Panasonic.

I have only ran 2 tapes on my camera so I am going to run to play the cleaning tape before my camera clogs up in the middle of a job.

i started another thread with what might be disimilar problem..but will give it a shot here. i use the new PANASONIC AY-DVM63AMQ MASTER MINIDV TAPES and have good success, until the seventh tape. saw a 'clean head' warning light, although the camera was recording (parent on hummingbird nest). rewound tape to see if it could be replayed...and low and behold the replay was stuck, then stuttered, then played, then skipped. couldnt believe it. stuck in another new tape and everything was fine...no 'clean tape heads' message and replay was fine. checked the tape out with glazers camera in seattle, and they had the same problem, their canon xh a1 could not replay the mid section of the tape, where i had the error message. the first 25 minutes could be played back, after that disaster with the stuttering, then blue screen. it recorded, but will not play back mid tape. i popped in another pan. amq and everything worked fine. i only use panasonic tapes, did not cross over to any other brand. i doubt this is a drop out? or a tape mechanism problem?

just a warning, carry extra tapes. i have used panasonic for years and really am frustrated with the first cassette problem. and it has very hard to get footage. any suggestions on what to do? bill

Thanks for all of the info. In the past 8 yrs. I've shot with a sony DSR-300 and two GL-1's never had any problems, tape nor cameras. The canons were used in temps of 115 here in Arizona for outdoor weddings and not a problem, used only Sony Excellence tapes, with the new canons, I did a ten minute test on cam one with the tape that came with the camera but only ran the pana 63MQ's with the camera that had the problems. Over the past two days I ran four new Pana tapes with zero dropouts or whatever. So for now I feel pretty good about things. No new news is good news, thanks all again. Gary