Defective GL2? at DVinfo.net

Chris Wright · March 29th, 2004, 06:26 PM

Today, my GL2 finally arrived... and now I have to send it in for repair!

The unit was brand new, but somehow managed to have dirty heads already. After about 10 seconds of recording, I got the error message, and sure enough, the resulting video is covered in thick grey lines. The tapes I used were not brand new but work just fine in my other two cameras.

Has anyone else had this problem?!

Rob Wilson · March 29th, 2004, 07:26 PM

Chris,

Don't think it's THAT uncommon to have to clean the heads shortly after receiving a new cam. I'd use a new cleaning tape, follow the recommend procedures and give it another shot before sending it off anywhere.

Jean-Philippe Archibald · March 29th, 2004, 07:35 PM

And to keep your heads clean, always use a new tape. Don't try to record on a used one.

Frank Ladner · March 30th, 2004, 07:59 PM

Chris: The same scenario with me and my GL2. I got the big red message after only recording for a short time. After research on this I found out that a lot of people think it's programmed to do that at the start. I don't know that I agree with that, but I can tell you that I don't run a cleaner until I see evidence on the recording, and with my GL2, I haven't needed to. It has been capturing perfectly since I first got it, even after that message.

,Frank

Chris Wright · March 30th, 2004, 09:27 PM

My camera actually did affect the recorded image when it said it had dirty heads. However, after an hour or so the camera returned to normal operation, no errors and no problems recording and playing back tapes. This was shortly after I put in a DV tape that I had blacked, rather than one I had recorded on. Anyway, I blame the tapes, because all of them have been recorded way too many times and need to be replaced. I'll go buy some new tapes and hope all goes well :)

Frank Ladner · March 31st, 2004, 07:35 AM

Chris: That would be good. Also, I'm pretty sure you already know, but I want to mention to stay with the same brand. (Although not as easy to find as the Panasonic and Sony tapes, I use Fuji.)

Alan McCormick · March 31st, 2004, 09:08 AM

Frank,

after reading the problems with different tapes etc I found a good supplier here in the UK for the Fuji and have decided to stick to that make. Doubt it would be cost effective for you though.
If you want there web site let me know.

Darko Flajpan · April 2nd, 2004, 03:04 PM

I totally agree with You. I am also using only Fuji tapes and no problems at all (knock,knock).

Dave Largent · April 5th, 2004, 07:14 PM

I've had this message with new cameras, too.
Wonder what's up.

Frank Ladner · April 6th, 2004, 06:30 AM

Alan: Fortunately, there's a place nearby that sells Fuji tapes. Up until I found out about that, I was ordering from B&H. Thanks for the info, though.

Michael Connor · April 16th, 2004, 05:17 PM

snap, i got that message when my camera was new too. I ignored it and it went away. Fortunatley in my case there was no visible evidence of dirty heads on playback. However i did read up in the manual and was about to buy a head cleaning tape and follow cannons recomendation for cleaning the heads after around 20 hours use. Rather than grey areas cannon say in the manual that dirty heads cause mosaic like colour noise or a blue screen with message. However someone else suggested that most manufacturers would like us to use them cleaning tapes every 20 hours as they ware down the heads and force us into buying a new machine or paying them for new heads. And his advice was to refrain from head cleaning until it is absolutely nessecary.

Steve Olds · April 18th, 2004, 07:05 AM

Not every time but almost every time I put in a new tape I get the same message. "DIRTY HEADS" I usally run the cleaner one time for 5 secs. I wonder how my old analog Sony worked good for so many years? I did not baby it like my Canon. My boys did not get treated as good as my Canon GL2 does. By the way my wife still uses that old Sony and takes great footage yet.

Steve

Frank Ladner · April 19th, 2004, 01:19 PM

Steve: I have gotten this message a few times as well, but have never had evidence (blocky footage, etc) of dirty heads. I say to only clean it when that happens, since the head cleaning cassette is abrasive to the heads.

Hope this helps!

,Frank

Bob Harotunian · April 19th, 2004, 06:35 PM

We have been using 2 GL2s professionally for 2 years. On one occasion, one camera reported the dreaded dirty heads message. Took the tape out, put it back in and never saw that message again. I questioned a Canon technician about that incident and he said that just a small particle of dirt or even a hair could trigger that error message.

It's been mentioned a thousand times but always use new tapes for important recordings, ALWAYS stick with one quality brand tape and try to avoid using those tape cleaners. Just my 2 cents.

Bob

March 29th, 2004, 06:26 PM	#1
Chris Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lee's Summit, Missouri Posts: 146	Defective GL2!! Today, my GL2 finally arrived... and now I have to send it in for repair! The unit was brand new, but somehow managed to have dirty heads already. After about 10 seconds of recording, I got the error message, and sure enough, the resulting video is covered in thick grey lines. The tapes I used were not brand new but work just fine in my other two cameras. Has anyone else had this problem?!

March 29th, 2004, 07:35 PM	#3
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	And to keep your heads clean, always use a new tape. Don't try to record on a used one. __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

March 31st, 2004, 09:08 AM	#7
Alan McCormick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Chatham, UK Posts: 282	Fuji Tapes Frank, after reading the problems with different tapes etc I found a good supplier here in the UK for the Fuji and have decided to stick to that make. Doubt it would be cost effective for you though. If you want there web site let me know. __________________ Alan McC

April 16th, 2004, 05:17 PM	#11
Michael Connor Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Durham, England Posts: 138	snap, i got that message when my camera was new too. I ignored it and it went away. Fortunatley in my case there was no visible evidence of dirty heads on playback. However i did read up in the manual and was about to buy a head cleaning tape and follow cannons recomendation for cleaning the heads after around 20 hours use. Rather than grey areas cannon say in the manual that dirty heads cause mosaic like colour noise or a blue screen with message. However someone else suggested that most manufacturers would like us to use them cleaning tapes every 20 hours as they ware down the heads and force us into buying a new machine or paying them for new heads. And his advice was to refrain from head cleaning until it is absolutely nessecary. __________________ StMichael

March 29th, 2004, 07:26 PM	#2
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Chris, Don't think it's THAT uncommon to have to clean the heads shortly after receiving a new cam. I'd use a new cleaning tape, follow the recommend procedures and give it another shot before sending it off anywhere.

March 30th, 2004, 07:59 PM	#4
Frank Ladner Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 453	Chris: The same scenario with me and my GL2. I got the big red message after only recording for a short time. After research on this I found out that a lot of people think it's programmed to do that at the start. I don't know that I agree with that, but I can tell you that I don't run a cleaner until I see evidence on the recording, and with my GL2, I haven't needed to. It has been capturing perfectly since I first got it, even after that message. ,Frank

March 30th, 2004, 09:27 PM	#5
Chris Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lee's Summit, Missouri Posts: 146	My camera actually did affect the recorded image when it said it had dirty heads. However, after an hour or so the camera returned to normal operation, no errors and no problems recording and playing back tapes. This was shortly after I put in a DV tape that I had blacked, rather than one I had recorded on. Anyway, I blame the tapes, because all of them have been recorded way too many times and need to be replaced. I'll go buy some new tapes and hope all goes well :)

March 31st, 2004, 07:35 AM	#6
Frank Ladner Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 453	Chris: That would be good. Also, I'm pretty sure you already know, but I want to mention to stay with the same brand. (Although not as easy to find as the Panasonic and Sony tapes, I use Fuji.)

April 2nd, 2004, 03:04 PM	#8
Darko Flajpan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bjelovar, Croatia Posts: 153	I totally agree with You. I am also using only Fuji tapes and no problems at all (knock,knock).

April 5th, 2004, 07:14 PM	#9
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	I've had this message with new cameras, too. Wonder what's up.

April 6th, 2004, 06:30 AM	#10
Frank Ladner Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 453	Alan: Fortunately, there's a place nearby that sells Fuji tapes. Up until I found out about that, I was ordering from B&H. Thanks for the info, though.

April 18th, 2004, 07:05 AM	#12
Steve Olds Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rolla, Mo Posts: 116	Not every time but almost every time I put in a new tape I get the same message. "DIRTY HEADS" I usally run the cleaner one time for 5 secs. I wonder how my old analog Sony worked good for so many years? I did not baby it like my Canon. My boys did not get treated as good as my Canon GL2 does. By the way my wife still uses that old Sony and takes great footage yet. Steve

April 19th, 2004, 01:19 PM	#13
Frank Ladner Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Poplarville, MS Posts: 453	Steve: I have gotten this message a few times as well, but have never had evidence (blocky footage, etc) of dirty heads. I say to only clean it when that happens, since the head cleaning cassette is abrasive to the heads. Hope this helps! ,Frank

April 19th, 2004, 06:35 PM	#14
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	We have been using 2 GL2s professionally for 2 years. On one occasion, one camera reported the dreaded dirty heads message. Took the tape out, put it back in and never saw that message again. I questioned a Canon technician about that incident and he said that just a small particle of dirt or even a hair could trigger that error message. It's been mentioned a thousand times but always use new tapes for important recordings, ALWAYS stick with one quality brand tape and try to avoid using those tape cleaners. Just my 2 cents. Bob