Tape Path Alignment issue
 

Getting complaints from an editor that one of my cameras (and I know which one) has a problem. The image is broken up and he says it won't track properly. He has to put the tape in another deck (different than the deck he usually uses) to be able to capture the footage. It's an early A1 and I never have problems with my 2nd A1.

I realize this explanation is a little fuzzy, however, I thought I remember seeing posts about Canon cameras and maybe.....Sony decks etc.. and tracking problems.

Any links?
thx

This fairly common and can crop up pretty quickly. Canon and Sony both can have this problem. The data recorded to tape is not quite aligned with the deck which is trying to read it so there are playback errors which are not being compensated for. Usually the better the playback deck the more likely the editor won't have problems. Worth sending in the camera to see if something in the tape path has worn and to readjust it so its alignment is corrected. The manufacturers should have figured out a way to have a tracking adjustment to deal with playback issues like this. Make sure you check other tapes from your camera because after it is adjusted it probably won't playback the tapes it recorded with the problem correctly either.

If the heads are out of alignment on the camera that recorded the footage, then most likely it won't play back on anything except that camera. Make sure you get the tape back and dub it off to a second unit before sending the first camera in for adjustment. If you have the camera adjusted before doing that, then the tape won't play on it when you get the camera back.

Dave, did you run the cleaner tape through your suspect A1, give it a good pass with a new one? Some cleaner tapes say you can use them twice, but that's also suspect IMO.

If you only use them when the heads and guides are very dirty, using them again will just deposit some of the collected gunk back onto the tape guides....IMO.

But if that editor has to put your suspect tape in another deck to get it to track Ok, wouldn't the problem be with his first playback deck?

But if you're like me, I'd get the tape back and follow Bills advice, going head to head with editors never worked for me :)

Cheers.

yeh, these things are weird but when these issues come up, it's always with the same camera.
Problem is, Canon wants a flat $500.00 to go through the camera.