Ha! My look-at-the-box technique was accurate.:)

Some crack detectives, we are.

I Ran the cleaning tape just before I started to shoot today and I still Got more color blocks I used a brand new sony tape. This is getting hopeless. Before i was using panasonic tapes I switched to sony and the problem still there.

Run the cleaning tape 1 more time; and make sure your tape transport isn't dusty or dirty. Also, let us know things like:
-how often the artifacts are lasting- a frame? Few frames? Half-second or more?
-if you are shooting HDV or DV.
-if you are using the $3 Sony tapes or the $15 Sony tapes

Just eliminate as many variables as you can.

They last a Frame (one second or less It's really fast), I was shooting dv with 3 dollard tapes.

thanks

Alain, until you get to the bottom of the problem (heads checked, etc.) since these look like DV dropouts & only last a frame or so... if it's footage that can't be replaced & you have to use it... export & fix the frames in Photoshop, then import back to cover :) No one would be the wiser.

Bill

Thanks, I will try to use more expensive tapes if the issue continues I will send my camera to Canon for service.

Until recently, I have solely used Canon HDVM-E63PR tapes – without any serious dropout issues. As these tapes are very expensive – and difficult to find – I bought 12 of the Sony DVM63 tapes two weeks ago. (As recommended on this forum, I used a cleaning tape before switching tape brand.)

Immediately after starting using the Sony tapes, I got serious dropout problems. For instance – trying to capture one of my tapes via FW, was splitting my 50 minutes shot in 25 pieces, each with several seconds missing in between. (I first believed it could be a FireWire problem, and disconnected the camera, trying to playback the tape without capturing. The dropouts was visible on the LCD as well, starting with the «50i» symbol disappearing.)

Repeating the cleaning process made things a little better, but after capturing one or two more tapes, the problem was back. It seemed like the video head was clogging up very fast.

Due to my projects deadline, the only solution was to start reusing my old Canon tapes. I ran the cleaning tape once more, and started over. Everything was immediately much better – maybe one small dropout every second tape or so.

(All the recording sessions and capturing mentioned are continuous shots, about 50 min. of length).

I have been recommended to try the Panasonic HDV tapes and have ordered some of these. (They are one third the price of Canon HDV tapes, and half the price of the Sonys, so i'm crossing my fingers...)

:-)

Bw
Sven

I have not had any drop out issues with the sony tapes, it's just the colors blocks.

In the SD world, those ARE dropouts. Of course you never commented on whether you're shooting SD or HDV. HDV dropouts behave very differently than SD, being that there may be a 15 frame or longer freeze. But those, as I've said before, look exactly like they would with SD.

Bill

Yeap, I'm shooting SD. The strange thing is that vegas has not detected any drop out issue during captured.