Heads Dirty, Use Cleaning Cassette at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders

Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders
Canon XL2 / XL1S / XL1 and GL2 / XM2 / GL1 / XM1.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 23rd, 2004, 02:11 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 162
Images: 3
Heads Dirty, Use Cleaning Cassette

Got my XL2 and though I hooked it up to an external monitor and tried the different settings didnt do any recording. About three days later I used it on a shoot, was the first tape in the camera. After shooting for about ten mins got the warning " Heads Dirty, Use Cleaning Cassette ". On playback the first 30 seconds of the tape had that notorious XL stripping ( is there a word for that ? the thick lines of alternate video ). The rest of the tape looked great but just want to know what gives ? Doesn't seem right for a brand new camera to need its heads cleaned. Anyone else get this ? Should I be concerned ? Should I try to bring it back and swap it with another ?

Love some feedback here.

- Ray
__________________
www.undergroundplanet.com
Raymond Schlogel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 03:33 AM   #2
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 6,117
Images: 1
Hi Raymond,

Welcome to DV INFO. This phenomenon has been reported with other brand new video cameras as well. Yours is the first report I have seen of an XL2 doing this. The good news is that running a head cleaning cassette seems to get rid of the problem.

My own Pana 953 did this on the second tape. I too thought it was much too early for this to happen. Ran a cleaing cassette and its been a happy camera ever since.

Also, in case you weren't aware, it's considered bad practice to switch brands of tape. So, whatever brand your first tape is, try to stick with it. There are differences in the tape formulations between various manufacturers that when mixed, can gum up the heads.

regards,

=gb=
Greg Boston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 07:15 AM   #3
Obstreperous Rex
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 27,366
Images: 513
Always, always, always run a head cleaning cassette, the very first thing with *any* new camcorder.

This oughta be a law.
__________________
CH

Search DV Info Net | 20 years of DVi | ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!
Chris Hurd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 09:07 AM   #4
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 6,117
Images: 1
Really Chris? I've not heard that suggestion before. What's the theory behind it? Is it cause you have no idea what brand of tape the factory used for testing?

Rest assured, I'm not challenging you on this. I feel you must know something I don't and I hope you'll share it with us.

regards,

=gb=
Greg Boston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 10:33 AM   #5
Obstreperous Rex
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 27,366
Images: 513
Well, basically the number-one problem that keeps coming up with any new camcorder is this particular problem. Not every cam will have it, but running a head cleaner before that first tape goes in seems to eliminate it before it happens, and it doesn't hurt anything otherwise. So that's why I always say that.

I've seen this issue so often, it just became sort of my adopted slogan. That's where it comes from, though... so many previous complaints of the same type, regardless which camcorder it is.

(Hey, a Texan thread! How'bout that.)
__________________
CH

Search DV Info Net | 20 years of DVi | ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!
Chris Hurd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 11:05 AM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Posts: 570
I've heard from one seller head cleaning tapes could potentially dammage the heads. Any truth to that at all?
David Lach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 12:52 PM   #7
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 6,117
Images: 1
David,

They are slightly abrasive soooo....if you overuse them, that is a potential possibility. Just as some people brush their teeth too often and actually wear down the enamel from excessive abrasion.

Best bet is to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on frequency of head cleaning.

Chris,

Ok, so you're basically trying to 'head em off at the pass' in Texan talk. Clean immediately=No problem later. Gotcha. ;-)


=gb=
Greg Boston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 01:02 PM   #8
Trustee
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Vulcan
Posts: 1,564
ah man david ya ruin the texan thread! YEeee haw!

heh heh heh. i got the spirit of texan even though i don't live there.

let's say if my cam was using TDK tapes. can i do a head clean and THEN switch brands to sony tapes? i know it's not preferable but is this possible with damaging somn? i know the lubricants and all are different but i haven't used the TDK tapes much.
__________________
bow wow wow
Yi Fong Yu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 01:06 PM   #9
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DFW area, TX
Posts: 6,117
Images: 1
Yi,

I use TDK in my xl-1 and xl-2. I started with Sony in my 953 so that's what I use in it. I've heard that Sony's tapes are the LEAST compatible with other brands so I would proceed with caution there.


=gb=
Greg Boston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 01:15 PM   #10
Obstreperous Rex
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 27,366
Images: 513
Choose one brand and stick with it. Clean between brands if you must switch back & forth.
__________________
CH

Search DV Info Net | 20 years of DVi | ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!
Chris Hurd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 03:18 PM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Posts: 570
Brian from Zotz Digital told me they only sell and recommand the Panasonic DV tapes since it's the only brand that does not use oil based lubricant. I couldn't say why this is better though, I'm fairly new to the DV world. My last video cam was an old CCD-VX3 Sony Hi8. Anybody has more info on this?
David Lach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 23rd, 2004, 03:35 PM   #12
Obstreperous Rex
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 27,366
Images: 513
We have an entire forum about it -- "The Long Black Line" on the main forum index page.
__________________
CH

Search DV Info Net | 20 years of DVi | ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!
Chris Hurd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 5th, 2004, 01:09 PM   #13
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 37
how long should i run the cleaning tape for...
Kevin Chao is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 5th, 2004, 01:17 PM   #14
Retired DV Info Net Almunus
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,943
<<<-- Originally posted by Kevin Chao : how long should i run the cleaning tape for... -->>>

Read and carefully follow the instructions on the tape.
__________________
Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission.

Hey, you don't have enough stuff!
Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really!

See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com
Ken Tanaka is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 5th, 2004, 01:23 PM   #15
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 37
i would... but the instructions are in japanese... lol... i got it when i ordered my DSR-11...

and when you run it... do you press record... or do you press play on VTR mode?

thanks in advance...
Kevin Chao is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:29 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network