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-   -   Brand new XL2- Major Digital Artifacting? (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xl-gl-series-dv-camcorders/36856-brand-new-xl2-major-digital-artifacting.html)

Ferdinand December 24th, 2004 05:19 PM

Brand new XL2- Major Digital Artifacting?
 
I just got an XL2 today, and I popped a tape in to record around the house, and when I played it back, there was major artifacting, white, green, and purple flecks all around the highlights of the image. I tried different tape stock, new tapes, old tapes, playback through a mini-dv VCR and the camera itself, and the artficating remains everytime. This is severely dissappointing, as the camera is BRAND new, and I've been using XL1's since 1999. Has anyone else had this problem? Is this documented? After all I heard about the camera's downfalls and sticking to the brand, this is incredibly disheartening. I got it from B&H, and since it is less than a few days old, I assume either I can return it, or have Canon look at it. Nevertheless, this is really frustrating.

Edited to add: the degraded image/artifacts do not show up in the viewfinder when recording.

Chris Hurd December 24th, 2004 09:40 PM

Always run a head cleaning tape through any new camcorder before rolling that first DV cassette.

Dave Coyne December 25th, 2004 09:14 PM

I always thought that head cleaning tapes are a no no for high end cams. Is there a high end cleaning tape?

thanks

Don Palomaki December 26th, 2004 07:55 AM

Believe that head cleaning tapes are the recommended form for MiniDV. Check Canon's notes in the manual. Liquid/wet process cleaners (as often used on larger tape formats) are generally a no-no for MiniDV - could cause more problems than they solve in most hands - because the head gaps, etc. are so much smaller.

Use a good brand (e.g., Sony, Panasonic, Canon) when the camcorder is new out of the box, when there are indications in playback per the manual, and if changing tape stock brand. Observe cautions provided in the manual and with the cleaning tape you buy. Cleaning tapes do cause head wear, so frequent use (e.g., every few hours) is not a great idea if you want to maximize head life.

Richard Alvarez December 26th, 2004 09:12 AM

Panasonnic' s head cleaning tape is dry, Sony's head cleaning tape is wet. Says so right on their boxes, so choose accordingly.


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