XL2 Tape Loading Problem at DVinfo.net

Craig Bellaire · March 4th, 2005, 10:13 AM

OK, we have 2 xl2's at work here and it seams that when we load a tape, it may or may not work... meaning the camera says NO TAPE... any ideas.. Using Sony Tapes... thanks...

Richard Alvarez · March 4th, 2005, 11:24 AM

I'm not a fan of Sony tapes. And once, when we sent the XL1 in with problems, the first thing the canon rep asked was "Are you using Sony Tapes? DON'T"

That's what a Canon tech said to me.

I know that Canon reccomends 'dry' tapes. I know that Sony manufactures a 'wet' style head cleaner.

What I don't know, is whether or not Sony's tapes are wet or dry.

Try a different brand and see what happens.

Craig Bellaire · March 4th, 2005, 11:44 AM

OK well give it a try...

Pete Bauer · March 4th, 2005, 12:04 PM

Just to be safe, make sure to clean your camera heads before switching tapes, though.

Chris Hurd · March 4th, 2005, 12:30 PM

Make sure that the cassette's record prevention tab is slid to the "off" position. This is the single most common problem regarding the "no tape" display warning.

Jeff Boeckman · March 4th, 2005, 05:28 PM

I am not sure if this is any help or not but I just got off the phone with Brian at Zotz and he told me that he wont sell anything but Panasonic tapes for the xl2. It seems as if they are the only tapes that don't use an oil type lubricant. They use a dry silicone or something like that. He also said to stick with the same tape forever and you shouldn't even have to clean it.

Late,
jb

Craig Bellaire · March 5th, 2005, 08:21 AM

Well we've only every just used Sony tape and never a problem BUT we've only had Sony Cameras... So Looks like we wll have to maybe look at changing ... Also Just wondered about the CAnon TApe.. I've seen canon Mini-dv tape but it's never mentioned...

Pete Bauer · March 5th, 2005, 08:48 AM

As far as the record prevent tab that Chris mentioned, well, I'VE NEVER done anything like THAT...but you might want to check that anyway! ;-)

Otherwise, I can't comment factually about the Sony tapes, but it sure has been often-said that they are "wet" tapes that lead to problems more than others. I don't know who actually makes the Canon branded tapes, but you don't see them around as much, so considering that we ought not switch formulations, I just stick with the Panasonic tapes because they are easy to find and highly thought of. And others stick with their preferred brands.

Whenever I have an order in with Zotz, I usually ask 'em to add 10 or 20 tapes to the order so I always have plenty of exactly the same kind of tape on hand.

Please do let us know how it all ends up.

Craig Bellaire · March 5th, 2005, 09:41 AM

Thanks to all for the help... After next week we'll be able to determine more what we are going to do... More likely change brands of tape....Thanks

Bill Hamell · March 5th, 2005, 12:35 PM

Craig,

Make sure you or whoever loads the tape pushes in the tape caddy before closing the tape door.
I once put a tape in and just closed the door and got the same message. It took a couple of anxious minutes before I realized my mistake.

Mr. Bill

Chris Hurd · March 5th, 2005, 01:00 PM

Thanks for pointing that out, Bill -- that is also a very common cause of the camera not recognizing a tape. I should put this in the XL2 FAQ, I guess.

Advil Dremali · March 5th, 2005, 02:41 PM

Hahah I had this problem with my Xl2 as well.

What you do is put in the tape, and you DON'T close the tape compartment. Instead you push in the metal piece inside the compartment and wait for it to move into place. Once it's in place you close the compartment.

The metal piece should have a 'push' sticker on it.

Craig Bellaire · March 5th, 2005, 05:59 PM

Yes we are aware of the tape compartment loading first... So that hasn't been the problem BUT I did load a tape between the tape loading tray and the plastic door the other day because I wasn’t looking.. It’s a bit harder to get out them you might think…

Greg Boston · March 5th, 2005, 07:13 PM

FWIW, I have been using TDK tapes in my XL-1 and now XL-2 and have had no problems at all. I have also used an occasional Maxell tape with no ill effects. They must be very similar.

Also Craig, there has been discussion here in the past, and Chris H. feels they need to write a constitutional amemdment to state that you must run a head clearner through your new camera before you do anything else. This has more to do with several new cameras from different manufacturers proclaiming 'dirty heads' after just a few tapes on the new camera. It's very unsettling to a new camera owner, My own 953 did this to me and after a head cleaning, has never complained since.

-gb-

March 4th, 2005, 10:13 AM	#1
Craig Bellaire Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 422	XL2 Tape Loading Problem OK, we have 2 xl2's at work here and it seams that when we load a tape, it may or may not work... meaning the camera says NO TAPE... any ideas.. Using Sony Tapes... thanks... __________________ Craig Bellaire www.VerticalVideoSolutions.com

March 4th, 2005, 11:44 AM	#3
Craig Bellaire Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 422	OK well give it a try... OK well give it a try... __________________ Craig Bellaire www.VerticalVideoSolutions.com

March 4th, 2005, 12:04 PM	#4
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Just to be safe, make sure to clean your camera heads before switching tapes, though. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

March 4th, 2005, 12:30 PM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Make sure that the cassette's record prevention tab is slid to the "off" position. This is the single most common problem regarding the "no tape" display warning. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 4th, 2005, 05:28 PM	#6
Jeff Boeckman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 32	I am not sure if this is any help or not but I just got off the phone with Brian at Zotz and he told me that he wont sell anything but Panasonic tapes for the xl2. It seems as if they are the only tapes that don't use an oil type lubricant. They use a dry silicone or something like that. He also said to stick with the same tape forever and you shouldn't even have to clean it. Late, jb __________________ total newb

March 4th, 2005, 11:24 AM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I'm not a fan of Sony tapes. And once, when we sent the XL1 in with problems, the first thing the canon rep asked was "Are you using Sony Tapes? DON'T" That's what a Canon tech said to me. I know that Canon reccomends 'dry' tapes. I know that Sony manufactures a 'wet' style head cleaner. What I don't know, is whether or not Sony's tapes are wet or dry. Try a different brand and see what happens.

March 5th, 2005, 08:21 AM	#7
Craig Bellaire Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 422	Tape Well we've only every just used Sony tape and never a problem BUT we've only had Sony Cameras... So Looks like we wll have to maybe look at changing ... Also Just wondered about the CAnon TApe.. I've seen canon Mini-dv tape but it's never mentioned... __________________ Craig Bellaire www.VerticalVideoSolutions.com

March 5th, 2005, 08:48 AM	#8
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	As far as the record prevent tab that Chris mentioned, well, I'VE NEVER done anything like THAT...but you might want to check that anyway! ;-) Otherwise, I can't comment factually about the Sony tapes, but it sure has been often-said that they are "wet" tapes that lead to problems more than others. I don't know who actually makes the Canon branded tapes, but you don't see them around as much, so considering that we ought not switch formulations, I just stick with the Panasonic tapes because they are easy to find and highly thought of. And others stick with their preferred brands. Whenever I have an order in with Zotz, I usually ask 'em to add 10 or 20 tapes to the order so I always have plenty of exactly the same kind of tape on hand. Please do let us know how it all ends up. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

March 5th, 2005, 09:41 AM	#9
Craig Bellaire Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 422	Thanks to all Thanks to all for the help... After next week we'll be able to determine more what we are going to do... More likely change brands of tape....Thanks __________________ Craig Bellaire www.VerticalVideoSolutions.com

March 5th, 2005, 12:35 PM	#10
Bill Hamell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mystic Ct. Posts: 477	Craig, Make sure you or whoever loads the tape pushes in the tape caddy before closing the tape door. I once put a tape in and just closed the door and got the same message. It took a couple of anxious minutes before I realized my mistake. Mr. Bill __________________ Cinematographers Bring Shadow To Light

March 5th, 2005, 01:00 PM	#11
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Thanks for pointing that out, Bill -- that is also a very common cause of the camera not recognizing a tape. I should put this in the XL2 FAQ, I guess. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 5th, 2005, 02:41 PM	#12
Advil Dremali New Boot Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 70	Hahah I had this problem with my Xl2 as well. What you do is put in the tape, and you DON'T close the tape compartment. Instead you push in the metal piece inside the compartment and wait for it to move into place. Once it's in place you close the compartment. The metal piece should have a 'push' sticker on it.

March 5th, 2005, 05:59 PM	#13
Craig Bellaire Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 422	Done that Yes we are aware of the tape compartment loading first... So that hasn't been the problem BUT I did load a tape between the tape loading tray and the plastic door the other day because I wasn’t looking.. It’s a bit harder to get out them you might think… __________________ Craig Bellaire www.VerticalVideoSolutions.com

March 5th, 2005, 07:13 PM	#14
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	FWIW, I have been using TDK tapes in my XL-1 and now XL-2 and have had no problems at all. I have also used an occasional Maxell tape with no ill effects. They must be very similar. Also Craig, there has been discussion here in the past, and Chris H. feels they need to write a constitutional amemdment to state that you must run a head clearner through your new camera before you do anything else. This has more to do with several new cameras from different manufacturers proclaiming 'dirty heads' after just a few tapes on the new camera. It's very unsettling to a new camera owner, My own 953 did this to me and after a head cleaning, has never complained since. -gb-