Update-
As per Mike's orders (only kidding, Mike), I ran a sony head cleaner through all three cameras. I set the H1 and HV10 on tripods this am and shot 50 minutes on each camera focused on my two parrots. I rewound and watched the ENTIRE 50 minutes on each tape, and saw no drop outs. Both cameras were being moved around while shooting the other night, so I hope it was the head cleaning that fixed the problem, rather than the lack of camera movement.
Next I'll capture the two tapes from the concert with the HV10, and make sure there are no drop outs besides the ones I found in the original viewing.
Thanks, guys
Bruce S. Yarock
www.yarock.com

It's OK Mike, I read it before you dumped it (something about cleaning heads with an angle grinder). Just Kidding Mike.

I think I am now convinced that cleaning tapes are OK to use (sparingly).

Ken,

Don't know if you got to read the whole thing or not, but thanks. There "IS" a serious problem with the editing system in DVinfo.net. That post was twice as long as what I found on line the next day. This is not the first time it's happened, more like 20 times!

Please, everyone, don't be afraid to clean your precious camera.

Mike

Stupid question but does running a head cleaner through the tape drive in VCR mode also clean the record heads or jsut the playback heads? I tried to run it through in camera mode but when I hit record the H1 tells me the cassette is set for erasure prevention.

I have heard that the Sony head cleaners will allow you to run it through in camera mode to clean the record heads. Is this true. What's the real story.

Inquiring minds want to know!

Thanks!

I believe that the tape path is the same in recording and in playback, so you are cleaning all the heads. I don't think it is like the old VCR's were, and just clean the play heads.

Mike

The main issue imo is that you used *80 minute* tapes.
I would NEVER recommend that anyone use those. They
are thinner and therefore are much more prone to problems.
We have machines that will eat 80 minutes tapes every time.

I totally missed where Bruce said he used 80 minute tapes. I have never had good luck with those....even for plain old DV. I haven't touched one in years!

Hopefully that is all it was.

Peace!

Jaques,
thnks or the info. I was wondering if the 83's might have cause the problem. needless to say, I won't use them again. The strange thing,though, was that I used them on all three cameras. The two Canons had drop outs, but the Sony FX1 didn't.....
Bruce S. Yarock
www.yarock.com

Remember Bruce, you had not cleaned the Canons yet so may be the difference too. I would still not use the 83 min. tapes.

Mike

Mike,
Hopefully the cleaning did the job. That's it for mr for the 83's.
Bruce S. Yarock
www.yarock.com