Playback: blue, fastforward: image, what the *&^%?
 

A friend shot some HDV video using the Sony HVR-FX1. After recording and rewinding, upon playback the LCD screen of camera displays a blue screen with time code rolling. When you are in play and hold down the fast forward button, the original image appears. He was shooting in HDV mode and using Sony Digital HD tape. We've tried playback on both his Sony HVR-FX1 and my Sony HVR-A1U and we've tried playback setting the camera to AUTO, HDV, and DV mode. The "blue/timecode/image only in FF" only happens in the AUTO or HDV mode. Nothing happens in DV mode. Pretty sure original was actually shot HDV.

Any insights into what is happening would be greatly appreciated.

Something went wrong. When you fast forward it only shows the I frames, and those are working. Everything else is not. Something is wrong with the camera.

Very strange that only I frames are readable and only in Fast Forward. Hmmm, is there no recourse? Subsequent recordings made with the camera are fine.

I have had this happen several times with different HVRZ1u cameras, also have sent tapes off to restoration companies and been told,"It's gone, nothing we can do". Also no one has been able to explain what went wrong; tape problem, head problem, battery problem, CCD problem. It's a mystery. All I can say is use your head cleaner after burning 8 to 10 tapes everytime.