Leaving the camera in pause mode at DVinfo.net

Alan Christensen · July 13th, 2004, 10:16 AM

Has anyone ever experienced damaged tapes or clogged heads when the camera is left in pause mode for a long time? I have always tried to run the tape for a few seconds every minute or so when in pause mode for extended periods to avoid such problems. Is this unnecessary with today's tapes in a VX-2000? Is the tape guaranteed to still be OK if the camera shuts down automatically after 5 minutes?

Tom Hardwick · July 13th, 2004, 12:29 PM

I like your idea of running the cam and not letting it time out. Pause mode is a 'not recommended' mode in my book. OK, at times it's unavoidable, but (at weddings for instance) I let the camera run rather than go into pause rec - that way I don't have the head and tape heat buildup and I gather audio that might always be useful, even if I'm running to a new shooting point.

tom.

Paul Tauger · July 13th, 2004, 12:29 PM

I can only speak from experience. I frequently leave my VX2000 in pause mode -- often enough and long enough so that it routinely shuts down. I've never had any probems with ruined tapes (though I make a point of using on Sony Excellence and then only once), and I've not needed to clean the heads after a hundred hours or so of use.

July 13th, 2004, 10:16 AM	#1
Alan Christensen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: California Posts: 139	Leaving the camera in pause mode Has anyone ever experienced damaged tapes or clogged heads when the camera is left in pause mode for a long time? I have always tried to run the tape for a few seconds every minute or so when in pause mode for extended periods to avoid such problems. Is this unnecessary with today's tapes in a VX-2000? Is the tape guaranteed to still be OK if the camera shuts down automatically after 5 minutes?

July 13th, 2004, 12:29 PM	#2
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	I like your idea of running the cam and not letting it time out. Pause mode is a 'not recommended' mode in my book. OK, at times it's unavoidable, but (at weddings for instance) I let the camera run rather than go into pause rec - that way I don't have the head and tape heat buildup and I gather audio that might always be useful, even if I'm running to a new shooting point. tom.

July 13th, 2004, 12:29 PM	#3
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	I can only speak from experience. I frequently leave my VX2000 in pause mode -- often enough and long enough so that it routinely shuts down. I've never had any probems with ruined tapes (though I make a point of using on Sony Excellence and then only once), and I've not needed to clean the heads after a hundred hours or so of use.