mini DV tape disaster

[SuzanneB]

Hi there everyone. I am a real beginner but have just finished taping my 2nd wedding (not professionally, just as a friend). I used a Panasonic GS500 camcorder which came with 3 JVC mini DV tapes. I used the first tape at the bride's house and for half of the church, and the other 2 tapes for the rest of the church and reception. Everything seemed to go smoothly.

I was devastated when, upon attempting to transfer the video to the computer, I discovered that the first tape was completely blank. I couldnt believe this. I have been over and over everything... I only had 3 JVC tapes and 6 Sonys, all are accounted for, so it wasnt a lost tape. I didnt do anything crazy like forgetting to press record, for example, because I used the first tape for many different scenes, on and off for a full hour's worth of video. The tape and camera both acted normally. The other tapes I used that day are all perfect. I have since retested the original tape and it works fine.

What could I have done wrong? I have had sleepless nights over this! Can anyone shed some light on this?:cry:

[David W. Richardson]

Do the other 2 tapes play okay? If so, then odds are the 1st tape was a bad tape. It happens, though it's rare. Good idea to do a periodic review during shooting to make sure you're getting good footage on-tape. Sorry that happened to you man. That's why I hate to shoot weddings -- no re-takes!

[CherryTime]

Umm, I think that you could get better feedback if you posted this
in another part of the forums, this would be the Photoshop part
inwhich tapes really doesnt have much to do with!

I can't help you on the issue, just thought id say that.

[jsvideoworx]

Try playing back the portion that was filmed on the panasonic in the Panasonic camera, and playing back the portion of the tape that was recorded on the JVC with the JVC camera. I know some of my footage that I filmed on my canon wont play back on Panasonic. Just my two cents.