HVX Camera Problems!!! Need help!!!

[Media Productions Canada]

I am on a working vacation in South Africa shooting a couple different projects.
One that I am working on is being shot in SD to mini DV tapes.
I went to review some mini dv footage on my camera today and it will NOT play back, just shows nothing, no time code nothing.
I popped in a new tape and recorded some footage to test it, and it records no problem, tc is moving all that stuff. Then tried to play that back and nothing.
I popped in a tape from a couple days ago and it played back with tons of drop out.
Does anybody have any suggestions.
I cann't even test the mini dv tapes on an other camera or deck because they work in PAL in SA and I am shooting in NTSC.
any suggestions would be great thanks

[Jim Carswell]

Based on the dropouts my first reaction is dirty heads. So give them a good cleaning and try again. If that doesn't work my reaction is..hmmmm!
Jim

[Media Productions Canada]

should I just try a cleaning tape?
The camera is only 4 months old and I have maybe shoot 10 hours of Dv footage with it.
Never used it as a deck.

[ozduc]

It could be the type of tape you are using. I've heard stories of certain brands not working due to the coating. Not sure what they were though.
If all else fails, take the lens cap off:)

[Jim Carswell]

That is a good point. Poor quality tapes will "gunk" up the heads in a hurry. As far as using a cleaning tape... they are good for a cursory cleaning however if the heads are real dirty use cotton "Q" tips and alcohol. Only touch the heads with the alcohol.

By the way...what are the weather conditions where you are shooting? Is it very humid? If so, that can make cheap tapes go down hill very quickl.
Jim

[THoff]

I would not use cotton Q Tips; instead, use a lint-free cleaning swab. The Q Tips that are used for personal hygiene leave small strands of fibers that can further contaminate or damage the tape mechanism.

[Jason Ramsey]

If you use a cleaning tape, I have heard it recommended that you get a panasonic cleaning tape that uses the dry lube

Jason

[mainstreetprod]

When it came to analog, I always suspected cleaning tapes were somewhat useless. Recently, however, my DHR-1000 DV deck had severe droputs and I popped in a cleaning tape. It was then good as new. I would try a cleaning tape before anything else.

[JPproductions]

One thing I remember from DVX playback problems was switching mini dv brands. Some tapes are dry and some are wet. So you get major digital gunk if you record on a Sony tape and then switch to panasonic or vice versus, so I just stuck with panasonic tapes.

[Media Productions Canada]

Thanks guys,
I have been shooting alot of stuff at the ocean so that could have caused a problem. I have also only been shooting with the higher end Panasonic tapes, I am thinking it might be a little bit more major then just dirty heads because it doesn't show any time code.
This might sound like a stupid question but are the heads that record different then the ones that play back?
If so I am hoping that the record heads are fine and when I get home and pop the tapes into my deck that they will play back ok.
Thanks for the Advice,
I have had no problems at all with the footage I have shoot to my p2 card
so I am thinking of just going with p2 from now on.

[Jim Carswell]

I'm not positive about the HVX set up because I've never had a reason to consider using the tape drive... but on other recording devices the record and play heads are separate.
Jim

[SomewhereinLA]

soft cloth+Rubbing alcohol finished with compressed air to dry faster.

[Rizzer]

You are definitely safer shooting to the P2 cards. The tape format (especially miniDV) is inherently crap in my opinion. Solid state recording is one of the biggest blessings to grace cameras in a long time. I also shoot a lot of footage near the ocean and in high-humidity climates and both can really do a number on the performance of tape heads and other mechanics. They are expensive, but water-proof camera housings really help out a lot in these situations (if only to keep the salty, moist air off your camera).

I also have strickly used panasonic tapes for several years (b/c of the lube issues) and in my opinion, the expensive panasonic tapes are no better (if not worse) than the cheap ay-dvm60ej ones, and in fact, I have had more issues with the expensive ones.

good luck with everything