Intermittent tape reloading problem?

[DVX100percent]

I seem to have this intermittent problem with the camera. With the tape loaded and camera in standby it seems to be reloading the tape every now and then. What it does is just flashes red "no tape" sign for a second and then it makes a series of noises similar to the ones that you hear when you first load the tape. It takes maybe 5 to 10 seconds and then it works OK for a while, and then it does it again. It was really bad with one tape, it was doing it every 5 minutes or so.

Anybody else has this issue? It is really annoying because you miss the shots while it is reloading. But it always works OK in the end and I never have any problems with the footage (such as dropped frames).

Vlad

[inde]

I had the EXACT same problem 1 yr ago. I posted to this forum as well as 2pop. Others have had the same problem but no clear reasons. My problem even puzzled the great Adam Wilt. I eventually had to send it in for service and buy a pd170 just so I could keep working until I got it back.(weddings)

At the time I was using Sony premium tape. When I got the cam back from panasonic, they enclosed a white Panasonic MQ tape with a letter telling me to use only this type of tape.
Other people will tell you they use any kind of tape with no problem. whatever.

Buy only the white MQ tape.

[DVX100percent]

Time to switch tapes, I guess. I'll try anything before sending it in. :-/ Weird, I thought they specificaly mention reliable tape transport in their advertisements. I have a consumer cam that is three years old and I use all kind of tapes in it, wet, dry, you name it, it never had any issues. I never even had to have the heads cleaned. Mind you, the quality of picture is terrible (on the consumer one) but no tape issues.

Vlad

[inde]

The camera's transport is fine. It's not the transport, it's the tape. are you using Sony tape?
Don't get me wrong, sony tape is great. But the DVX100 just doesnt like it.
just curious, how many head hours on your cam? I had about 50 hrs when the problems started: dropouts, NG no good, flashing red X, intermittent loading reloading, broken time code, whites appear pink...

[DVX100percent]

Yes, 50 hours is about what I have right now but the reloading actually started earlier, maybe when it had 25 hours. And it very possibly IS a tape. So far I had about 15 tapes go through the camera (all Sony Premiums) and three of them had this issue with reloading -- one, like I said was really bad, it was doing it every few minutes.
I don't have any other issues that you mentioned. (Knocking on wood). I would hate to have to send it in. Although I go to NJ often, and that's where their main repair facility is, as far as I know. Maybe I could just drop it in.

[Zoomforce]

remember consumer stuff is a little more lenient when it comes to tapes.. the pun is always used but fits again, its like putting Regular unleaded in a Porsche, just not good, but regular unleaded works just fine in a Civic.

[DVX100percent]

Porshe analogy is not exactly right. It doesn't take regular because it's a porshe, but because it has an engine designed to work with premium gasoline. Now, if you are telling me that DVX was designed to take only professional tapes... Well, is that what you are saying? :-/