Hey everybody. I'm new to the forum, so let me introduce myself. My name is Rob Brown, I'm 19 years old and I've been heavily into filmmaking for several years. I finally saved up enough cash and bought an ag-dvx100a today. And I love it! I went out shooting tonight and came home with great results. However, right as I was about to start capturing, the message "AUTO OFF S REEL LOCK" was flashing in my viewfinder in red lettering. This lasted for 15 seconds or so, then stopped. After that, I captured the footage with no problem at all. What does this message mean? There is NO possible way I could have caused any damage to the camera tonight, whatsoever. Is this serious? Does anyone know? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and respond. I look forward to learning from this site and helping to pass on knowledge I pick up about this camera on the way. THANKS!
AUTO OFF S REEL LOCK
- Thread starter imbread
- Start date
PanasonicNZ
Well-known member
Re: AUTO OFF S REEL LOCK
Hi Rob,
This sounds like a tape problem, namely the supply reel is/was blocked when you turn the camera on for capturing. It happens sometimes because the tape has a locking mechanism inside in order to prevent the tape to go loose. Sometimes it doesn't unlock properly when you insert the tape and you can get that error message. You definitely didn't do any damage to the camera. What kind of tape do you use?
Hi Rob,
This sounds like a tape problem, namely the supply reel is/was blocked when you turn the camera on for capturing. It happens sometimes because the tape has a locking mechanism inside in order to prevent the tape to go loose. Sometimes it doesn't unlock properly when you insert the tape and you can get that error message. You definitely didn't do any damage to the camera. What kind of tape do you use?
foxvalleyvideoserv
New member
Re: AUTO OFF S REEL LOCK
A lot of new tapes come poorly spooled. Your best bet is to ffw and rew to center tapes on spools. PS don't use Sonys in a 100!!! Use the MQ series and save yourself lots of grief.
JP
A lot of new tapes come poorly spooled. Your best bet is to ffw and rew to center tapes on spools. PS don't use Sonys in a 100!!! Use the MQ series and save yourself lots of grief.
JP
hey, I got the same problem with my camera and I have just five months since I bought it, and I haven't use it that often. ( i record a wedding, some test footage, and a short five minute scene). and I've never let it fall or drop. I was always using Panasonic commercial tapes. What other brand would tell me to use?
synchronicity
New member
Tapes are getting mangled
Tapes are getting mangled
Hi
I've been getting the same "tape lock" red error message, too, but the camera's been chewing up the tapes as well, which has been bothering me.
I haven't used it much since new, and even when it's recording I think I hear some kind of noise from either the motor or the tape. But I've been getting that error message a lot, and just haven't been able to rewind some of the tapes.
COuld there be such a thing as a bad batch of tapes? Because it doesn't happen on some of the tapes I've used, although I've only used Panasonic PQ all the time, and only the 63s
Thanks
Jack
Tapes are getting mangled
Hi
I've been getting the same "tape lock" red error message, too, but the camera's been chewing up the tapes as well, which has been bothering me.
I haven't used it much since new, and even when it's recording I think I hear some kind of noise from either the motor or the tape. But I've been getting that error message a lot, and just haven't been able to rewind some of the tapes.
COuld there be such a thing as a bad batch of tapes? Because it doesn't happen on some of the tapes I've used, although I've only used Panasonic PQ all the time, and only the 63s
Thanks
Jack
I have a Panasonic DVC30e and I've been filming with it for over 6 years. Today, at school, while filming a group of students, as I loaded a new tape, the words auto off s reel lock and auto off T real lock appeared while shutting off my cam. I changed the tape (a new sony) but I still couldn't go back to work. The cam kept switching off automatically. Then, after I had waited for 10 minutes panicking, it started working again as if it were nothing. Can anyone tell me what these 2 phrases mean? S reel and T reel? Can it only be a matter of using a better tape or is it something else? Thanks guys for your help.
Last edited:
Moseph
Veteran
If you ever come across an error message and you don't know what it means, googling it will usually lead you to the answer. That's what I did the first time I came across that message.
As stated further above, S reel lock means that the supply reel on the tape is locking up, and T reel lock means the take-up reel on the tape is locking up, and I guess to prevent any damage, the camera just shuts off. Usually due to a badly spooled tape, but I think it can also mean there's issues with the deck.
As stated further above, S reel lock means that the supply reel on the tape is locking up, and T reel lock means the take-up reel on the tape is locking up, and I guess to prevent any damage, the camera just shuts off. Usually due to a badly spooled tape, but I think it can also mean there's issues with the deck.