Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Heads

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Ian,

If you're not having any problems, I'd stick with the Sony tapes. Unless you're experiencing dropouts or other tape-specific problems, the Panny tapes aren't going to offer any advantage.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

HI BArry,
I just purchased some isopropanol and chamois swabs at Fry's Electronics, but I'm not sure the rubber cleaner I bought will work. It's called MG Chemical's Rubber Renew. It says it rejuvinates and conditions the rubber on rollers, belts, and platens, but to AVOID CONTACT ON PLASTICS. will this be go enough for cleaning my camera. here is a link to the item http://mgchemicals.com/products/408a.html
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Yes, that's exactly the right stuff. Be very careful and use it sparingly to clean the pinch roller.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

HI Barry, I am confused about your description on cleaning the tape heads. Your descriiption says " The cylinder must be cleaned in a horizontal motion. Cleaning with a vertical motion greatly increases the chances of damaging the heads." I am confused about how this must be done. Must the swab remain pressed and idle while the tape head is rotated, or should the swab move left to right while the tape head is rotated. I created a diagram with the various positions and maneuvers that are possible. All posiitions follow the instructions in which a swab is pressed against the tape component and a second swab rotates the componernt. (A) and (B) are idle with no movement besides the second swab. (C) is an up an down movement with the swab placed at a horizontal fashion. (D) is a Horizontal motion with the swab placed at a vertical fashion. please tell me which one is correct thanks.
swabandtapehead2aa.png
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

To start with, your illustration is of a tape guide, not the recording cylinder and heads. The recording cylinder is the grooved silver cylinder. You nay know that, but i just want to be sure. I'd recommend A or B where you rotate the cylinder and hold the swab stationary. As for the tapes guides and angle pins, you can just swab in a horizontal motion like D, although it isn't critical (like with the tape heads).
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Thanks for your reply Barry. I'm still new to this stuff so obviously I mistook the tape guide for the tape head. I just needed something to get my point across (hence my use of the tape guide, since it was the most visible in your picture). Anyways thanks for your help. bye
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

i have about 70 hours on my heads, i now and then get the red circle warning. I havent done anything to the camera yet. I have a TDK miniDV tape cleaner that i got at radio shack, do you think it would be a good idea to run it and see if the circle still appears. Right now i'm not to comfortable enought to try the cleanng the heads myself.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

at least buy a panasonic cleaning tape. circuit city has them. possibly radio shack as well. or you could always order one. BUT! before you use a tape or buy one to use id just set the camera in a warm dry room and let it sit for a day and see if it helps.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Just a quick note on the topic:

I've only had the DVX for a few days and have only filmed about 30 mins of footage. But yesterday when I recorded some more, the picture went all venetian blinds and the dreaded red circle with a white cross appeared. Today, the cross is gone and the picture is fine, until I move the camera/object or zoom which causes the picture to mosaic something awful.

As I only have one cassette (the one that came with the camera), I haven't been able to check another tape but the breakup is worse on a new part of the tape than when recording over existing footage. New cassettes are on the way so I'll try those at the weekend...

Like I said I havent used the camera much so is it probably just dirty heads or could it be something more serious? I haven't used the camera in a sandstorm (that's fairly hard to do here in Ireland!) but it was was pretty cold out - can temperature affect/dirty the heads?

Any ideas? I've learned so much from you guys already I figured it was worth a post. Thanks,

Chris
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

If you have not FF the tape to the end and rewound, try that. I think it's rare, but depending on how long and under what conditions a tape is stored it is conceivable that it could stick to itself. This procedure will loosen it up. Try some more footage and check back.
If that doesn't help, I did see another thread where a new cam seemed to have the same (or similar) issue. If I remember correctly a cleaning tape was used and fixed the problem.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

I have been looking for this thread. :)
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Thumbs up for the post, I couldn't of done it better! One thing, experience shows that sometimes you MUST use a cleaning tape, especially for the very stuborn ones. Keep up the good work! :)
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

I bought a well cared for - but used - DVX100A with about 240 hours so I'm thankfull to get this HOUSE CLEANING advise.

My question has to do with my other Panasonic PV GS200 that I plan to use for transfer (fire wire) to the Powerbook. I have been using Sony tapes in the PV200 and will now be putting the MQ tapes from the DVX into the PV200 for the transfer. Will this "switch" of tapes affect the ability of the PV200 to transfer properly? I DO NOT WANT LOSS OF QUALITY here! Maybe should I clean the PV200? Would the procedure described in this thread apply basically the same? Thanks very much!
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

I would definitely clean the PV200 tape path, because the Sony tapes are wet lube tapes as oppsed to the dry lube MQ's. The procedure would be pretty much the same, although I have no idea how easy it is to access the heads and tape path on the PV200.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Firstly, thanks for this great post & thread.

I found that it was impossible to get to the back right angle pin. Also I noticed after the procedure that a very tiny amount of plastic had scraped off of the swabs onto the sharp edges of the cassette transport as I manoevered them around through the holes. Beware!

Perhaps the swabs I used were too thick? I sourced 2 types, one set are straight and 10mm wide, and  the others are bent perhaps 30degrees just below the chamois, about 9mm wide. What swabs has anyone had particular success with? It's very tight and pokey in there!

Secondly I noticed ocassional little fibres and dust particles here and there inside the tape door - I read above to avoid spraying air into here, so what would be recommended for routine cleaning within the camera body? Sorry if this has been answered before. Thanks.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

I have personally used compressed air, sparingly and from several inches away, to remove crud from the cassette compartment and tape path on the DVX. As with cleaning a lens, I always direct the air across the area and never directly toward it. This greatly reduces the possibilty of particles being picked up by the air stream and accelerated to a high speed impact with sensitive components.
My cameras, lenses and computers have never shown any adverse effects from this method. But occasionally, just for fun, I like to see how much I can spin up the cooling fan on my Athlon ;D
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Hey everyone -

I'm having the dreaded RED X issue on my 100A and am going to undertake the cleaning process. I just ordered a bulk box of 1200 of the chamois cleaning swabs. Anybody interested in some? Say a pack of 10 or 20?

They are coming this week, and I'll post more details if I get some responses. Just send me an email (buster80@gmail.com)

-Mike
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

I might be interested if they are smaller than the one I tried to use. Got any specs?
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Barry,

My DVX100A has 240 hours. The colleague I bought it from reports he never cleaned the heads because he "never needed to." Which basically means it has never failed, displayed "the icon", artifacts, etc.

I believe you recommend to clean every 10 or 20 hours. If nothing is "wrong" would you still recommend the clean? What about the old adage - If aint broke don't fix it? - thanks a bunch.
 
Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

Re: Guide To Cleaning The DVX100(a) Recording Head

I think every 50 hours is pretty reasonable and at 240 I hours, I would *definitely* clean the heads as soon as possible. I have my own adage--a little preventative maintenance prevents you from blowing an important shoot. ;D
 
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