Head clogs HVX 200

T

tdtinker

Member
We have been using only Sony tapes in our cameras, but just started getting head clogs this week, we ran a Sony head cleaner a couple of times and so far the problem has cleared up... We had to send in our camera today because the head clogs would keep returning, what a pain, someone had to bring out our other camera to finish the job. Never had that problem with our two Sony cameras and we had over a 1000 hours on each one. We have about 200 on the HVX 200. Very disappointed. We will at some point be recording to P-2 cards but not for some jobs, tape just works better. I hope this doesn't turn out like my JVC deck.We had a JVC (DV600) that went through 3 sets of heads , all covered under warranty. Not one set got over 150 hours. JVC finally replaced the deck, then we sold it. They claimed it was because we used Sony tapes. The funny thing was they told me the last set of heads they put in were made my Sony.
tdtinker
www.actvp.com
 
The Panasonic cameras get setup at the factory with Panasonic tapes and when the Sony tapes get mixed in, the two types of lubricant mix and cause head clogs. I'm sure that if you get the heads replaced and then strictly use Panasonic AMQ tapes you should be fine. If you need someone to replace the heads you can call our guys to see what the schedule is looking like.

Our info is in the signature.

Andrew Hoffman
Vice President
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com
www.twitter.com/speccomm
 
Andrew,
I guess that the issue is that all mini DV tapes should work in all cameras, but that is not the case. When you are on location and need to get additional tapes because you came up short and you can only find another brand, does this mean you have to stop product? This has been an issues for many years now, we made the decision to go with one brand and that was Sony, (we have hundreds of them.) Now that we have switched to Panasonic camera and have only used Sony tapes in them we should not be having these problem. I'm just ranting,because I'm a bit frustrated. We have already sent in the camera for repair.:violin:
tdtinker
www.actvp.com
 
Hey tdtinker,

We all wished it would be that easy and it is for most cases. Sony and certain Maxell tapes are the only tapes that have the wet type lubricant on them. All other brands (generally speaking) have the dry type. So if you went with Fujifilm, JVC or something like that instead of Panasonic you would be fine, Sony tapes are a no-go. For some reason they felt to make their tapes different.

As I said before, Panasonic set their cameras up in the factory with Panasonic tape so even if you open the camera straight from the box and the "first tape" to touch the camera is a Sony, the head clogging process starts immediately.

If you're at a shoot and you run out of Panny tape and you go to Best Buy, get either Panasonic, JVC or Fujifilm and you'll be fine.

Sincerely,

Andrew Hoffman
Vice President
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com
www.twitter.com/speccomm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top