How many hours is too many hours? (Buying a used video camera)

[Tony001]

I always hear that too many hours on a camcorder is a bad thing and that eventually it will die or something. But how many is too many hours? And what is likely to break or need replaced?

Just curious, thanks!

 

[THoff]

The most likely component to fail or require service on most cameras is the tape transport mechanism or the heads themselves -- that's why everyone keeps saying "check the number of hours on the heads". That's pretty much a non-issue on the HVX since most people don't buy it for use as a MiniDV camera.

 

[Tony001]

So that shouldn't effect shooting films if there are 1,000 hours already on it?

 

[Arson]

Not if you shoot primarily to P2 card and not to MiniDV.