How many hours is too many?

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When looking for a used dvx100, how many hours is too many hours (on the heads)? There's one on ebay that would be a good deal and the guy lives close to me, but it has 230 hours on the heads. That seems like a lot from what I've gathered on these boards, but if it's still under a warranty is it a lot?
Thanks
Nathan
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

Panasonic gives an estimated life of 1000 hours for the heads--but that depends on conditions. Has the camera been used with only MQ or PQ tapes? If the current owner has been mixing wet lube and dry lube tapes there may be a lot of residue built up on the heads, capstans, and rollers. In any case, at 230 hours the camera is due for professional head cleaning and maintenance (~$100). Has the current owner ever used the cleaning tape? If so, I wouldn't touch the camera since the cleaning tape damages the heads with each use. Buying a used camera entails some risks, but if the guy lives near you, go try the cam before you buy. I wouldn't assume you have any warranty with a used cam. Is the DVX100 warranty transferable? Most warranties aren't.
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure how it's been cared for, but I'll definitely ask him. Are professional head cleanings covered in warranties? I know that Mack warranties are transferable and I believe that the Panasonic 1 year warranty is transferable once, but not to a third owner. I'd have to check on that last one though. So if this guy tells me that he's used the cleaning tape, I should stay away? Or should I look for certain things, and if so, what? I appreciate the help.
Nathan
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

Routine maintenance is not covered under the warranty. I personally wouldn't buy a used camera that hadn't been professionally maintained. Use of the cleaning tape greatly accelerates the wearing of the heads, but it doesn't mean the camera is bad. However, the price should reflect the use of the camera.
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

ha ha.. thats close to the life meter on mine. It also depends on if the camera has been used as a deck, in what enviroment its used in (humid, too hot, too cold etc.). Cleaning tapes generate alot of heat and are useless at actually removing the gunk, so I clean mine manually every 40-50 hours with Foam swabs and cleaner... its the only way to properly do it.
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

Hey Jared, I've been trying to figure out how to get down to the heads to do that. Do you have to take the door off, or the bottom plate. IT just seems to me that they hid the heads down there pretty far. Is there a tutorial on how to properly (no cleaning tape) get to the heads to clean them?
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

hi guys,
it seems to me according what was said that for 41 days of nonstop operation those 3500 invested in dvx is a lot of money. ok once I reach those 1000 hours of operation and lets say I have been cleaning heads regularly after 40-50 hours what is my option to stretch the lifespan of my dvx?? Buy a new one?? or is there some service that would replace the heads, because it seems like that is the only thing that I should mainly care about.

Michal
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

when you have reached the 1000 hrs post a message ;)
By that time the Quickstream DV might work and you can record directly to Harddisk, so there would be no more need for the tape drive
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

lol joachim the thing is I have not even received my dvx yet..it's coming in tomorrow.

I was just curious how do you guys, who have been using dvx for a while, get around this 1000hrs thing. Do you all just buy those portable HDD and record on those or do you actually bother to replace or fix the head?? I know it's not a biggy for me at this point, but just wanna know if I should start saving up for HDD cauze they run around $1k

Michal
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

you dont need to take the head off. Head swabs are long enough to get down there. For the love of god dont even try to use Q-tips.

I really think if you dont know what your doing not to even try to clean them manually, as you can really, really screw the heads or something else in there up.

As for the quickstream.. I used that for about 30 hours, and once it stopped working properly I never went back. Gotta wait for the next version I think.
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

1000 hours is a lot... I'm at 180. I think I've heard of people over 250, but I don't know about 1000...
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

yeah im over 250 now on an original DVX100.. I cant imagine going to 1000.. That would take me probally another 3 years, at which point Im banking on there being a DVX200 to replace it, or at least the 100A.
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

so after all it does not seem to be an issue for any of you...good...that makes me more relaxed for a while with my soooo and lonely 1hr of playtime..lol :)
 
Re: How many hours is too many?

sorry to ask, but how exactly do you connect the dvx to record directly to hard drive, to get around using the mini dv deck?
 
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