I had recently run into some difficulty with my videocameras regarding head clogs, as discussed in this http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=690440Posting[/link]. Almost all the videocamera repair shops said they'd have to send my Sony V1U and Canon HV20 cameras back to the factories for cleaning. For the HV20, that was ridiculous based on the value of the camera.

I took a risk and found a place online, www.authorizedcamerarepair.com, in Pennsylvania. I shipped the cameras to this guy. My wife was like, "Are you an idiot, shipping $5k of cameras to a place you found on the internet?" But he repaired them both within a week, and I got them both back at my door within a week and a half. The Sony V1u full cleaning cost $120 or so, and the Canon HV20 cost $59, including shipping. When you call the shop, you speak with this fellow Matt who owns the store. I have no personal allegiance to this guy, and I hate to make too many recommendations, because the next guy can have bad luck. But if you're in the situation I was in and you don't want to spend a lot on your videocamera's head cleaning, this was a life saver for me.