How do you avoid using your cams to capture??

emmo2002 wrote on 2/1/2005, 8:50 AM
Here is my delema. I am worried that the longer I use my cameras (xl-1, GL-2, Sony DX2100) that I am wearing down the heads too much. Is there any cost effective way to do this without using your cameras?

I have tried using lesser cams for around $4-$500, but some tapes dont play well on them. This is especially true from the XL-1 and the Sony cam. Is there anything that will do this for me, but not cost an arm and a leg?

Any Ideas?
Thanks in advance.

Emmo

Comments

jetdv wrote on 2/1/2005, 9:01 AM
I use both XL-1 (x 3) and GL-2. I capture their tapes using a Panasonic AG-DV2000 deck. The ONLY times I have problems with this method are when the heads of a camera start to go out of alignment. Send in the camera for maintenance and all is well again.

Sounds like your XL-1 might be due for some maintenance.
DavidMcKnight wrote on 2/1/2005, 9:06 AM
I use a canon 1-chipper to capture tape from Sony VX's. If you're having a problem doing this, I agree with the other post - one or more cams are out of alignment or need cleaning. I also only use one brand of tape, in all cams, ever.
GaryKleiner wrote on 2/1/2005, 11:01 AM
>I have tried using lesser cams for around $4-$500, but some tapes dont play well on them. This is especially true from the XL-1 and the Sony cam.<

Are you recording in LP mode? That would definitly be the problem here.

Gary
MUTTLEY wrote on 2/1/2005, 12:31 PM

I use a Sony GV-D900 deck and love it. A nice little tool for playback on location as well.

- Ray

www.undergroundplanet.com
FuTz wrote on 2/1/2005, 2:13 PM

Something I don't get now:
in another topic, it's been said that using a tape from a different manufacturer than the cam is running for trouble since campanies use different lubricants for their respective tapes, in combination with the composition of their heads.
Now: playing, for example, a Sony tape (recorded on a Sony camera) on a Panasonic or JVC deck won't be like trying to apply some "gunk" on the heads?
o_0
busterkeaton wrote on 2/1/2005, 2:21 PM
It's not a problem to use a brand of tape that is different from the brand of your camera. For example Maxell doesn't even make videocameras.

The problem is different brands of tape use different lubricants (wet vs dry) so you shouldn't keep switching tape brands. Get your camera cleaned, find a tape you like and stick with it. That is the argument.

Google "miniDV tape lubricants" and you will find a bunch of articles about it. I found a post by an administrator of camcorderinfo.com forums and he says, it's not a problem any more.

Sony tapes use "wet" lubrication, while everyone else uses "dry lubricants". With the early (4 years ago) Sony MiniDV tapes, the "wet" forulation mixed with "dry" lubricant residues when different tapes were used - and became gummy and sticky, which clogged the tape heads and mechanisms. Sony changed their wet formulation and few problems have been reported since. Note that the manufactures do no warn against mixing MiniDV tapes between manufactures, etc. Nor do the warranty repair places. If this was a serious problem, you'd think they would all exempt damage from mixing tapes, etc.
crooks wrote on 2/1/2005, 4:45 PM
I bought a cheap ($300) Canon ZR-70 to capture tapes recorded on my GL-1. This works great without any problems, and i can use the cheap camera for things i would not use the GL-1 for.

Jesse
FuTz wrote on 2/1/2005, 6:24 PM

busterkeaton
Ok, now I get a clearer picture of the subject. I was a little bit off track in my understanding of all this since that post you probably read too on the forum about tapes.
Thanks for precisions