Thanks Bob.

I was hoping I could just employ a simple feet of engineering such as "once the tape is in take a toothpick and push a lever on the left hand side to engage the pull down mechanism". :)

I watched it to see why it would go down without the tape, but I couldn't pinpoint anything.

j razz

FWIW I have encountered in the past (on other cameras) failure in the loading mechanism that could only be cleared by total shutdown/restart of the camera. Just turning it off wasn't sufficient, I had to pull the battery as well.

Do you get an error code displayed?

I have tried it plugged in and on battery as well as several other things that didn't make a difference such as using other tapes.

No error codes.

j razz

don't know if I'm too late to help, or if this will even be of help... I have an A1U which has given me fits from time to time... and one thing I'm always warned of is to only use Sony tapes in this particular model. Seems it's very fickle. Another thing to look for, tiny bend in the door mechanism, you might need a magnifying glass to see it. It has happened in the past.

Dale.

My A1 (with less than 50 hrs on it) has been giving me a lot of trouble lately refusing to load a tape due to 'moisture' even though its been kept in a Pelican case in a warm and dry room.

If there is no tape in the cage it will close properly, although I still get the moisture error code.
Once I add any tape - new, used, another brand - it doesn't want to stay closed, it opens and shows the error code again.

Makes me wonder if there is a sensor that isn't working properly and is giving false readings.

I left the camera open as well as the Pelican case over night near a heater vent and then it started without the error message.

Put the camera back in the case and closed it. Today opened it again and the moisture error is back! I can't use this camera if its going to be giving me this error all the time.

Any one have a suggestion on where you have a Sony cam fixed without needing to take out a bank loan?

This is very disappointing considering the cost of the camera and how little use its had, all the while being treated with great care....


Eileen

Have you considered that the Pelican case could be the problem?
Simply because something is airtight does not mean it is dry, in fact the exact opposite holds true. Pelican and similar cases can spell disaster for kit if you don't understand them.

When you seal moisture laden air inside a space if the space cools below the dew point you get condensation and that is not good.

Simple solution is to acquires some Hydrosorbent 40 gram silica gell modules and put one inside the case.

http://www.dehumidify.com/accounts/94/homepage/

These are reusable but you should buy a couple of them so you have one in each case and enough to change them over regularly and then when you have enough used ones 'recharge' them in an overn. Instructions are on the pack, batteries not included or needed :)

I have these in all my kit cases. My EX1 is pristine. Others where I work and where silica was not put into the Storm cases show corrosion around the screws. These little metal canisters are worth the money and the little extra time using them correctly.

Bob.

Hi Bob,

I thought if I left both the camera and the open case within a foot of a heater vent all night that would certainly dry out any minor moisture there might be in the case... And the room doesn't really change temperature all that much in 24 hrs.

However, You just sold me on the dessicant you mentioned, and I placed an order just as a back up precaution.

Anything to avoid being unable to use the camera when I want to, and also to avoid a repair bill.

What surprises me is that the case is so packed with batteries, the mic and all the rest there's hardly any air in it once I manage to close the lid!

I sure hope this helps, thanks so much for the suggestion and link.

I don't know if we even have a camera store locally anymore, and I wasn't sure if a drugstore might carry small packets of the stuff...


Eileen

If you have any foam in the case that seems to be able to hold plenty of moisture. If you can't get dessicant I've heard rice works pretty well as an emergency dessicant.

Bob.