Video Camera Problems

[Russel Parsons]

I'm not sure if any of my fellow chasers out there have had problems with their video cameras or not, but here goes. During my chase in the Texas/Oklahoma panhandles on March 28, I started having intermittent problems with my Sony DCR-TRV17 video camera operating properly. The camera would power up, but it would not record. I think it also said at one point on the LCD screen, it was cleaning the tape or video head or something like that. I'm sure it had something to do with taking it out of my air conditioned vehicle and into the very humid air outside the vehicle. I've never had any problems with it before now. My main question would be, has this happened to anyone else out there, and if so, have you found any solutions to the problem? I understand that all electronic equipment has it's limitations, but I was just curious if anyone else has found a way to keep this from happening. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[fplowman]

Hey Russel,

Try a head cleaner.. Im sure your using wet lube tapes. The regular cheapies you buy at Best Buy or what have ya.

These tapes gum up your heads after so many hours of shooting and of course editing.

Be carefull though,.. the head cleaning tapes are abrasive. use them sparingly.

If this doesnt work. Time for a new camcorder.. they are so in expensive these days that 95$ and shipping fo professional cleaning is not worht it.

Also you can purchase a professional head cleaning kit at radio shack. It is not a novice activity however.

 

[Hank Baker]

Russel, the exact same thing, happened to me with my sony trv27 while we were down by Silverton, TX, I just popped the tape out I was recording with and put another tape in and it fixed the problem.