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Home: Video University Forums: Tech Q & A:
Did I just buy a bad egg?

cdm369
Novice

Apr 16, 2006, 2:40 AM

Post #1 of 13 (1295 views)
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Did I just buy a bad egg?	Can't Post

I just purchased a brand new GS250 on ebay, and the first thing I did was charge the battery and impatiently wait for it to be ready to use. Once it was fully charged I powered up and started menu browsing. While I was at it the kids were doing some pretty funny stuff, so I thought it was showtime. I clicked record and then heard what did not sound too good - the tape advancing.......in a not too quiet manner. 5 seconds later I got a blue screen that said "PUSH THE RESET SWITCH". Once I did that it sort of did a reboot and put me back to where I was before pushing the record button. This happened a couple more times before I opened up the tape deck to inspect it. I found the brand new Sony miniDV tape all twisted up and sticking out. I thought that was strange, and hoped perhaps it was somehow the tape, so I inserted another new Sony tape and it worked fine, for 5 minutes. That is the current extent of my use on this camera. I'm not sure what I should do? This is my first miniDV camcorder. Is this a common problem with miniDV tapes or this camera, Should I just send it back and get a new one, or test it some more and find out if it happens a gain?

MSDowney
Veteran

Apr 16, 2006, 2:46 AM

Post #2 of 13 (1293 views)
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Re: [cdm369] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is not normal at all BUT before you can blame the camera test it out with a couple of more tapes. Don't shoot important video, just shoot whatever and try it with the tape in it now and few more and if it is working you can bet it was a bad tape.

Test her out and see how it goes.

Mike

Thomson/GrassValley

Bob A
Veteran

Apr 16, 2006, 8:19 AM

Post #3 of 13 (1284 views)
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Re: [MSDowney] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

"test it out with a couple of more tapes"

Extremly Bad advise. Digital cameras do not trash 2 tapes in a row unless they have serious problems. Do not waste another tape. It is a bad camera, notify the seller immeadiatly to preserve your return rights. Do not ever trust that unit again.

videobear
Veteran

Apr 16, 2006, 10:18 AM

Post #4 of 13 (1281 views)
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Re: [Bob A] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

It didn't trash two tapes. Only the first one was damaged, as I read the post.

I'd go with Mike's advice...try a few more tapes in it.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

Bob A
Veteran

Apr 16, 2006, 11:15 AM

Post #5 of 13 (1274 views)
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Re: [videobear] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

It didn't trash two tapes. Only the first one was damaged, as I read the post.
I'd go with Mike's advice...try a few more tapes in it.

If you are ONLY shooting your cat, and don't mind wasting a couple more tapes, I suppose that is great advice. However, I would NEVER give a camera a second chance to screw me up - it is NOT normal operation for a camera to eat a tape under ANY circumstances, at ANY time, whether for home or paid use. It is a brand new unit and waiting will likely spoil any chance of getting an Ebay seller to take it back. Ebay sellers do not warranty what they sell as a general rule, only DOA's which is what this cam is. I would bet you a year's wages that it will do it again, maybe not today or even tommorow, but it will. A fellow named 'Murphy' had something to say about when.....
Bab advice - unfortunately componded by one of the most trusted folks here. Unsure

MSDowney
Veteran

Apr 16, 2006, 12:12 PM

Post #6 of 13 (1265 views)
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Re: [Bob A] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

It was one tape. There could be a bad tape. It was not bad advice but I respect your opinion. I had a bad tape in a camera once... glad i didn't chuck it! I used the camera without problem for the next 5 years.

The second tape was working fine, that is whay I said try a couple of more tapes and if they work fine there is a good chance that it could have been a bad tape.

If he does it today it is still will take the same amount of time. Doug was just using his common sense.

Mike

Thomson/GrassValley

Bob A
Veteran

Apr 16, 2006, 1:28 PM

Post #7 of 13 (1256 views)
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Re: [MSDowney] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Again, it depends what the camera if used for. If you are shootintg your cat, go for it.
If it is a paid, professional use then you would be the dullest knife in the drawer to trust that camera. But he is losing his return rights either way by waiting to see if it happens again. I read the post as it "ran fine for (only) 5 minutes" the second time, as he has not used it again.
My second VX 1000 (out of 7) in 1996 ate its first tape, but I could not return it because the dealer did not have a replacement available. He made me send it to Sony factory service, who in turn made him return my purchase price so I could buy another at another location. I would not accept that camera back even if they did fix it. There is absolutely no excuse such as "sorry, the tape didn't come out" in professional circles. These cameras are so complex with thousands of components - fixed and moving - there is just no room for the slightest miscue or marginal operation. It won't fix itself.

MSDowney
Veteran

Apr 16, 2006, 1:58 PM

Post #8 of 13 (1255 views)
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Re: [Bob A] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

You are correct that the safest thing to do is send it back. It couldn't hurt to do so. The problem is that most folks on E-Bay know that they don't have to send the money back and if the camera works after he sends it back he may lose the camera and the money (depending on the honesty of the seller).

A question for the original poster. Was this a shop it was bought through or just a single individual?

Mike

Thomson/GrassValley

cdm369
Novice

Apr 16, 2006, 11:30 PM

Post #9 of 13 (1236 views)
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Re: [videobear] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thank you Mike & Doug! That's what I was hoping to confirm. Yes, that is correct it was only the first tape. I have video taped about a 1/2 hours on the second with no problem at all - so far. The seller said he will give 14 days to test it out, so I will be taking as much family video as possible this week Smile

Incidently, are all DV tapes basically the same in quality, or do different brands have better quality than others, or perhaps some cameras operate better with different brands? I will try to purchase two other brands and see what happens.

Thanks again!

videobear
Veteran

Apr 17, 2006, 1:06 AM

Post #10 of 13 (1225 views)
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Re: [cdm369] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Pick a tape brand and stick to it. Mixing brands can cause "gunk" to build up in the tape transport mechanism, due to incompatibilities between tape lubricants. This gunk can lead to frequent head clogs, or worse, to the sort of tape-eating behavior that this particular camera may or may not be prone to.

Also, open up the tape compartment and take a good, long look inside with a penlight and a magnifier. (If you can do so without damaging the camera, take off the tape transport door to get a better look). Look especially at all the posts that the tape wraps around, and examine them for any evidence of contamination. They should be bright and shiny. If there is a ring of black or brown stuff on anything, the transport mechanism should be cleaned. For some photographic examples of what I mean, check out the TRV-900 cleaning procedure at http://www.bealecorner.com/...rouble/capclean.html

For Bob A: While I agree that cdm369 needs to be careful about checking out his camera, I don't think that one eaten tape a lemon makes. This could be due to a bad tape, improper insertion (maybe even by the previous owner), or any number of things. Since cdm has some "trial" time before his return privilege expires, I think it makes sense to do some testing before making a decision.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

Bob A
Veteran

Apr 17, 2006, 1:39 AM

Post #11 of 13 (1222 views)
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Re: [videobear] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

For Bob A: While I agree that cdm369 needs to be careful about checking out his camera, I don't think that one eaten tape a lemon makes. This could be due to a bad tape, improper insertion (maybe even by the previous owner), or any number of things. Since cdm has some "trial" time before his return privilege expires, I think it makes sense to do some testing before making a decision.

A definite difference of opinion.
I have owned about 40 video cameras and about 100 decks over the years and NEVER had a single one that ate just one tape. If it ate one tape it would eat more sooner or later until it was trashed or repaired. If you are doing professional video you absolutely can not trust a cam that has misbehaved, even once. For taping your kitty, go for it, no biggie. I do some gigs that bring in $10K + for the day, do you seriously believe I would use a camera that ate a tape??!! I sure hope not!

cdm369
Novice

Apr 17, 2006, 9:32 AM

Post #12 of 13 (1213 views)
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Re: [videobear] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Everything looks good and clean, however, I do notice that [looking down] the post on the left looks like it is at an angle (bent or designed that way I do not know?). I was hoping I could find a photo of a GS250 from the top view looking into the tape compartment to see if that left post looks like it has the same orientation as mine does. Anyone know where I could find such a photo?

Bob A
Veteran

Apr 17, 2006, 9:49 AM

Post #13 of 13 (1211 views)
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Re: [cdm369] Did I just buy a bad egg? [In reply to]	Can't Post

The 'bent' or leaning post is that way by design. It is called a guide. Every cam and deck has the same 'bent' posts in it.