MiniDV Problem

[harveytwoface999]

Okay. I have a Canon ZR800, and as many people know it takes MiniDV tapes. But just today I had a problem with it. I put a tape in it and press play, but the video that shows up on the screen has 4 or 5 gray bars running across it. I think it's a dirty head, so I pop in a head cleaner and hit "fast forward" for a few seconds. I take the head cleaner out and put a different tape in, but this time it's playing it as if there was no tape in the thing. I think what's happening is it's not actually reading the tape. This is the exact same thing that happened to the JVC GR-D250 that I had before it, so I don't think they just randomly "died" on me. What should I do? Should I replace it again, get it repaired, or what?

(P.S. If this makes for good "EPIC FAIL" fodder, just PrintScreen it, slap it on a Motivator, and be done with it.)

[Skycarl]

Maybe a bad batch of tapes?,,, Did you buy some new ones and try those? Since the
same thing is happening to two different cameras.

[harveytwoface999]

Hmm. That could be the problem. I have actually been re-using the same tapes for a while now (big no-no, yes I know), so I'll try getting some new tapes sometime. (Plus if it works, I'll have two good cameras! XD)

(Edit: Okay. NOW it's "Epic Fail" fodder. XD)

[happyhands man]

i have the same problem with my old Panasonic pv-dv800, i'll record something to a tape and it will be fine until the camera gets turned off then when i turn it back on it says that nothings recorded on the tape, im getting a new camera anyway, but it would be nice to have two cameras if i could figure the problem out