Help with broken video camera - Panasonic NV-DS65

Question

Hello everyone,

I have recently acquired a Panasonic NVDS65 Video camera , it works perfectly apart from when i insert a tape to record onto, it chews up the tape, which isn't really great.

Does anyone know whats wrong with it, and how to fix it without sending it for repairs?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I can think of two reasons why it would chew tapes: -

1. The heads are dirty and rather than the tape running smoothly over the heads it's sticking to them causing the tape to be dragged into the mechanism - solution = buy a good quality head cleaner and run it through the camcorder several times (you could use some isopropyl alcohol on cotton buds as an alternative (or as well as) but nowadays it's not so easy to get hold of - I buy mine from Ebay because chemists aren't allowed to sell it over-the-counter). Isopropyl alcohol won't damage anything e.g. plastics; it will clean the surfaces and then evaporates so no residue is left.

2. There is a mechanical fault (usually the result of sharp impacts e.g. dropping the camcorder) which has set the mechanism out of line and allowing it to grab the edge of the tape and draw it into the mechanism - if this is the case throw the camcorder away. The cost of INVESTIGATION (not repair) will start at around £70 - any repaid will be on top of that!

I would suggest it's worth risking a tenner on a good head cleaner but if that doesn't work forget it and buy another camcorder.

Hope it works

Cheers

Tony