This is the second time I had to abandon a project because of my stupid Canon ZR85. The first time the entire thing had black bars across the screen and they wouldnt go away. They came out when I filmed an explosion (a mexican bottle rocket) and my camera basically freaked out. Right now (about 10 minutes ago) I had to abandon a aproject because my camcorder wont even record anything (it only showed the blue screen on the LCD screen...like the tape was emoty...even though the tape had somestuff recorded into it. Its not only the ZR85 that is messing up. My schools ZR60's have this "black bar" problem too...plus my teachers GL2 have this "balck stuff" as well......HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I had this problem with my GL1, the heads get dirty REALLY easily because Canon doesn't know how to make good heads. I had to send it back twice and then finally, when I had to send it back third time, I complained and finally they gave me a brand new camera. Which went straight to eBay. Go with Panasonic, they know what they're doing.

Yeah I know...im very frustrated about this. After my Samsung SCD 23 broke I bougth the Canon ZR85 because i figured Canon can make awesome cameras...now that this is happening i was thinking of returning this stupid thing back to the store (i bought the camera at Costco so i can return it and recieve a full refund) and buying a Canon GL2 but since this is happening im considering of buying a different one. Does anyone have any input on what camera I should buy (that can match Canon). Im was considering of going witn Sony.....but im open in suggestions....PLEASE HELP!!!!!

My first camcorder was a Canon... the heads got too dirty though and I had to send it back. They said they couldn't fix it though, so I just got to get another camcorder. I was actually going to get another Canon, because I just figured it broke because of something I did without knowing it... but I didn't. I regretted getting another brand because it didn't make the same kinds of beeps... it just seemed like a damn lifeless stranger! But I guess it's grown on me. This topic's made that regret decrease a little bit.

The other brand I went with was JVC. Does that make me a moron?

No it doesnt, it makes you extremely smart. If any Canon people read this than read it well..."MAKE CAMERAS THAT DONT FU*K*N* SUCK" ...its pissing me and others off!!!!!!SERIOUSLY!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!

I have a Canon GL2 and I love it. It never messes up on me. I have no problems with it.

All cameras have glitches. You're going to find problems with any brand.

"I had this problem with my GL1, the heads get dirty REALLY easily because Canon doesn't know how to make good heads."

That's not a very truthful statement. If the heads got dirty so easily, it's not possible to determine that it's Canon's fault without some other information. Did you switch tape brands frequently?

Canon camcorders are excellent in their price range. I've never had a problem with my GL2, and neither have several others I know who use them regularly.

Evan - I know the whole deal about the consequences of switching camera tapes. The first time I had to send it back, it was because I was using cheap maxell tapes that screwed up the heads, then, when the GL1 was repaired, I started using high quality non-lubricant panasonic tapes, and after about a month, it started to get the same problem. My father's GL1 that he got from his office had the problem as well, and he only used high quality tapes, and now, not suprisingly, my friend's GL2 is having those problems.

With that being said, I do believe there is a lot of truth in my statement that Canon is inferior in its manufacturing department. I've had my DVX100a for over 7 months now and haven't had a single problem with it.

Trust me people, stay away from Canon!

The DVX100 is a nice camera, but generally Panasonic is lower quality than Canon or Sony. Were the heads replaced in your GL1, or just cleaned? Sometimes after using wet-type tapes it's impossible to fully restore the function without replacing the heads. My guess is that at the servicing dept they just ran a cleaning tape once or twice and sent it back.

I've only used Fuji/Panasonic tapes in my GL2 and have probably recorded 15-20 hours over the past year. I haven't had any problems with the heads. I don't consider your experience normal. Any video camera in this price range should last for a long time, and they nearly always do.

The first two times, they probably just cleaned the heads - for $400 dollars. The third time they finally just replaced the camera. I don't consider my experience normal either, but for me, it's enough to turn my back on Canon. And yes, any video camera above $1800 should last for a long time, but this just wasn't the case for me.

You guys should read your manuals... I have a GL2 and I had the same problem, I read the manual. When you encounter black bars and blue screens that's the camera telling you to clean the heads, it does this every 20 hours of use aprox. What this means is that when the heads are dirty you are recording inferior picture quality, so clean the heads. It's only fair to assume that a high end camera is going to need constant maintenance. Just like a high end hollywood overpayed moviestar! When I bought my camera I payed for xtra professional cleanings but you can use a cleaning tape instead. (60$ canadian)


It sucks, but it makes sense doesn't it?

I have both an XL1 and a GL2... The problem has never happened with the XL1, and only happened one time with the GL2. (A simple cleaning tape easily fixed it)

The thing is that I dont want to be servicing a camera this much. Is Canon really worth it? I know they rock (in quality, and performance) but i dont want it to fail on me on an important project. This is the second time I had to abandon filming something. It took me around 30 minutes to setup and for what?...I couldnt even record a single thing!!!! I know the Canon ZR85 is a camcorder onl used for "soccer mom action" but I had only around $400 at the time. Im considering buying a GL2 on Ebay...(if i can find an awesome deal). Considering that the only thing I will probably find is something over $700 do any of you think buying this camcorder is a good investment? Consider the fact that im plannin gon attending Chapman University under their film school...I need a camera than can last!!!!!!!!! and perform top notch

Buy a cleaning cassette and that will be the end of your problems.

Buying a canon is like buying a high performance car. You can only put premium gas in it... no exceptions.

I've had a GL1 for three years now and it's never done it. You should be cleaning the heads and using somewhat better tape brands.

I use Panasonic Master tapes, but you have to get them online since they're only 5 dollars each online. At a store they're about 20 dollars each.

And clean the head. I do it after every shoot I have, because we usually shoot for three days 10-14 hours a day straight and then the camera goes back into the case while i do all the post.

Don't get a more expensive camera if you're not going to take proper care of it.

Also, if you're shooting outside a lot, like in the woods, the beach, etc. Camcorders are made to record birthday parties and weddings, not make movies with, so you're going to have to stay away from certain things and cover your camera up when you're running around getting smoke and forest soil on it, or else get used to wrecking cameras every few months.

If your video heads are getting dirty, the problem could be with your tape stock. Different brands use different amounts and kinds of lubricants on their tapes. Sony, for example, uses a lot of lubricant which really gunks up video heads pretty fast. Panasonic makes really good tapes; that's all I use.

And I think Canons are pretty bad in general. Canon makes sweet optics, but they don't know how to engineer well-designed products.

Yeah, i after i know it was the head that was dirty. I decided to go with the Sony DCR-VX2100 after having a discussion with the manager of Samy's camera. He said the GL2 is a great camera but for the same price I should go with the sony.

Where do you get your Panasonic Master tapes online?

"And I think Canons are pretty bad in general. Canon makes sweet optics, but they don't know how to engineer well-designed products."

Please elaborate. The GL2 and XL1S/XL2 are ubiquitous in indie productions and documentaries. Until the DVX100 came along there was no other camera that offered the same combination of features at that price. The ergonomics on the Canon cameras I've used tend to be better than Sony and at least as good, if not better, than Panasonics. I wouldn't take the experiences in this thread as at all representative of the performance of Canon products. For every complaint of dirty heads (which you know none of the circumstances behind) there are probably 200 users who have never had a problem.