Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - SONY Camcorder

The heads on my 8MM SONY Handycam get dirty very fast and have to be cleaned. This is my second SONY 8MM with the same problem. Never seem to happen with big machines (VHS). Is this a problem with SONY or all small format camcorders?

Thanks:confused:

Not to my knowledge. Are you using inexpensive tape? Like the five for a dollar at Wally World? Or Sony tape stop. I have found them to be inferior. I use Polaroid, I actually have tapes in my library that are 10 to 15 years old the still play like they were new. But I also keep my tapes in a dark closet in plastic covers. TDK is another decent tape, I don’t know why the Sony tape is of such bad quality but it is. Memorex makes a good tape too. Now tell me this, are you using a tape type head cleaner? If so stop immediately! Hopefully you have not damaged the heads by using a tape style head cleaner. There is however one tape style cleaner that is recommended, “Blackwatch” tape cleaner. These have been around for many years and I have personal experience with them and they are what they advertise. Not trying to sell them to you but if I were to recommend to a customer it would be Blackwatch. You can find them with a simple search on Google etc for around $20 US for VHS and I believe $30 for 8mm etc.

Thanks Mike
I am using SONY MP120 and Maxell EX-m120. As for tape life I also have some that are 8-10 years old that play fine after the heads are clean. I will check out the Blackhawk.
Thanks again

I also recommend you have it professionally cleaned. I could explain this procedure to you but it's a real bugger to do. Sounds like you get a lot of use out of the unit is why I say have it pro cleaned but this should also include alignment. You may be just far enough out of alignment that it appears the heads are getting dirty. If the azimuth etc is out much more than a millimeter or so it will cause problems. By cleaning the heads you get a better signal and the tracking can lock on better.