Cannon Optura 20 - Tape Jammed
sz...@hotmail.com
We've had this camcorder about 4-5 years and recently the tape
wouldn't pop out when I tried to eject it. It tries to eject the tape
and the arm does move the tape out, but it doesn't pop up and then it
retracts and says to eject the tape.
I tried taking the battery out and actually got it to eject once, but
then it just got stuck again.
I've heard this is an expensive repair so it may be time to replace
this with a newer camcorder.
Would appreciate any advice on fixing this problem and/or
recommendations for a new camcorder in the $500 - $700 price range.
Want something that takes good stills and works well with computer for
webcam, downloading video, etc.. Wife wants something small.
Thanks in advance,
Steve
dcasp...@email.com
My guess is that the tape got wrapped around the capstan shaft so it
can't be pulled back into the cassette so that it can be ejected.
Somebody will have to disassemble part of the camcorder and manually
unwind the tape from around the shaft. Unless you are nimble of
hands and fingers, have a well lit work surface and possess jewelers
tools, that job is best left to a repair person.
Since it happened once, it may happen again and might be a sign that
the slip clutch on the take-up spool is slipping to soon.
Bad news - nothing made recently (in the last 5 years) is worth buying
since you have been spoiled by a great camcorder. If you can swing
it, buy a Canon HV20 which is a HD camcorder but everybody seems to
love that little gem.
Dave
sz...@hotmail.com
> On Sep 7, 8:24 am, "sz...@hotmail.com" <sz...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi,
>
> > We've had this camcorder about 4-5 years and recently the tape
> > wouldn't pop out when I tried to eject it. It tries to eject the tape
> > and the arm does move the tape out, but it doesn't pop up and then it
> > retracts and says to eject the tape.
>
> > I tried taking the battery out and actually got it to eject once, but
> > then it just got stuck again.
>
> > I've heard this is an expensive repair so it may be time to replace
> > this with a newer camcorder.
>
> > Would appreciate any advice on fixing this problem and/or
> > recommendations for a new camcorder in the $500 - $700 price range.
> > Want something that takes good stills and works well with computer for
> > webcam, downloading video, etc.. Wife wants something small.
>
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Steve
>
> My guess is that the tape got wrapped around the capstan shaft so it
> can't be pulled back into the cassette so that it can be ejected.
> Somebody will have to disassemble part of the camcorder and manually
> unwind the tape from around the shaft. Unless you are nimble of
> hands and fingers, have a well lit work surface and possess jewelers
> tools, that job is best left to a repair person.
I don't think the tape got wrapped up. The tape plays fine once I
reset the camcorder by removing the battery. Otherwise it just keeps
displaying the Eject Cassete message since the last eject did not
function properly.
Also, I inserted a different tape the 2nd time after I actually got
the first tape out, and that one also got stuck.
>
> Since it happened once, it may happen again and might be a sign that
> the slip clutch on the take-up spool is slipping to soon.
>
> Bad news - nothing made recently (in the last 5 years) is worth buying
> since you have been spoiled by a great camcorder. If you can swing
> it, buy a Canon HV20 which is a HD camcorder but everybody seems to
> love that little gem.
OK, thanks for the feedback and the reommdendation. I'll be checking
out that HV20.
Steve
dcasp...@email.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
Hmm...are these tapes that are sticking, new or a different brand from
those that have worked properly in the past? Maybe the sticky ones
are a little out of tolerance in their dimensions? If you are having
trouble with the same tapes that have previously worked properly then
maybe a foreign object or tape label came loose and is stuck inside?
I don't have a MiniDV camcorder, mine are Digital8. I think mine
push the tape sideways until the tape clears the tape spindles and
then a spring pushes the tape out of the camcorder body so that your
fingers can extract it completely. Maybe that spring has gotten weak
but that is a long shot. Try many different brands or a variety of
previously used tapes to see if you can detect some kind of pattern in
the failures.
That's about all I can think of, to suggest you try. If you have a
local mom and pop electronics repair shop, it might be worth a try
taking it to them and see if the VCR repair guy can spot the
problem. He has probably seen a lot of different problems during his
career?
Dave
sz...@hotmail.com
> Hmm...are these tapes that are sticking, new or a different brand from
> those that have worked properly in the past? Maybe the sticky ones
> are a little out of tolerance in their dimensions? If you are having
> trouble with the same tapes that have previously worked properly then
> maybe a foreign object or tape label came loose and is stuck inside?
>
Well, I did buy some new tapes before this problem occured but they
were similar to others I had been using. Other tapes that had
previously ejected fine are sticking now though.
I have figured out a way to get the casettes to eject every time now
though! I just have to rewind them all the way. In the past I'm sure
I didn't have to do this. If I rewind them fully they eject every
time. If not, they stick.
Hopefully it will keep functioning like this. I can live with this
behavior.
> I don't have a MiniDV camcorder, mine are Digital8. I think mine
> push the tape sideways until the tape clears the tape spindles and
> then a spring pushes the tape out of the camcorder body so that your
> fingers can extract it completely. Maybe that spring has gotten weak
> but that is a long shot. Try many different brands or a variety of
> previously used tapes to see if you can detect some kind of pattern in
> the failures.
Thanks again for the tips.
Hopefully it will work for a few more years! I didn't feel like
replacing this one. It has been a great camcorder and takes great
stills as well.
Steve
>
> That's about all I can think of, to suggest you try. If you have a
> local mom and pop electronics repair shop, it might be worth a try
> taking it to them and see if the VCR repair guy can spot the
> problem. He has probably seen a lot of different problems during his
> career?
>
> Dave- Hide quoted text -