Camcorder repair advice needed

[slnorth]

I have a Panasonic PV-DV701 (don't know if that matters) that now plays back recorded tape with the image split up by 5 strips across the view screen which contain broken up image pixels. The sound doesn't always come out and when it does it is broken up.

I was about to contact Panasonic and see where to mail this thing for solutions since repair shops don't want to touch a DV camcorder. But before I did I wanted to check the boards to see what advice anyone might have.

I may have worn this thing out trying to play back tapes to computer to record to DVD.

Q:
Is there a DV tape player stand-alone or do we use our camcorders ragged?

Q:
Do I just send this to the nearest Panasonic shop?


Background:
I got this camera 2 yrs ago as a replacement for a previous worn out camcorder. I had a 3 yr extended warrantee on it and it went bad 2 months before the expiration. So they let me pick out another one in the store. Bummer is I picked a floor demo model and only purchased a 1 yr warrantee so now I must chose between fixing this or buying a new one.

Thank you

[davideck]

Have you tried a cleaning tape?
It will cost about $10 but may be all that is needed.
If it doesn't fix the problem (and if the heads are worn), a new camcorder may not cost any more than the repair charge.

[slnorth]

This had happened before and cleaning tapes didn't help however the problem went away after the camera sat for a few days.

This time it's not going away and since it happened on a trip to San Diego and I forgot my cleaning tape and I wasn't going to pay $20 at Fry's for another one since the problem didn't seem to be dirty heads I waited until I got home.

I just cleaned it 3 times and no change so I guess it's off to a shop and if it costs more than $150 to fix I might as well buy a new one.

This one was $1200 new but I've noticed the $400 ones today have better zoom with less pixelation and some even have a higher resolution.

[davideck]

Have you changed the brand of tape lately?
My JVC Mini DV camcorder cannot use Panasonic tapes.
I had been using JVC tapes for two years, and started getting "Heads Need Cleaning" notices after using a couple of Panasonic tapes. A cleaning tape did not help, but the problem went away once I went back to JVC tapes.
Several websites recommend using only one brand of Mini DV tape.

[louthewiz]

I got even better news for you at www.soundcity.com in the outlet center theyy are selling for $125.00-$200.00 . So why fix when you can buy a new one cheap.

[troyvcd1]

It sounds a lot like you need to get the heads realigned.

[johns0]

The problem usually is the tape guides are loose and start moving up and down causing the picture strips,what you need to do is take the case off and realign the tape guides with a known good tape and tighten the tape guide screws.

[proxyx99]

Agree, looks like tape transport issue. Realignment is about 120 bucks. You can do it yourself if technicaly inclined. Check service depot prices.