Cleaning heads on Canon XM2

[daamon]

Hi All,

I've a Canon XM2 and have yet to clean the heads. I've had one short instance where the message "Clean Heads" flashed up, and there was a few seconds of horizontal bars of previous footage.

I'm using the same 5 DV tapes that I always have. No swapping between brands.

Can anyone make recommendations on what to use / not to use to clean the heads? I ask because I've read that some head cleaners are (too) abrasive. I've also read that I can use isopropyl alcohol on a material that won't leave strands behind (a coffee filter instead of a cotton bud).

I don't want to screw up a decent camera...

So, any decent head cleaning tapes out there? Or do I use a small amount of alcohol on (what?) cleaning material?

Cheers,
Daamon.

[thecoalman]

I'm no expert but since you asked... I just use the store bought tape cleaner. I think that is what Canon recommends.

I know the recommendation is to use as little as possible but on the flip side what is not enough? One time I went to shoot and luckily tried to playback some footage on a previous recording and the preview had horizontal lines running it through it. If I had recorded without cleaning it would have been worthless, these lines didn't show up while recording in the preview but would have on the recording.

I'm using the same 5 DV tapes that I always have. .

I don't know if that's such a bright idea, I'd imagine they do have a life expectancy.

[InXess]

tips on cleaning here:

http://www.taperesources.com/useful_info.html#article4

[daamon]

Thanks guys.