I have a zr45 and everything works but when you play a tape it's only a blue screen with a picture of a tape rolling no actual video plays

SOURCE: Tapes wont play in palmcorder vcr mode

just clean the video head and you will get the image.

SOURCE: Rolling picture

Not likely. They probably just need to be cleaned and re-alligned. Rates vary, but our shop charges $20 to do that.

SOURCE: Picture rolls on playback

Hi,

I beg to differ that the head is dirty. This is based on your post "...pre recorded tape is played the picture is fine..."

I am more inclined to suspect:

• servo calibration. This would be the capstan motor controller. The recording speed slightly differs with the playback speed. You could try manually adjusting the tracking control and see if it corrects the problem;
• recording speed selection, LP, SP, EP/SLP. try recording at the lowest speed LP;
• video source, possibly of a different color system, PAL, SECAM, NTSC.

Tim Babcock

• 2794 Answers
• Posted on Oct 07, 2008

SOURCE: Hi8 Playback Problem

Clean the tape heads and see if that makes a difference.  If that doesn't work, it could be the tape motor is going out.  Thats typical behavior when that happens.

SOURCE: Sony Handycam DCR-TRV460 Digital-8

Camera has dirty / clogged video head.
Use good quality video head cleaning cassette.