Canon zr video camera

Oftentimes on a camera of this age the motor for the tape transport will go out. I've had it happen on two older models. Your only option if this happens on every tape is to send it in for repair to Canon. It can be spendy though.

hmmm...the only reason that usually happens is when the tape is messed up internally, or there is something stuck in amongst the head

No. The Canon USA web site says the Canon DW-100 has a USB terminal and works with "USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (with compatible Canon camcorders only)." In other words, the Canon DW-100 burner works only with Canon's USB 2.0 camcorders. I have a Canon ZR200. The ZR200 has Firewire 400 digital video output, not USB 2.0 output. The USB port on the ZR200 is ONLY for still images. Video will not and cannot be output through the USB port on the ZR200. (Page 121 in the ZR200 manual mentions using the USB port on your camcorder for transferring still JPEG images to your computer.) You need a DVD burner with "DV Input" (also called Firewire 400 or IEEE 1394) to hook up your camcorder to burn Mini-DV tapes onto DVD. The Sony VRDMC10 Stand Alone DVD Recorder/Player has DV Input. The ZR200 camcorder did not come with a Firewire cable, but you can buy one at any electronics store or at a cheaper price online. Make sure that you get the right kind of Firewire cable, 4-pin to 4-pin or 4-pin to 6-pin, whatever the DVD burner you choose requires. (Your ZR200 has a 4-pin DV port on the camera's end.) USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (with compatible Canon camcorders only)

The tape transport mechanism cannot fully engage the tape to the head. When a tape is inserted, the tape guides have to pull the tape from the cartridge and send it towards the head. There is a sensor in the carriage that activates the transport to perform its' job. When that sensor is not enable, it will just allow the door to close and the tape guides will remain stationary. Basically, it needs to be taken apart and fixed or realigned.

I have seen this problem many times, the recorder unit needs to be replaced, either something in the tape path has become out of alignment or dirty like a capstan motor or gears or the video head assy is defective. I hope this helps.

Hi,
Its sign of clogged/ dirty video head in your camcorder, put Video Head Cleaning tape in camcorder to clean video heads, problem will be solved.
MiniDV Video Head Cleaning Tape is available in stores.
Thanks.

Cleaning Tape did the trick. Thanks!
Andy

The heads are dirty, purchase a soft head cleaning tape and run it for 25 secs.

FONZIE FIX! It worked for me.

close the tape load door and with your fist, wack it. worked first time for me. the instructions were to wack it harder each time until it closes with the tape. Look up FONZIE FIX.

There is a fix for this which was posted for either the ZR 200 or 400. They call it the "Fonzie" fix. Just hit the camcorder with your fist on the side where the tape goes in (with the door closed). Hit it lightly once, try inserting the tape. Repeat this process with increasing force each time until this works.

Surprisingly, this worked for me. Obviously, there must be something loose for this type of solution to work. I actually had it working once, then it acted up again. I tried the same solution and it's working again. No problems for several days now.