I have a Panasonic Mini-DV Digital video camera NV-GS30EN. The problem is that that sometimes it does not record or play the cassette . During this problem though the cassette is moving and the remaining tape time is displayed but nothing gets recorded as the time code does not move and the front recording light does not light up and if I try to play the previously recorded cassette again the cassette moves but there is no picture on the screen. During this problem no warning /alarm indication is displayed so that I could understand what the problem is . I then do things like taking out the cassette and switching the camera on/off and sometimes the camera works after this. . Here I must point to an important factor that is when the camera operates fine both the recording and playback operations are fine and normal and once the recording/playback starts it does not stop on its own and everything seems normal but after shutting down the camera I never know if it will work normally next time or not.
Last month by chance when the same problem persisted I gently knocked on the camera with my fingers and the trick worked . since then whenever the problem occurs I gently tap on the camera and the time code moves and the picture comes on the LCD. It sounds like you have loose wire and /or connector inside your camera. You could have a look your self if you know what to do but make sure mains or battery supply is off and unplugged, but be warned if your camera is still under warranty this will null and void it. Otherwise try a high street camera shop and ask for a quote first. I've never really had a good look inside at the mini-DV tape transport, but maybe the tape isn't being unspooled correctly.
When you fast foward or rewind a tape it's lifted off the video head drum and on newer machines maybe the other playback heads (Tracking/Audio) are moved back, clear of the tape. It could be that the tracking head isn't returning to the tape path and so the playback/record system is lost as no tracking signal is being recieved which means that the tape may not be correctly aligned with the video heads and as it's a digital format it may not be able to read enough information correctly to display an image.
This may not be the exact problem but it may point you in the right direction. I guess though a service centre would be the best option. | 