I experienced blue-banding during playback awhile back and cleared it up using a Dynex head cleaning tape.

Now it's doing it again and the head cleaning tape isn't helping. The strange thing is the camera doesn't always show the "Head Cleaning Required" message.

Is there any other way to clean the heads or am I doomed to trusting my cam to a local electronics shop? Any recommendations in the metro Detroit area? Thanks.

I have used BestBuy Dynex head cleaners mini dv and 8 mm and have not had good results with them. I now only use a Panasonic brand cleaner on a Panny and a Sony cleaner on my 8mm Sonys. Much better results. Also what kind of tapes ,brand wise are you using? I have good results with Sony Panasonic and Fuji. Just for the sake of asking you are not reusing tapes over and over are you?

Thanks for the reply. I only use Panny tapes and have never re-used the tapes. I'll grab a Panny head cleaner and see if it helps.

I guess the head is no longer dirty, i guess its dammged.

it happaned with me