In article <1074130942.22598836@designlink.com>, Al_Goldsmith@designlink.com says...

>Problems - Sony DHR-1000 digital deck.
>
>A cautionary note for those thinking about getting the Sony DHR-1000 digital
>VCR.
>
>I used mine very lightly for about a month - fed it from both Sony DCR-VX1000
>camcorder via Firewire, and from S-VHS and VHS decks. It performed beautifully
>.
>Did a couple of very short edits and it was great. Used the few Sony DV-60
>tapes I had left from original order with VX-1000 over a year ago. Needed to
>keep them intact for archives and protection.
>
>Tried to order Sony DV-60 tapes (both with and without chip) from several of
>the better known mail order houses and all said they are on back order and
>won't be available before Fall 97. Sony direct gave the same story. No Sony DV
>tapes available before Fall 97.
>
>I had an edit project to complete on short notice. The mail order houses had
>Panasonic and JVC DV-60 tapes available and I obtained some of the Panasonic
>tapes.They work normally in my Sony DCR-VX1000. Panasonic makes great equipmen
>t
>and it's very reliable from my experience.
>
>Started my assemble edit using Panasonic DV-60 tape in the DHR-1000. Worked
>beautifully and, during second review of edit in play mode, suddenly the Sony
>deck just hung up - couldn't eject my tape. Had power but no functions possibl
>e
>- no rewind, play, eject, menu - nothing.
>
>Took deck to Sony Repair facility in San Bruno California on June 20, 1997
>under 90 day warranty (When Sony provides only a 90 day manufacturer's
>warranty, they are saying they don't think much of the potential reliability o
>f
>their product). Received deck back - from Massachusetts Sony Repair facility -
>on July 3, 1997. Service description said "Constant software jam - mechanical
>adjustment made." My Panasonic edit tape was returned with notes: "...it shoul
>d
>not be installed in the unit. It is defective and may reintroduce a problem
>into your unit." "Please use Sony tapes for best results and lasting
>performance." NOTE: The Panasonic DV-60 tape played back flawlessly from my
>DCR-VX1000. There is nothing wrong with the tape that I can find. Used scenes
>in it for Firewire insert edits to Sony DV120 tape in repaired DHR-1000.
>
>Sony's notes clearly tell us, if you buy a Sony DHR-1000 digital deck now, you
>won't be able to use it until Sony tapes become available in Fall 1997.
>
>The lesson here for me is: Panasonic and JVC digital tapes are available now.
>Why not buy the Panasonic digital deck and avoid Sony problems ?
>
>Anyone else have similar or other problems or experience with Sony DHR-1000
>digital deck ?

(BTW, this may have been best posted under one of the rec.video catagories...)
I have not used the deck, but when I bought a Sony VX-700 DV camcorder, only a Panasonic tape was available for trying it out. Three drop-outs in the first 1/2 hour convinced me not to use the Panasonic tape in Sony gear. None of the 14-15 rolls of Sony tape used in the VX-700 or VX-1000 has shown any drop-outs. I bought a 30-roll stock from B&H recently, and found other sources, too - you might call around to more tape suppliers - maybe SOMEONE has it... (a shortage of this type IS ridiculous....!). To keep this post relevant to a photo group, I have on my web page ("Changing Showz", to "baseball game") Snappy captures
of video frames shot with the digital Sony VX-1000 camcorder of a baseball
game - not bad quality for still images on a web page, and 30 frames-per-second gives a good choice of captured moments...;-)
Hope This Helps
(David Ruether - http://www.fcinet.com/ruether )