- Try to avoid dusty, dirty areas. Getting dirt in your camcorder can damage the camcorder and your tapes. Use a wet-process cleaning tape in it if you have been using it in dusty environments. Be sure to put it in its carrying case when not in use to protect it from dust and dirt. Clean dust and dirt off the exterior with a soft, damp cloth.
- Don't get it wet, and don't leave it in the sun. Place your camcorder in its carry case whenever it is not in use.
- Use only lens tissue or a clean, soft cloth to clean your camcorder's lens. Using tissues may leave you with a greasy mess since some brands of tissue have skin lotion in them. A cloth with unseen particles of dirt on it can permanently scratch your lens.
- If a cassette jams in your camcorder, do not try to force the magazine open. This will certainly do serious damage to the loading mechanism and it will be a costly repair. Try first to play the tape in the VCR mode of operation. Also try to rewind and fast forward. After each of these operations try again to eject the cassette. Make sure the eject problem isn't due to a low battery -- plug it in. If these attempts fail, take it in for service.
