Playback reveals a mosaic-pattern distortion at start of some mini-DV tapes recorded with a Panasonic NV-MD9000 (PAL) camcorder

As a facilitator for a health communication/community video project in Africa, I have been using the Panasonic NV-MD9000 mini-DV camcorder with satisfactory results for the past 2+ years. Within the past months, and only now and then, the camera appears to record without any problems, but playback reveals a mosaic-type, broken pattern. The problem is pretty clearly NOT dirty heads. The distortion still occurs after heads are cleaned—-and though it only occurs occasionally, it always takes place at the beginning of a tape. The distortion problem stops sometimes if recording is paused and then continued (though it remains on the first section of the tape). We have lost footage because of this. Any suggestions/advice welcome.

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