[Merlin]

Sony 5000 Hi8 camcorder (pro shoulder mount) had been giving slight picture tug (distortion in lowest 5% of screen, then ten tapes on, its now 15%.
Try an original recording made on this machine, its giving B&W picture and an awful soundtrack ,screechy, garbled etc. Remove that and try another, same, now try mine again and NO SOUND aaaaargh !
Try for a while with slow advance button adjust, the only thing that might adjust tracking, if thats what it needs, get spasmodic sound.

Play a tape all way through and it has sound back after 2 mins.
Success, but then no , when rewind and play another, 20% of pic height is distortion (at base of pic) and no sound, let it run, no joy try a few more, all the same, since the 'own tape' was run, my tapes now are no good in it either.

Whats happened ?
Merlin

How old is that model of camera? And when was it last serviced?

[Merlin]

approx 12 yrs old, and hardly used, sat in the cupboard most of the time I am told. Not serviced I would imagine.
Merlin