MD: Many good cameras have a function on the camera's MENU that tells you how long the camera has been run. Go to a tab called RUNTIME. If it keeps the runtime, it will usually have a couple of different times but it's the drum time that really shows usage. This refers to the number of hours that the recording head has run, and is usually written like 13 X 10, which is 130 hours of drum time. Drum time's show how long the drums have worked with a recording, but also account for the playback time too.
I know my Canon GL2 didn't keep run time, my JVC does, and I'm pretty sure that Sony's and Panasonic's do.
I know my Canon GL2 didn't keep run time, my JVC does, and I'm pretty sure that Sony's and Panasonic's do.