PURPOSE: To obtain the still picture recording and reproducing device capable of automatically warning the cleaning time of a head.

CONSTITUTION: At the time of digitally reproducing a picture by a magnetic recording and reproducing part 3 through a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, etc., deterioration of a picture reproducing rate is detected by an error rate counter 4, and when it is decided by a CPU 5 that the detected error rate becomes more than a prescribed rate, the effect of requirement of cleaning the head is displayed on a display circuit 7. Consequently, the time required for cleaning the head can automatically be recognized.