Hi folks,

I was filming some boat races today when after about 10 mins of recording the camera turns off. I tried turning it back on, but it will only go on in VCR Playback mode. I tried putting in another tape and still it won't turn on in camera mode. I can see the light turn green when I switch to VCR Playback, but there is no light when I switch it to Camera mode. Something is terribly wrong. I need help.

- Justin

You may need factory service. But sometimes computer controlled devices get their signals crossed. There's a chance that your cam circuitry is "locked up" in a weird state, and maintained in that state by the backup battery (inside the LCD hatch). Try removing that for several minutes.

Hope you don't find this suggestion insulting. I only mention it because I have been there and done that. There is one step you did not mention. Did you also move the lock/standby lever to standby? The green light will not come on in camera mode until you do so.

Same thing happend to me once.

Had to get the standby/lock lever replaced.

Trond,
Need clarification. Did you have to replace the lever because it broke on its own, or did it break because you took out your frustration on it, after initially forgetting it had to be turned from lock to standby? Just trying to read between the lines of your reply!

Mike Donley

Mike:

It worked one day, and the next day it did not. It turned out that the lever could move just a little on it's own, and therefore was not in the standby possition even if it seemd to be.

I had not used that lever at all before it happend.
The repair was covered by Canon warranty. (The camera was 1 year 11months when it happend.)

Assuming that it's not the lever, the camera was shooting by the water. "Boat races." So I am going to say that it could have some moisture, or a short, in the slider switch itself. This has happened before and a faulty slider has been the stated cause of the "it spontaneously shuts itself off" issue.

Take some alcohol on a q-tip, make sure ALL of the batteries are out, then get some alcohol under the switch. Slide it back and forth to clean it and then let it dry.

Alcohol will aid in the evaporation of the water or moisture, and will not cause a short itself (if given enough time to evaporate).

It's a possibility. As I've said, I've heard of those switches being prone to trouble.