Error/eating tape at DVinfo.net

Dave Frank · June 7th, 2004, 07:18 PM

Hi, I just recently had my camera flash "EJECT TAPE" and then I popped it out and found the tape eaten by the camera. I then quickly put a head cleaner through it and let it sit for a couple of days. I am still weary of using it. What should I do?

I have a film being shot in less than a week as well. So the timing isn't that great.

Lorinda Norton · June 7th, 2004, 09:46 PM

Hi Dave,

Well, it's not like you've got anything to lose by trying another tape, right? And I sympathize--the timing isn't that great.

Last year I had an XL1s eat a tape upon rewind. Rather than wonder about it, I sent it to Canon service. It took them well over a week, but they replaced the slide chassis assembly, drive gear assembly, and idler gear assembly. That part of the camera has worked fine since then (darn it--I hope I didn't just jinx the thing. :)

Because of your upcoming shoot, I think I'd try testing it over and over to see how it does. If the problem doesn't crop up again, MAYBE you could trust it on the shoot. But it might need to go in for a checkup soon, if not now.

Dean Sensui · June 13th, 2004, 01:37 AM

I also had an XL1s eat a tape on rewind just the other day. It's going in for service.

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions.

Josh Hibbard · June 27th, 2004, 01:49 PM

I just had a simmilar problem on rewind, only the tape is still stuck in the camera

The real pain is its a very important tape of someone's wedding and the tape needs to be salvaged somehow... Is there any way I can both get the tape out and repair whatever might be left?

Please help

Lorinda Norton · June 27th, 2004, 03:01 PM

Hi Josh,

If you don't want to take a chance on breaking the tape, I'd send the camera straight to Canon service. Ask them to remove it and send it back after they check and service your camera. It's no fun wondering if your camera is going to act up again, so the money spent on a service/repair is well worth it.

If, by chance, you were able to get the tape out yourself, here's some advice I received on a thread like this one a couple of years ago. Hope it's helpful:

"As for the damaged tape...you CAN salvage the footage. Flip the tape upside down, pop open the top, make sure you stick something in the little indentation in the middle (so the tape moves freely) and, using a pencil, rewind the tape far enough that the damaged section won't go through the heads on the camera when you insert it, and you should be able to get any footage at the beginning of the tape back without much difficulty. Just make sure you don't try and play the damaged part again."

Bob Safay · June 27th, 2004, 03:43 PM

Dave, I am in the same boat. I do a wedding in Colorado over the 4th and when I took the XL-1s out yesterday I got the "Romove Cassette" warning. This happened about 4 times. In a panic I read the manual and it said this may be do to moisture in the camcorder. I live in Atlanta and I took the Camcorder for AC to 97% humidity. I let it sit with the door open for 1/2 hour and all seems to be well now. Just an idea for you to think about. Bob

Josh Hibbard · June 27th, 2004, 04:17 PM

Thanks for the reply Lorinda.

Yeah I will call canon service tommorow, hopefully I can sort it out.

Adam Burtle · June 27th, 2004, 04:22 PM

This is a pretty well documented xl1 problem.. we had an XL1 in thepast that would eat tapes occasionally on rewind. Eventually i just stopped using the camera to rewind (about the time it ate the 3rd tape on me). It would happen sporadically, for no appearant reason.. but was otherwise fine, so i'd just use it to shoot and use another camera/deck for rewind.

June 7th, 2004, 07:18 PM	#1
Dave Frank Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 244	Error/eating tape Hi, I just recently had my camera flash "EJECT TAPE" and then I popped it out and found the tape eaten by the camera. I then quickly put a head cleaner through it and let it sit for a couple of days. I am still weary of using it. What should I do? I have a film being shot in less than a week as well. So the timing isn't that great. __________________ http://www.sleeptightmovie.com

June 7th, 2004, 09:46 PM	#2
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Hi Dave, Well, it's not like you've got anything to lose by trying another tape, right? And I sympathize--the timing isn't that great. Last year I had an XL1s eat a tape upon rewind. Rather than wonder about it, I sent it to Canon service. It took them well over a week, but they replaced the slide chassis assembly, drive gear assembly, and idler gear assembly. That part of the camera has worked fine since then (darn it--I hope I didn't just jinx the thing. :) Because of your upcoming shoot, I think I'd try testing it over and over to see how it does. If the problem doesn't crop up again, MAYBE you could trust it on the shoot. But it might need to go in for a checkup soon, if not now.

June 13th, 2004, 01:37 AM	#3
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	I also had an XL1s eat a tape on rewind just the other day. It's going in for service. Dean Sensui Base Two Productions.

June 27th, 2004, 01:49 PM	#4
Josh Hibbard Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Manitowoc Wisconsin Posts: 77	I just had a simmilar problem on rewind, only the tape is still stuck in the camera The real pain is its a very important tape of someone's wedding and the tape needs to be salvaged somehow... Is there any way I can both get the tape out and repair whatever might be left? Please help

June 27th, 2004, 03:01 PM	#5
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Hi Josh, If you don't want to take a chance on breaking the tape, I'd send the camera straight to Canon service. Ask them to remove it and send it back after they check and service your camera. It's no fun wondering if your camera is going to act up again, so the money spent on a service/repair is well worth it. If, by chance, you were able to get the tape out yourself, here's some advice I received on a thread like this one a couple of years ago. Hope it's helpful: "As for the damaged tape...you CAN salvage the footage. Flip the tape upside down, pop open the top, make sure you stick something in the little indentation in the middle (so the tape moves freely) and, using a pencil, rewind the tape far enough that the damaged section won't go through the heads on the camera when you insert it, and you should be able to get any footage at the beginning of the tape back without much difficulty. Just make sure you don't try and play the damaged part again."

June 27th, 2004, 03:43 PM	#6
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,557	Dave, I am in the same boat. I do a wedding in Colorado over the 4th and when I took the XL-1s out yesterday I got the "Romove Cassette" warning. This happened about 4 times. In a panic I read the manual and it said this may be do to moisture in the camcorder. I live in Atlanta and I took the Camcorder for AC to 97% humidity. I let it sit with the door open for 1/2 hour and all seems to be well now. Just an idea for you to think about. Bob

June 27th, 2004, 04:17 PM	#7
Josh Hibbard Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Manitowoc Wisconsin Posts: 77	Thanks for the reply Lorinda. Yeah I will call canon service tommorow, hopefully I can sort it out.

June 27th, 2004, 04:22 PM	#8
Adam Burtle Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 173	This is a pretty well documented xl1 problem.. we had an XL1 in thepast that would eat tapes occasionally on rewind. Eventually i just stopped using the camera to rewind (about the time it ate the 3rd tape on me). It would happen sporadically, for no appearant reason.. but was otherwise fine, so i'd just use it to shoot and use another camera/deck for rewind.