Servicing the XL1 - cost and time?
 

Could anyone give me a suggestion or info on approximately how much it costs and how long they keep the camera to do a general "tune-up", a full cleaning and inspection and whatever else that includes. My XL1 is still having the same video problems I posted about earlier (Video Quality Problems .... HELP!) with flickering of the video and it looking like literally part of the image is shifted out of alignment with the rest of the image. It seems to only happen when the camera is moving quickly or the subject is, as I shoot mostly college sports. I've shot a time-lapse sunset where the camera was stationary on a tripod and had no problem.
But I don't want to be without the camera for TOO long unless I wait till the summer and not worry about how long it's gone. But an approximate time and cost would be great. Thanks!

XL-1 repair
 

I recently sent in my XL-1 for repair of a similar problem, plus routine maintainance. Cost: about $400.00.
That sounds like a lot, but remember this. If you belong to the XL-1 owners club, they guarantee a 5 day turn around (from the factory service center in New Jersey). They will give you a free loaner if you need a unit right away. I had to send mine back three times plus a tape to demonstrate the problems, but they finally fixed it for the same price, and pretty much paid for all the shipping. My camcorder now has a lot of new insides, and I am happy. This repair facility is a class act, and worth a few hundred dollars for a camera that has had heavy use for three years.

Steve Siegel