It may be that I don't read the manual carefully enough, but I cannot see how to find out how many recording hours the camera has had? On Sony cameras this is straightforward, but seemingly not on the Canon - unless it's me! How and where do I do this?
Thanks
Aistair

You have to send it back to Canon Service Dept to find out how many hours use on the heads

Thanks for that, David.
Just when you think Canon have produced a serious pro camera - they continue to treat users like amatures! Many people offer this camera for hire, for example - how do you plan servicing if you can't be sure how many hours it's been used?

I beleive that Chris Hurd has stated that there is not an hours meter in XL H1 camera.

When I had may camera serviced, it did not come back from Canon with a hours report.

There has never been a way to check head hours on an XL
camera and Canon USA doesn't provide that info upon servicing.

Question is. Why not? I'm not particularly a Sony fan, but the equivalent Sony HDV cameras do have hours counters (as far as I am aware). This is not some strange fantasy wish - it's something that's important to know to ensure you're camera is in the best possible condition. Also, Canon must surely be able to provide information on head use, if not, when do you change them? Fingers in the air to judge which way the wind is blowing, won't do the trick.
All the best. A.

Agreed. I am certain that they capability to check head hours, but for whatever corporate reason they choose not to share that information with the camera's owner. One of those things which really needs to change in my opinion.