We have 3 xl2's that we use at church. We have been using them for IMAG for about 2 years. Is there any maintenance that we need to be aware of? Does it need to be professionally serviced? Any recommendations on places to clean the heads?

Hi Derek,

As far as I know, there are only two places that would service XL2s, and that's in Irvine, CA and Jamesburg, NJ.

Support - Digital Camcorder - XL2 - Service Locator - Service Locations - Canon USA Consumer Products (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ServiceDealersAct&functionid=2&fcategoryid=227&modelid=10350)

We've been using our XL2 for around 3 years, and have not taken it in for maintenance (crossing fingers :). I've "regularly" used a tape head cleaner, meaning I use it only after I see the dreaded "heads are dirty needs cleaning" flashing in the viewfinder.

FWIW, we shoot outdoors, I'd say, more than 50% of the time; it's been through all sorts of weather, even rode on the back of a muddy, dirty ATV. And the XL2 still performed (but not too well initially; first tape had alot of dropouts).

If you shoot mostly indoors inside a church, I don't think you really need to worry about the XL2's maintenance. Unless, you really, really think they need it.

Best,

This is one of those things that's kind of a bummer about Canon service. I kind of want to get my heads professionally cleaned as well, but nobody will touch it in my area. You have to send it Canon. It's not an easy item to ship.

Hi Marco,

Have you sent your XL2 for service/cleanup before? I'm just wondering if you say that shipping is a pain in the @$$, maybe I should just drive it there!?! (I have family in Southern California, and have passed the Canon service building in Irvine a few times. Will be going there sometime in July.)

Best,

If you have your original box, it's a bit easier, as the box is designed for the camera to be shipped in. Still, I don't like the idea of it bouncing around with UPS or the postal service or whoever. If you can drive it easily, I'd do that.

You know, you can go to the Canon web site and join the "club," or what ever it's called. You get some benefits from it (I forgot), and I believe they will send you packaging materials for shipping your XL in for service.

Hi Marco,

Drat :) I just did throw away the XL2 box just after we moved into our new house!

Hi Jack,

I am a member of the XL Club, so I might have to give them a buzz to see if they can ship out a proper box with proper shipping materials included.

Best,