I use my old Optura 10 very little, as a capture deck when I'm on the road and occasionally when my kids need to play around with a camera at a family function. It's three years old, been not so well cared for (I hunt, this used to be my #1 camera, it's had a hard life).

This weekend, I pulled it out of the backpack to capture some footage to my laptop. In VCR mode there is nothing out of the ordinary. In camera mode it blinks, flashes when pointed toward bright sunlight. If you cover the lens it stops, if you point it toward a shadowed area it stops. Point it toward an object that has sunlight hitting it and it blinks, flashes.

Any ideas what could be the problem?

Obviously the camera is trying to adjust to the light and something is screwed up. I did change batteries, tape, removed the backup battery and found no change in the problem.

Sorry to hear about the problems. Does it record to tape like that, or is the effect isolated to the LCD? I get a similar type of effect with my girlfriend's old ZR40.

Either way, probably time for a tune up at a Canon facility.

It records the flashing to the tape.

I thought maybe there would be a quick fix for this, slim chance...

I talked to Canon today and they said $250 minimum to look at it. So, I guess I'm screwed, not going to put that kind of money into a 1 chip camera. I'll use it as a capture deck and start looking for a good deal on a GL1 or GL2.

Okay, this is weird. I turned the camera on last night and ever thing seems to be working fine. Went outside this afternoon and recorded some footage, everything seems to be back to normal. I have no clue what happened but I'm sure the problem will rear it's ugly head at the most inopportune time in the future! That's just my luck.

Okay, this is weird. I turned the camera on last night and ever thing seems to be working fine. Went outside this afternoon and recorded some footage, everything seems to be back to normal. I have no clue what happened but I'm sure the problem will rear it's ugly head at the most inopportune time in the future! That's just my luck.

I used to see some of the weirdest electronics problems during full moon phase. People laugh, and I wish I had plotted this for all those years, but I'm talking about stuff that just leaves you scratching your head. So Tyge, don't use the camera during full moon and you'll be fine. :-)

-gb-

I have an Optura 20 and the same problem happened to me 2 years ago. I don't think I found a way to solve it, but I do know how to avoid it (I think). Try and be gentle with the camera, especially when flipping out the LCD and putting the battery on. I found that if I push the battery in too hard or push the LCD to its full 90 degree, I get that weird (zebra stripe looking) thing on bright areas of the screen. Ever since then I only open the LCD to about 45-60 degrees and that problem doesn't show up as much, only about twice in a few months span.

Anyways, I hope that helps you out!

Well it now appears that the Sony CCDs in many camcorders/cameras are defective. Several large companies are issuing a "silent re-call" where they will "fix" the camcorder as long as it has begun to malfunction. Currently they won't fix/replace it if it is working properly.

You should contact Canon again, in light of this news.

Here is the official response from Canon - though other camcorder/camera manufacturers are also affected:
http://www.canon-asia.com/index.jsp?fuseaction=image-phenomena_notice

Also see here to discuss further:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=53463

Sounds like the Iris needs to be re- adjusted another thing you may want to try is putting it in manual mode see if does it. If you do send it to Canon Supply a sample tape.