Camera won't turn on in Camera mode at DVinfo.net

Justin Nalepa · August 21st, 2005, 11:43 AM

Hi folks,

I was filming some boat races today when after about 10 mins of recording the camera turns off. I tried turning it back on, but it will only go on in VCR Playback mode. I tried putting in another tape and still it won't turn on in camera mode. I can see the light turn green when I switch to VCR Playback, but there is no light when I switch it to Camera mode. Something is terribly wrong. I need help.

- Justin

David Ennis · August 21st, 2005, 02:36 PM

You may need factory service. But sometimes computer controlled devices get their signals crossed. There's a chance that your cam circuitry is "locked up" in a weird state, and maintained in that state by the backup battery (inside the LCD hatch). Try removing that for several minutes.

Mike Donley · August 21st, 2005, 03:32 PM

Hope you don't find this suggestion insulting. I only mention it because I have been there and done that. There is one step you did not mention. Did you also move the lock/standby lever to standby? The green light will not come on in camera mode until you do so.

Trond Saetre · August 21st, 2005, 03:53 PM

Same thing happend to me once.

Had to get the standby/lock lever replaced.

Mike Donley · August 22nd, 2005, 11:16 AM

Trond,
Need clarification. Did you have to replace the lever because it broke on its own, or did it break because you took out your frustration on it, after initially forgetting it had to be turned from lock to standby? Just trying to read between the lines of your reply!

Mike Donley

Trond Saetre · August 22nd, 2005, 11:20 AM

Mike:

It worked one day, and the next day it did not. It turned out that the lever could move just a little on it's own, and therefore was not in the standby possition even if it seemd to be.

I had not used that lever at all before it happend.
The repair was covered by Canon warranty. (The camera was 1 year 11months when it happend.)

DJ Kinney · August 22nd, 2005, 12:35 PM

Assuming that it's not the lever, the camera was shooting by the water. "Boat races." So I am going to say that it could have some moisture, or a short, in the slider switch itself. This has happened before and a faulty slider has been the stated cause of the "it spontaneously shuts itself off" issue.

Take some alcohol on a q-tip, make sure ALL of the batteries are out, then get some alcohol under the switch. Slide it back and forth to clean it and then let it dry.

Alcohol will aid in the evaporation of the water or moisture, and will not cause a short itself (if given enough time to evaporate).

It's a possibility. As I've said, I've heard of those switches being prone to trouble.

August 21st, 2005, 11:43 AM	#1
Justin Nalepa New Boot Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney, N.S. (Canada) Posts: 12	Camera won't turn on in Camera mode Hi folks, I was filming some boat races today when after about 10 mins of recording the camera turns off. I tried turning it back on, but it will only go on in VCR Playback mode. I tried putting in another tape and still it won't turn on in camera mode. I can see the light turn green when I switch to VCR Playback, but there is no light when I switch it to Camera mode. Something is terribly wrong. I need help. - Justin

August 21st, 2005, 02:36 PM	#2
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	You may need factory service. But sometimes computer controlled devices get their signals crossed. There's a chance that your cam circuitry is "locked up" in a weird state, and maintained in that state by the backup battery (inside the LCD hatch). Try removing that for several minutes. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

August 21st, 2005, 03:32 PM	#3
Mike Donley Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 96	Moved Lever to Pause? Hope you don't find this suggestion insulting. I only mention it because I have been there and done that. There is one step you did not mention. Did you also move the lock/standby lever to standby? The green light will not come on in camera mode until you do so. __________________ Mike Donley

August 22nd, 2005, 11:16 AM	#5
Mike Donley Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 96	Reason for Replacement Trond, Need clarification. Did you have to replace the lever because it broke on its own, or did it break because you took out your frustration on it, after initially forgetting it had to be turned from lock to standby? Just trying to read between the lines of your reply! Mike Donley __________________ Mike Donley

August 21st, 2005, 03:53 PM	#4
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Same thing happend to me once. Had to get the standby/lock lever replaced.

August 22nd, 2005, 11:20 AM	#6
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Mike: It worked one day, and the next day it did not. It turned out that the lever could move just a little on it's own, and therefore was not in the standby possition even if it seemd to be. I had not used that lever at all before it happend. The repair was covered by Canon warranty. (The camera was 1 year 11months when it happend.)

August 22nd, 2005, 12:35 PM	#7
DJ Kinney Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 277	Assuming that it's not the lever, the camera was shooting by the water. "Boat races." So I am going to say that it could have some moisture, or a short, in the slider switch itself. This has happened before and a faulty slider has been the stated cause of the "it spontaneously shuts itself off" issue. Take some alcohol on a q-tip, make sure ALL of the batteries are out, then get some alcohol under the switch. Slide it back and forth to clean it and then let it dry. Alcohol will aid in the evaporation of the water or moisture, and will not cause a short itself (if given enough time to evaporate). It's a possibility. As I've said, I've heard of those switches being prone to trouble.