Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Has anyone else seen this artifacting? I received the XF about a month ago. Love it. I've used it several times and the other day I was using it outside in bright sunlight. After an hour of being outside, I noticed in the rear viewfinder a few bright green blobs! Then , , , a larger fleshy colored little design!! OMG!

Interestingly it was NOT in the LCD screen, nor in any actual video shot - just brightly colored in the rear viewfinder. The artifacts are in the same place whether looking thru the "camera" position, or the "media" position. But again, NOT in any actual video.

I got a new camera (B&H graciously exchanged it - with Canon's permission).

It's been great for 2 days and all of a sudden, I'm seeing more of the same after shooting outside again! Now, I'm as careful as the next fellow and take caution NOT to point the lens or viewfinder into the sun. That's not to say that if I'm walking outside holding the camera in a normal fashion - that for an instant or two, as I turn, the sun might not peep into the rear viewfinder without my knowing it . . . but apparently it is (I'm thinking this is what caused this?).

But I've been videoing for 20 + years - I've NEVER had anything like this happen. Now, in one week - it's done it to two cameras?
Anyone else had this happen? At first I just thought it was the first camera was flawed . . . but now???

I'm not sure it is the sun - it's just coincidental that two times outside = 2 flawed viewfinders?

I hope I'm not alone on this issue??
Thanks,
Larry

Hey Larry, that sucks.

It sure sounds to me like direct sun got into the viewfinder, but then again, you said you've been careful, so who knows? For your sake, I hope it turns out to be a camera defect.

I've used my XF305 outdoors a lot over the past month and things still look normal. Knock on wood. Like any camera, I avoid letting the sun get into the VF but I haven't gone out of my way to be extra special careful . . . now I will be. Thanks for the warning.

wait so if sun shines on a viewfinder it gets fried?

It sure can. The same glass eyepiece that enlarges the image in the viewfinder can also act as a magnifier for sunlight going in. It can then burn the small monitor inside, like a magnifying glass does to a leaf. I've seen viewfinders with this damage.

wow thats insane ,i never knew that :(

panny's are notorious for that..one friend burned his HVX-200 viewfinder and another friend toasted his HPX-170. (we are in AZ so a LOT of outdoor sunny shooting occurs) My hmc-150 has a thick black sock over the viewfinder since I don't use it. (prefer an external monitor)
Panny's were around $250 to replace!

I'd be surprised if it's not mentioned in the camera instruction book, it is with most cameras.
Steve

Burned artifacts in viewfinder
 

Thank you for your comments - but what I can't understand it this happened to TWO cameras in 4 days?? I've been shooting for over 20 years - and I've NEVER had this? The first time, I thought there was something just wrong with the new XF300. But now the second time? I was only outside maybe 2 hours. Either I was shooting (using the rear viewfinder) or walking around - I keep the viewfinder level with the ground - so it's not like the sun is glaring into it! I never just sit the camera down by itself so accidentally the sun can shine in! (That I know of!) I thought maybe this camera was extra extra sensitive or something . . . or would it have been something else I'm doing?
Larry

Hi Larry,

Sorry to hear about the problems you're having.

You've probably called B and H already? I'm curious what they (and Canon) have to say. Please keep us updated.

Best,

Could very high humidity be a factor?
I imagine you're protecting against condensation just like preventing the sun from entering the viewfinder since you're an experienced shooter, but it is an odd two events so close together.
I'm planning on getting the XF300 soon, is there any specifically "new technology" about the viewfinder that might make it more vulnerable than past types?

It takes very little time for sun to burn the viewfinder LCD if the angle is right. When shooting outside, I always put a piece of gaff over the viewfinder when it's not in use to prevent such an issue.

The early pro Sony color VF were easily damaged by the sun, it took just a couple of seconds to leave a pink or green blob on the finder. Just walking with the camera and the finder point in the direction of the Sun can do it.

Had the same problems with my new XF300. Burned artifacts in the viewfinder. Never hat this problems with other cams.

The Sony EX3 manual specifically warns of this well know "sun magnification = damaged viewfinder" risk too - for those that bother to read manuals...but to have it happen twice with 2 separate Canon XF cameras in such a short period of time sounds very strange/worrying????

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Just wrecked my viewfinder today with this. I hadn't pointed the camera at the sun or the viewfinder. However I wear glasses and am thinking that maybe my lens reflected sunlight back onto the viewfinder screen.

Does anyone else with this problem wear glasses?

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Hi Vincent,
I am Larry, the one who originally posted this very disappointing dilemma. Interestingly, Canon ended up giving me a new camera. Actually, they didn't have any, so B&H did! They handled it superbly well. So the summer then ended, I got the new camera - used it a bit in the field, outside, and no more burns. (But not a lot of shooting.) But now that you mention it, I do wear glasses, progressives. I wonder if you could be right?

I sure hope we don't have this issue again this summer.
Larry

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Larry I have just posted a shot of my viewfinder here

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xf...05-owners.html

Glad you got your camera sorted out, I am convinced that this could be a problem related to people who wear glasses. I think the bright sunlight reflection could be enough to burn the traces as shown in my picture.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

YUP, mine looked exactly like that. But I'm thinking mine were shaped erratically, just like yours but green and Orange blobs - in color. I see yours are white? Mine were ONLY on the rear viewfinder, NOT the LCD finder. Is this the same with you?

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Yes, only in the rear viewfinder. The blobs are more yellow than shown in the picture, I shot the picture using a Micro Nikkor close up to the viewfinder, colour balance isn't too accurate.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Vincent, you should claim under warranty as Larry did & get it fixed or replaced. I certainly will if I start seeing yellow blobs in my viewfinder.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

I, too, have discovered burn marks in the EVF. And I'm sure it happened when filming indoors. Does anyone think that de-focussing the eyepiece would prevent this from re-occurring?

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Canon are now issuing EVF caps to any camera that goes near their service centre in UK and probably Europe. At this moment, all burned VFs are being replaced for free, but I cannot see this lasting.

My suggestion? Call the service and ask for a free EVF cap before you have an issue!

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Thanks, Nick - I just got mine yesterday. Interestingly, Canon suggests when you're outside shooting, IF YOU'RE USING THE LCD screen (which we usually DON'T!) keep the little EVF cap on also!
Larry

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Old photographer here ... remembers reports of hole burned in the shutter curtain of a rangefinder camera because the lens was pointing at the sun for a while. The lens was like a magnifier and it burned a hole in the shutter curtain.

Let's be careful out there.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Larry,

Absolutely! Keep the cap on at all times that the EVF is not being used

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Unfortunately I cannot find the reference at the moment but yesterday I read a report from someone who had spoken to Canon USA who confirmed that there was a defect with the EVFs in early shipments that made them susceptible to damage in normal use. Apparently the defect has now been corrected in currently shipping cameras. Presumably Canon will need to replace all damaged EVFs under warranty although they should really be doing a full product recall as there is an acknowledged defect in manufacture.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

THere is no way that my EVF burned-out from the sun. It was a cloudy day. I think there is a problem with some the EVF's.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

I am inclined to agree with you on this one, I still haven't had time to send my camera in for repair, but will do so this week.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Any explanation from Canon?
Have they been keeping quiet all this time?

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Well, it seems the problem has not gone away. Below is a re-post, which I feel is relevant to this current thread and may be helpful:




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Canon has just received the XF series EVF caps. The cost is $2.95 each and shipping is $6.95. I would order a few directly from CANON PROFESSIONAL PARTS as they can get lost easy.

The part#: D54-016-000 Phone#1-866-510-1335

Here is what I did: There is a very small hole on the side of the Viewfinder Cap. I took a small elastic hair band and tied the band to the rear shoulder clip located above the output area. I placed a piece of velcro above the output area and a piece of velcro on the outside of the small cap. The cap now swings-off the EVF and I attach same to the velcro. This is a REAL easy piece to lose-real easy. So, now the EVF cap is attached to the body of the camera at all times.

Why the EVF CAP in the first place? Because, there is a DEFECT in the TOP layer of the EVF. Even a small amount of light COULD cause a yellow burn-in on the EVF surface. Canon must know this and has introduced these EVF caps which are really like PLUGS that are placed within the rubber eyecup.

Good luck.....hope you never have a problem like I did-even on a cloudy day and I was aware of the EVF problem from prior posts."

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Ad me to the list of viewfinder burners.

It happened so quickly I couldn't believe it, and this after almost a year of owning the cam. I was in the middle of a shoot so kept going, watching as carefully as I could not to point it up, and darn if it didn't happen again within minutes. Must have been a reflection off the ground or something as I was really watching what I was doing.

Canon Canada says they don't rely on forum postings such as this to make repairs so I have to send it in to see if it's covered on the two year warranty. Will take from 15 to 20 days depending on parts availability, so I guess it could be even longer...arg!

I have my 7D to fill in, as that long without the cam will effect my biz, but what else can I do? Maybe wait to see if biz slows or a better option pops up.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Larry,

Do you wear glasses when using the camera?

Or did the sun catch the viewfinder at any stage?

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

In my case, as posted prior, the burn-in occurred on a overcast day.

The fact that many users are having this issue should raise a red flag at Canon service that there is a malfunction in the EVF. Many of us are pro shooters with years of experience and are aware of problems caused by the sun. It appears that the EVF is either too sensitive OR there is another problem causing the EVF to actually leak. The fact that Canon offers a plastic plug will not help in the field where the EVF is used for run and gun applications.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

I don't think the sun caught it the second time, but I do shoot with glasses. Have for years. Interesting.

It just happened so fast. Could not have been more than a few seconds each time. And I shot all last summer without a problem on some very bright days, mostly run and gun or mono pod. Weird how it happened now and not previous.

FYI I ordered from the first batch to hit western Canada June 2009. Thank goodness for the two year Canadian warranty...I hope.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Interesting that Canon still hasn't got to the bottom of this issue... I am too scared to use mine outside in sunlight now...

Even if its covered by warranty its the downtime that the camera is away that's the issue. I spoke to Canon Australia the other day and they claimed to have 'heard' of the issue 'somewhere' but just said that if it appears to send them the camera... not good enough Canon.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Yeah, mine got hit the first day out. I don't think it was even that bright of a day. The viewfinder is so full of green blobs that I can't use the viewfinder. I have been shooting for 20 years and have never seen this problem before...

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

I thought about this for a while, but I am not so sure it is the problem of sunlight burn, that would just leave a central burn mark. The Yellow?Green blobs are randomly placed and do not have a consistent shape.

I still haven't taken my camera in for repair, I am not so sure that the problem will not come back again.

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

Know this problem since more than a year. For two times Canon changed the view-finder, now I have the same problem for the third time. Canon tells me, that I have to pay it on my own now. Costs around 300 Euros. Finally this is not a camera you can use outside. Never hat this problem with other camcorders. Canon should work out a solution for every XF-Owner.

Reinhard

Re: Burned artifacts in viewfinder!
 

The problem is with a protective layer in the viewfinder, not the actual screen. If you move your head slightly then the image on screen remains in the same position under the "floating" blobs. This indicates it is on the coating rather than the screen.

I am also sure the problem will come back once the screen has been replaced,