Urgent -- help! A1 only works in Auto! at DVinfo.net

Jeff Nelson · June 21st, 2008, 03:54 PM

Something very weird. Cam was working fine last night, turned it on to shoot a performance today, and put it in TV. It says TV 30" (rather than TV 60) and I can't lock exposure or otherwise change shutter speed or exposure. Same in every setting. It won't change out of 30" (which I guess means shutter of 30) and no matter what setting I put it in, Manual, AV or whatever, there is no way to manually control exposure.

A friend who has an A1 suggested hitting "Reset" under system, which I did. Turned everything Japanese, I put it to English, and lost my presets, etc., and the focus got very funky, as if it's messing with back focus. I zoom in, focus, pull back and it goes soft. The focus doesn't hold through a zoom. What the -- ??

Anyone have any ideas? I have to shoot two more shows today and three tomorrow. It's a 3 camera shoot, but with my camera tanking, we're down to 2.

Anyone in the LA area want to rent me an A1 for tonight/tomorrow??

Help! THanks.

Chris Hurd · June 21st, 2008, 05:29 PM

Try our sponsors, Birns & Sawyer and Abel Cine Tech, although I don't know if they're answering phones this late on a Saturday. Sounds like the camera needs to go to Canon Service down in Irvine first thing on Monday. Good luck,

Dennis Murphy · June 21st, 2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Nelson

Something very weird. Cam was working fine last night, turned it on to shoot a performance today, and put it in TV. It says TV 30" (rather than TV 60) and I can't lock exposure or otherwise change shutter speed or exposure. Same in every setting. It won't change out of 30" (which I guess means shutter of 30) and no matter what setting I put it in, Manual, AV or whatever, there is no way to manually control exposure.

That is so weird. My XHA1 developed an intermittent fault about a month ago. Turns out it was a gold washer that had come loose inside.
Anyway, got the camera back from Canon NZ last week, and I have EXACTLY the same issue as you. No apeture control, shutter speed dial doesn't work and shutter speed says 30".
I have a PAL camera, so 30" is not available anyway. I rang Canon immediatly, as I'm literally losing $1000's waiting for camera to get back.
I hope they can fix it freaking quickly.

Jeff Nelson · June 21st, 2008, 07:46 PM

Thanks guys. My wife went over to Sammy's in Pasadena and picked up another A1, so we only lost about an hour, on 2 cameras, then back to 3 now.

Yeah, Chris, I'm taking it to Irvine Monday. Something electronic must have gone pssftttt...

Interesting that you, Dennis, have had the exact problem. Very weird. Fortunately I'm going on vacation and taking my HV30, so they can keep the XHA1 in Irvine for a bit if needed. But it is really puzzling, and a real pisser when you're getting ready to shoot a live event, and this happens! I will post what they tell me it was, once I get it back, in case someone else has this problem.

Dennis Murphy · June 21st, 2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Nelson

I will post what they tell me it was, once I get it back, in case someone else has this problem.

Ditto... it's just too much of a coincidence for there not to be a common denominator.

Dennis Murphy · June 24th, 2008, 02:25 AM

Hmmm, got mine back today, but all that was on the job sheet was "Access:- L/Cap, Tape."

I'm guessing they forgot to plug something back in when they first repaired the camera?

Jeff Nelson · July 7th, 2008, 07:23 PM

Well I got my camera back a couple weeks ago while I was out of town and opened the box today. Here's what they said:

We have examined the product according to your request and, upon close inspection, the exact cause could not be identified but it was found that the unit did not function properly. Electrical adjustments were carried out on the main pcb assembly. Other inspection and cleaning were carried out, update firmware.

So there you go. Not much of an explanation, but at least after $240, it's working again...

June 21st, 2008, 03:54 PM	#1
Jeff Nelson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 194	Urgent -- help! A1 only works in Auto! Something very weird. Cam was working fine last night, turned it on to shoot a performance today, and put it in TV. It says TV 30" (rather than TV 60) and I can't lock exposure or otherwise change shutter speed or exposure. Same in every setting. It won't change out of 30" (which I guess means shutter of 30) and no matter what setting I put it in, Manual, AV or whatever, there is no way to manually control exposure. A friend who has an A1 suggested hitting "Reset" under system, which I did. Turned everything Japanese, I put it to English, and lost my presets, etc., and the focus got very funky, as if it's messing with back focus. I zoom in, focus, pull back and it goes soft. The focus doesn't hold through a zoom. What the -- ?? Anyone have any ideas? I have to shoot two more shows today and three tomorrow. It's a 3 camera shoot, but with my camera tanking, we're down to 2. Anyone in the LA area want to rent me an A1 for tonight/tomorrow?? Help! THanks.

June 21st, 2008, 05:29 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Try our sponsors, Birns & Sawyer and Abel Cine Tech, although I don't know if they're answering phones this late on a Saturday. Sounds like the camera needs to go to Canon Service down in Irvine first thing on Monday. Good luck, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 24th, 2008, 02:25 AM	#6
Dennis Murphy Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Whangarei, New Zealand Posts: 396	Hmmm, got mine back today, but all that was on the job sheet was "Access:- L/Cap, Tape." I'm guessing they forgot to plug something back in when they first repaired the camera? __________________ http://www.dmvideostuff.co.nz

June 21st, 2008, 07:46 PM	#4
Jeff Nelson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 194	Thanks guys. My wife went over to Sammy's in Pasadena and picked up another A1, so we only lost about an hour, on 2 cameras, then back to 3 now. Yeah, Chris, I'm taking it to Irvine Monday. Something electronic must have gone pssftttt... Interesting that you, Dennis, have had the exact problem. Very weird. Fortunately I'm going on vacation and taking my HV30, so they can keep the XHA1 in Irvine for a bit if needed. But it is really puzzling, and a real pisser when you're getting ready to shoot a live event, and this happens! I will post what they tell me it was, once I get it back, in case someone else has this problem.

July 7th, 2008, 07:23 PM	#7
Jeff Nelson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 194	Well I got my camera back a couple weeks ago while I was out of town and opened the box today. Here's what they said: We have examined the product according to your request and, upon close inspection, the exact cause could not be identified but it was found that the unit did not function properly. Electrical adjustments were carried out on the main pcb assembly. Other inspection and cleaning were carried out, update firmware. So there you go. Not much of an explanation, but at least after $240, it's working again...