Critical : Grip Belt Broken !!!!
 

XH-A1 has a manufacture defect :

http://www.assars.it/public/1215636271.jpg

Thanks for the heads up and sorry to hear about this happening to your camera. I just checked mine to make sure it looks OK.

I think it would be more accurate to say YOUR XH-A1 has (may have?) a manufacturing defect. Just like my Rode SM3 shockmount which is being replaced under warranty.

Maybe I seem just a bit pedantic, but until I'm aware of evidence of hundreds of people with failed grip belt mountings, I don't think it's appropriate to imply that this is a major issue with Canon XH-A1s in general.

I like to use the shoulder strap for security when it's not on sticks - and yes I know what many pro users think about that.

If it really is a manufacturing defect and the camera is less than a year old, then it should be submitted to Canon factory service as a warranty repair issue.

Is your camera still under waranty? If so, Canon may resolve this for you. If not, try a little J-B Weld (the normal stuff, not the Kwik weld). It's an amazing epoxy that will probably be stronger than the plastic itself.

How did it break? What were you doing at the time? Not implying you were doing anything silly - just wondering what the circustances were so we know what sort of a margin for error we have. Cheers.

Hi Antonio............
 

If this really was a generic fault with the XHA1, then I'm pretty sure this wouldn't be the first time an instance got reported here on DVinfo.

I'm not aware of any other report of such a failure.

That said, a close inspection of my A1 does bear out that which shows so clearly in your photo, that plastic piece really doesn't look man enough for the job asked of it.

I'd be interested to hear the camera's history and circumstances of the failure.


CS

Thanks to everyone.

I was just shooting a wedding ceremony with my right hand, that's it.

Nothing on top of the camera, I mean Lights or additional Microphones....just the camera.

Bride was entering the Church and suddendly the grip belt broke.

Canon cannot replace the camera, 'cause it is not a warranty repair issue.

I'm so sad.....
It's so frustrating!

Well even if it were under warranty, they wouldn't replace the entire camera, so that should not have been expected. What they would do is simply replace the right half of the body shell. Even though it's not a warranty repair, you can still have this service performed; it's just a standard charge for opening up the camera body and the cost of the right side body shell. In other words, you don't have to live with this problem -- Canon service will perform the work for a reasonable fee, or you can try a self-repair using the previously mentioned J.B. Weld (or similar product).

Mine seems solid.

Quite possibly it had a knock at some time and you may not have noticed at the time.

Doesn't look like it would be too hard to repair though, either with epoxy resin or a plastic weld.

I don't know that I'd rate that as a "manufacturing defect", more like a design flaw... using unreinforced plastic on a high stress point like that is not a bright idea - everything I've got (Sony) has METAL reinforcements at the strap ends...

That said, the plastic probably is spec'd pretty high, which is of course fine until it fails... and then it's a problem.

I am sure that another member had a problem with the grip belt on an XHA1 but can't remember the exact circumstances.

regards Alan

Grip belt broken too...figures it is a defect
 

This just happened to me this past weekend! All I did was put my hand through and get ready to film, when all of a sudden it snapped right off!! It is definitely a defect, or a cheap way to make the camera. My 2nd assistant showed me the metal piece on his Sony, apparently it is much more robust than the Canon grip belt.

By the way, I have only had the camera for less than a year and a half, and I am still paying for it. Interesting that things always seem to break just after the warranty expires....

Has anyone tried fixing it themselves or is it better to take it to a shop

My guess is that you accidently bumped it quite recently and this time when you put your hand in the stirrup, it had enough force to break it free. You said you have had the camera for 1 1/2 years....if it was flawed, it would have gave way a while ago. With my experience with the A1's since they were introduced, the very few that did break, were bumped or hit.
Canon will do a good job fixing it for you.

Jim Martin

Or pulled out of the camera case by the strap, something to be aware of.

On location I sometimes put a male XLR plug in mic 2 to add a buffer.

Cheers.

I wouldn't call it a defect, but it could've been designed better. Definately..
I've got fat hands, and am probably going to end up with a camera on the floor one day..

When it happens to somebody else, it's probably their fault. But when it happens to you personally, it's usually a defect...

@Nancy....

The only people i know that repair Canon equipment are Sun Camera Services...
My XH A1 is currently in repair, and it's been a week..I should get it back next week, and have been told by my local camera store that I'm lucky to get it that quick...
They're quotes and diagnostics are free.

I'd be interested in knowing the cost of that fix.
Good luck..

Thankfully Canon have finally recognised that the design is flawed. I just hope that the solution is going to be made available worldwide.

Support - High Definition Camcorder - XH A1 - Service Notices - Canon USA Consumer Products

Richard

You told me so..
 

Well. I was wrong, and not for the first (or last) time.
Antonio Guarnieri, if your listening, sorry!

Same thing just happened to me - XHA1
 

Shooting a wedding at the weekend and the grip belt base snapped on my XH A1 whilst in front of bridal party!

Camera fell on to my leg (I tried to kinda catch it with my foot) and then landed in the dirt and bounced down two steps.

Scared the **** out of me. Picked it up - all ok - just some scratches to the canon .8 adaptor and a few dings to the on board mic.

Thanks to Richard for the posted link to Canon were they talk about the doubled up Grip Belt cover option. I'm in Australia but I am assuming that that can be done here too.

My A1 is almost 3 years old and has had alot of use. I recently got the wide adaptor which probable put more stress on the cover.

I would recommend everyone keeps an eye out for cracks and if using an wide adaptor to consider taking the camera in for the counter measured modification from canon which is free. This is a double loop instead of a single. Prevention is better than a cure.

I am just thankful that the grip cover did not break a few minutes earlier when I was shooting at the edge of a large pond!

Canon recall
 

I just got both of my A1s grip belt loops replaced with quick turn-around time. Thanks Canon!