vertical light streaking
 

I've just noticed some vertical streaking in low-light images with one of my XH-A1 cams. A bright light source in the frame causes a bright line from top to bottom. It's not a lens issue, it looks like an electronics problem.

I hadn't noticed it before, so I'm wondering if there is something wrong. Is this a service issue, or does this just happen?

The camera is from Dec 2007. I was shooting HDV 25fps, with the gain up to 12dB.

This is normal for CCD sensors. Some control it better than others, but mine does the same thing, especially if I get the sun in frame when I don't intend to...

If you want footage without smear you will need a camera with a CMOS sensor.
These chips do not produce these 'lightrays'.

correct; CMOS does not cause light blooms; instead they break up under flash, have insane jello, suffer from horrid flash roll due to rolling shutter, etc.

if you want to limit CCD smear, stop down your f-stops, use a mattebox or a sunshade over the lens; its usually an effect of flare when you are shooting very wide open.

i use a mattebox with french and side flags, and that can help me cut 80% of CCD smear out; the rest is knowing what will cause it, and stopping down a bit on the lens. CMOS issues i cannot overcome with the jobs i shoot.