is there play in the XL-1S firewire connection? at DVinfo.net

Peter Halperin · June 27th, 2003, 08:36 PM

New camera, (2 weeks). Can't talk with my Mac. The connection at the camera has play. While it worked the first few times, I've been suspicious about it. Is it normal? Thanks...Peter

Nathan Gifford · June 27th, 2003, 09:42 PM

How much play is rather subjective. There may be a little play but that would be somewhat difficult to quantify.

A better way is to look carefully at the pins and see if they are damaged. They can be damaged so it is important to take care whenever you use your firewire port. If you do not know what normal ones look like, you can go to the store and look at the ones on other cameras. That will give you a good idea what normal ones look like.

Peter Halperin · June 28th, 2003, 09:37 AM

Thanks for the reply, Nathan. In my 3 digital SLR's and my sony DV, the connection is firm, no play at all. In my GL-1X, there is play. So, if there is any play in yours, or others, it suggests that's how canon mounts it, perhaps to avoid stress fractures, otherwise, it's probably a problem. Anyway, it ain't working, so it's going in.....Peter

Jeff Donald · June 28th, 2003, 10:00 AM

Be sure and send the cable along with the camera. Bad cables are the most frequent cause of communication problems (at least with Macs). Have you tried hooking up the camera to different Mac?

Peter Halperin · June 28th, 2003, 10:35 AM

Yea Jeff- After decades in the music business and now phography, my mantra is "it's always the cables". first thing I'll do back home is check a fresh cable. Best....Peter

Brad Herbert · July 9th, 2003, 10:46 PM

Just wanted to chime in with my loose cable stories. I've have had the worst problem with loose connections with Firewire and the XL1s. I thought I had bumped my connection and "broken" the pins in the camera, but really it just turned out to be that the cable itself was not fitting in snug, not the camera itself. I think the Canon firewire port is a bit on the loose side though. At first I tried making the tip of my firewire cable bigger by expanding the little metal part so it wouldn't slop around in the Canon port. That didn't seem to work, so I went the other way, I crimped the metal part, and it grabbed the center pins in the Canon port more - it was still loose in terms of snugging into the socket, but WinXP would recognize the camera immediately. So, anways, if that is any help to ya.. then great! Good luck.

-Brad

Peter Halperin · July 9th, 2003, 10:58 PM

Thanks Brad. as it turned out, I had a bum cable, and it's working fine with a new one. But...I don't like the loose feel of the connection, sounds like it's inherent to the XL-1s. Best....Peter

June 27th, 2003, 08:36 PM	#1
Peter Halperin New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Port Jefferson, New York Posts: 7	is there play in the XL-1S firewire connection? New camera, (2 weeks). Can't talk with my Mac. The connection at the camera has play. While it worked the first few times, I've been suspicious about it. Is it normal? Thanks...Peter

June 27th, 2003, 09:42 PM	#2
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	How much play is rather subjective. There may be a little play but that would be somewhat difficult to quantify. A better way is to look carefully at the pins and see if they are damaged. They can be damaged so it is important to take care whenever you use your firewire port. If you do not know what normal ones look like, you can go to the store and look at the ones on other cameras. That will give you a good idea what normal ones look like. __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here

June 28th, 2003, 10:00 AM	#4
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Be sure and send the cable along with the camera. Bad cables are the most frequent cause of communication problems (at least with Macs). Have you tried hooking up the camera to different Mac? __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 9th, 2003, 10:46 PM	#6
Brad Herbert New Boot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 20	Play in the XL1s and Cable Just wanted to chime in with my loose cable stories. I've have had the worst problem with loose connections with Firewire and the XL1s. I thought I had bumped my connection and "broken" the pins in the camera, but really it just turned out to be that the cable itself was not fitting in snug, not the camera itself. I think the Canon firewire port is a bit on the loose side though. At first I tried making the tip of my firewire cable bigger by expanding the little metal part so it wouldn't slop around in the Canon port. That didn't seem to work, so I went the other way, I crimped the metal part, and it grabbed the center pins in the Canon port more - it was still loose in terms of snugging into the socket, but WinXP would recognize the camera immediately. So, anways, if that is any help to ya.. then great! Good luck. -Brad

June 28th, 2003, 09:37 AM	#3
Peter Halperin New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Port Jefferson, New York Posts: 7	Thanks for the reply, Nathan. In my 3 digital SLR's and my sony DV, the connection is firm, no play at all. In my GL-1X, there is play. So, if there is any play in yours, or others, it suggests that's how canon mounts it, perhaps to avoid stress fractures, otherwise, it's probably a problem. Anyway, it ain't working, so it's going in.....Peter

June 28th, 2003, 10:35 AM	#5
Peter Halperin New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Port Jefferson, New York Posts: 7	Yea Jeff- After decades in the music business and now phography, my mantra is "it's always the cables". first thing I'll do back home is check a fresh cable. Best....Peter

July 9th, 2003, 10:58 PM	#7
Peter Halperin New Boot Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Port Jefferson, New York Posts: 7	Thanks Brad. as it turned out, I had a bum cable, and it's working fine with a new one. But...I don't like the loose feel of the connection, sounds like it's inherent to the XL-1s. Best....Peter