Bad pixels in viewfinder
 

HELP!

I'm about to sell my XL-1, but have some missing pixel areas in the viewfinder. They look like 2-3 small white areas in the lower right area of the viewfinder screen. At most, they cover 3-4% of the entire viewfinder, but they are noticable. These are not in the CCDs - just the viewfinder. They're probably caused by sun exposure when I first got the XL-1.

Years ago when I bought the camera, Joe Bogacz of Canon told me they would replace defective viewfinders for no charge. I just never got around to it... the missing pixels didn't really bother me.

Does anyone know if Canon will still fix this problem? I've tried to contact Joe and others at Canon, but I can't get any return of my calls. The buyer of the camera is waiting, since I promised him I would get it fixed before shipping it to him.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Stuart

I doubt they will fix it under warranty, but they might. Send it in and see what they say. Usually a certain number of dead pixels in the LCD are considered within manufacturing tolerance. Dead pixels in the CCD are usually covered with no problem if within the warranty period. I would just send it to Canon service with an explanation of the events and see what they say. Good luck.

foggy viewfinder
 

The XL1 viewfinder looks too bright and whites out detail when viewing either new or recorded footage. The camera still plays back to TV etc without any noticeable anomalies.

The camera got damp when caught in a sudden storm a while back but after a spell in the airing cupboard all worked perfectly and nothing seemed amiss for the next month or more.

Ideas anyone?

Have you tried adjusting the brightness control, on the bottom of VF, behind the cover. I don't have my camera in front of me to double check the location. You'll see it.

You can adjust the brightness of the viewfinder display if that is the issue. See page 67 of the NTSC manual.

foggy viewfinder
 

Hi
The brightness is at its limit and, although it has improved it a little, the detail seen is not enough to allow manual focusing.

I've had the camera in use this afternoon - greens lean heavily toward yellow and I am pretty sure the picture worsened as time went by.

Red kites flying against a blue sky should have been easy but it could all have been white cloud fo all i could see of it.

Any further thoughts gratefully recieved.

The brightness is the only user adjustable control for the view finder. It sounds like it is time to send it back to Canon for service. Corrosion from getting it wet may have finally set in and caused your problems.

foggy viewfinder
 

Many thanks for the suggestions.

Canon will now be my next step.
Cheers

Red line on viewfinder and in video
 

Hi everyone. I'm new here and new to the XL1S. I've searched this forum for an answer to my problem but didn't find any solutions so I think my camera may be broken. It's brand new.

The problem is, in any mode except easy mode I'm getting a verticle red line through the viewfinder and it also appears on the tape when I make a video clip. However the line doesn't stay there all the time. It's only there when the background is white or light colored. Has anyone heard of this before and if so is there a solution to it.

Thanks for any suggestions, tips, and replies.

Sincerely,

Veance

Can you post a picture of a scene with the red liine?

You can view a couple of screenshots at http://www.msjanitorial.com/redline.htm

I guess I should add that this only occures when the camera is set to 16:9 mode. Very peculiar. Sorry for the ommision.

Is the camera brand new? Have you tried another tape? I know many videographers that routinely run a cleaning tape in brand new cameras. They maintain that debris accumulates on the heads during shipping and storage. If your camera is new I would suggest using a cleaning tape (follow the instructions on the tape exactly as printed, do not deviate) and see if that helps. If not I would return the camera for service under warranty with still of the problem and the tape. It could be a problem with tape path alignment.

Thanks for your replies Jeff, however I don't think it's a tape problem because I can see this line in the viewfinder itself whether or not a tape is present in the camera.

Yes it's a brand new camera too. Sigh.... I guess I'll have to send it in unless someone else has a solution. I'm thinking now that maybe it has something to do with white balance since it started occuring when I was fiddling around with the white balance settings.

Many thanks for taking the time to answer my question.

Veance

If it's in the camera, there are no user adjustable settings that would cause or remove the anomaly that you see.

Called Canon tech support this morning and described the problem to them. They do say it's a hardware problem of some sort but didn't get more specific than that. They told me to send the camera in for servicing.

Will post back to this thread after I find out exactly what is causing this anomoly in case someone else ever has this problem.

Thanks for the help Jeff.

Viewfinder timecode
 

Hi, I've just taken delivery of a new XL1s and have noticed that there is no frame counter on the viewfinder timecode display, just minutes and seconds. Is this normal for the 1s? I cant find any reference to it in the manual.
Regards all.

I don't have my camera in front of me (loaned it to a few of my students) but that sounds right. In playback you might be able to display frames, I don't remember. The remote controls the TC display.

Audio VU in viewfinder??
 

I would have sworn there is a way to get the VU meter to show in the viewfinder of the xl-1s, but I cant find it anywhere in the manual.

Awfully annoying to have to pull your eye away to peek at the VU on top of the body. Is there someway to get it into the finder??

Thanks,

Eddie

Hi Eddie,

Unfortunately no, there's no way to get the meters in the EVF display like you can on the GL2. The meters can be read only in the LCD panel on the camera. Hopefully this will change on the XL2, whenever that is.

Yes, that is normal.

Broken color viewfinder at swivel point. Can Crazy Glue fix it?
 

Hi folks

Just came back from a full day wedding shoot (6:00 AM til 3:00 AM!!!). Right after the church, as I was packing my gear away, I noticed that my XL1 color viewfinder piece (the part rotates up an down) was dangling from the camera. Imagine the thud in my chest when I saw this!!!!

Quickly, I turned the camera back on and noticed that I was still getting an image in the viewfinder. I ran to the local grocery store (luckily there was one tight around the corner) and purchased some scotch tape and tape the viewfinder piece back on. I noticed that the part that swivels is made out of plastic!!! Can I use Crazt glue to glue the piece back on??

By the way, how much does it cost to replace this piece?

Gee, Canon should have made this piece more rugged!!!
Thanks

Canon has swivel replacement parts to fix the swivel. Cost should be less than $50 and it's a pretty easy job to do yourself.

cleaning my viewfinder.
 

I have an xl1s, I got it last thursday. For some reason, my viewfinder seems to have alot of specks on it. What is the best way to clean it?

It is quite easy to open once you fiddle through it once. I'm not
sure what to use. But a very soft brush or cloth might do the
trick. Make sure you aren't pressing too hard on the LCD screen!

Norman,

Don't feel too bad, apparently this happens pretty frequently.

We operate 6 XL-1 series cameras; four XL-1Ss and two XL-1s.

Although with our cameras it wasn't the swivel or pivot point that failed.

Of these six cameras, we have had to repair five of the eyepieces due to stripping of the screw wells or overall catastrophic failure of the same.

We all have our own personal shoot kits and I treat mine with kid gloves. Yes we do get into some tough situations but the gear is constantly and meticulously maintained.

I could not believe it when I went to pull my camera from its KATA bag and wound up with exactly the same dilema, a useless viewfinder. All of the screws that secure the eyepiece housing to the metal dovetail plate were loose and the plastic wells where they anchor were completely broken.

We were lucky in that we have two monochrome viewfinders that we used as replacments and actually the B&W viewfinders, although heavier, are much better for judging focus and contrast.

You would think that Canon would beef up their eyepieces by making the anchor points metal instead of the thin and delicate plastic that they are.

Be careful with krazy glue, the CYANOACRYLATE that the product is made from can fume and pemanently etch or haze your viewfinder element and/or viewfinder monitor. This is how hard-to-lift fingerprints are acquired, and for Pete's sake DO NOT use LocTite. The LocTite will completely dissolve the plastic, (repair #2 when we thought we had a great idea!)

I can't answer the $$$ question because, thankfully, we have an open repair contract with a local company.

RB

Hey, I busted mine twice, and, with super glue I was able to "fix" it untlil the next time I sent it in for cleaning. But, be careful that you glue only the swivel, hold it dowd with rubberbands till you get the feeling of where to glue, then, glue it and use the rubberbands to hold it in place. When you carry the xl-1 or 1s with the sholder strap,,,ALWAYS turn the view finder forward, this keeps it from hitting your hip. And, when I travel overseas, or Stateside, I always carry glue and rubberbands. Also, whenever I travey, I always take the viewfinder off the Canon and stow it on the inside of the case, it only takes a minute to put it back on the camcorder, and remember, this is the most delicate part of the Canon XL. Been there, glued that......bob safay

Viewfinder
 

I am considering purchasing a XL1s but haven't had a chance to get my hands on one yet to check it out. Could someone answer this question for me? I cannot use my right eye and since the XL1s does not have a LCD panel; can you adjust the viewfinder to the opposite site of the camera so you can use your left eye? Or is there some other way to reasonable use it with your left eye when hand held.

I just purchased my xl1s today and although I can use both eyes I prefer to use my left. So I was glad to find out that the xl1s has a dial that connects to the viewfinder that allows you to push it far to the left, leaving you enough room for your eye. Then all you just need to do is rotate the eye rest to the left and your in business.

What John says.

It's nice to be able to switch eyes every half hour or so, on longer shoots.

Cleaning the inside of a viewfinder???
 

Good morning guys,
I was shooting a "mock trial" at a courthouse and I accidentally smacked the crap out of my XL1s on one of those hard benches. After a deep breath I looked at my lens and (PHEEW!) it was okay. I started shooting again and noticed <i>something</i> had chunks of stuff on it so I wiped the lens but no change. Fortunately I had another XL1s handy so I grabbed it and finished the shoot. Later I noticed the small chunks (probably pieces of plastic) were there even on playback so that relieved me that it was not the lens....right? Of course I have already wiped the viewfinder glass on the outside with no change so I'm presuming it is on the inside of the viewfinder. Alright, alright, I'll get to the point!
My question: Are there any precautions I should know about before I try to disassemble the viewfinder or should I not even attempt it and send it in for repair?
TIA,
Randy

The top part with the lens can be taken of pretty easily I think
and I've also done it myself. There is a release switch at the
underside of the viewfinder which you will need (and then rotate
the upper part??). Ofcourse no touching the LCD screen or
anything beyond that.

Ahhh-ha!!!
The old hidden release button huh? Thanks, Rob I knew if I was patient enough someone would give me the advice I needed...BTW, it worked like a charm and clean as a whistle with no apparent damage.
Thanks again Rob,
Randy

Viewfinder change
 

Anybody here with any experience placing the Ikegami VF 15-46 on the Canon XLS1 ??? I hear it fits and I know the price is half the price of the Canon one with a better picture and of course easyer focussing.

Thanks for any tips or information

Meindert

I'm wondering how you would get power to that EVF. Or for that matter get a video signal into it? It's a nonstandard connector on the XL1 / XL1S.

Power
 

Hi

I know that there is a way to power the viewfinder external. I have an article about a Dutch TV series shot on XL1 using these modifications. You can find it at
http://www.abcdv.com/article/articleview/87/1/32/
I'm trying to locate the cameraman who shot this so I can do the same but hoped to finf here someone who had experience with this also. I know the viewfinder and at half the price of the Canon it may be worth it.

I'm working on an similar project. I try to use an old VF from an Sony Betacam (BVP70).

You need an service manual from the used VF and this document:
http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article29.php

I use the composite out of my XL-1 an an external battery. But I had a problem with my VF as the line-transformer stoped service. so I bought a new one, and now I'm on my way again.

"run and gun shot" with "0.7” color LCD viewfinder?
 

Anyone advices / experiences on “run and gun shot” situations or “Guerilla” shot using XL-1s with 0.7” color LCD viewfinder without buying additional accessories * Standard set Xl-1s with MA200.

Here the Scenario “An interview with a famous artist surrounded & crowd with photographers, journalist, fans, etc… and you are behind of everyone and
The question is “Can I capture and see clearly thru my 0.7” color viewfinder with lift up the camcorders above my head?.

All Suggestion welcome. *

I don't know if this would help but sometimes when I would shoot like that I'd do one of two things. 1) take the top of the viewfiner odd so that just the lcd is exposed or 2) leave the viewfinder together but set it to "far" mode, it really just depends on how much you like squinting.

Andrew...

There's a lever at the top of the viewfinder that allows you to see the whole LCD screen with extended eye relief -- or at a distance greater than usual.

It doesn't do much for focus or anything else except allow you to know that the subject is being framed properly.

Such "hail Mary" situations are difficult at best. But knowing that your subject is "in frame" is a big help when the alternative is not getting a shot at all.

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions.