xl1s viewfinder cable extension
 

I need to extend (8") the viewfinder cable on my canon XL1s PAL. Is it possible?
I searched on Google but didn't find anything.

On the cable that came with my xl1s the code is:

E66085 AWM STYLE 2990 80C VW-1SC Japan


Where do you think I can find such a cable?

do you guys sweat profusely fogging up the viewfinder?
 

i just shot a wedding and when i was near the stage with the bright hot lights i sweat so much that it steamed up my viewfinder for a good straight 30min. anyone else experience this? other than cooling down, how do you cope with it?

Couple of choices. Mainly, back off the viewfinder a bit, give the eyepiece some air, a chance to "breathe".

If you are using the color viewfinder, see if you can get a chamois eyepiece.

I prefer the B&W viewfinder. It's larger and sharper, allows you to "back off" and still see a large clear image.

Run a small external monitor. Couple of different brands available, do a search.

Good luck.

Get in shape :)

Seriously, last year shooting weddings in August, in good sunny Portuguese weather with 32 to 35 degrees centigrade, in a small crowded chappel ,I was sweating like a pig. The sweat would run down my foread, eyebrows, eyelashes, the eyes. I had to remove my eyeglasses and wipe my face several times.

Since then I'm on a diet and exercise. It pays off. No more sweating and no more pains in the back. And now I can endure those long wedding shooting days, much much better.

But until you do that, what Richard said, aplies perfectly.

Best regards,
Arnaldo

I don't know if it will fit on your rubber eye cup, but a lot of pro shooters use a wrist sweat band to help control perspiration. You may have to bend back the rubber eye cup for a proper fit. Very low tech and inexpensive, and it works.

These are all good suggestions. I can also work up a good sweat, so I feel your pain.

If you are using the FU-1000 b&w viewfinder, get a Tiffen Tele 2x eyepiece adapter. It basically magnifies the vf image to the point where you don't have to place your eye against the cup at all. It's nearly like having an lcd. Sorry, there is no such device for the color vf.

sooner or later i'm gonna get the 1000 cause this color thing ain't cuttin for me. hard to focus. as for sweat... some people really sweat more. i don't think i'm THAT out of shape cause i can hold the cam for a few hours no prob. no back pains, muscle, etc. i run pretty regularly. but some people, like me, are just sweat hogs =). i can't help it if it's genetic. i'm just wondering at the different solutions people use to cope with it. pretty interesting thus far =). i'll have to try the head band next time. i don't like lcd cause it just doesn't shoot at the place i want it to. it's awkward, feels a bit much like the consumer cams ya know?

I am not aware of any stock cables. However, you can probably get one custom built o build your own. I believe there are some construction articles on converting the standard EVF to monochrome. This would describethe proper pinouts and could be used to build an extension cable.

Besides the normal warnings, I would use only the best cable stock for this. There is also a pretty good chance this still would not work adequately too.

I am not aware of any source for pre-made cables or the connectors, other than buying replacement parts from Canon and working from there. Not a trivial task.

If you simply find the same connectors in a male and female version, you can build a simple pin for pin extension cable. That way, you won't need to know the pinouts. If I can locate a source, I will post my findings.

regards,

Yes you can, however, it is sometimes very important to know which ones are shield and power. You are using a video signal and these guys are so forgiving about impedance mismatches. It may work, but using cables of the proper spec helps a lot.

I called many video laboratories here in Italy, and they all told me they couldnt do it. Only one told me he could try to do something: he can find the male version of the cable (using another original xl1s monitor cable), and then he will try to build the female version. This is not easy because he has to study the pins of the connector.
I'm waiting for news from him.

For the female connector, buy the replacement board from the camcorder and remove the connector. from the PC board.

Agreed Nathan, the shield and power would be the critical ones to get on the correct connector pins. Wasn't thinking it through when I wrote that.

uh...
Don, what do you mean:

from the PC board.

?

There is a female connector of the correct pin arrangement on a replacement printed circuit board (PC Board) that mounts in the handle - the standard view finder cord plugs into it. If you buy the PC board you can remove the connector with a bit of care and effort.

Oh, yes.
PC = printed circuit
I was tinking PC = personal computer

:-)

cheap solution - get a chamois eye cover
 

I had the same problem. Got a purpose-specific eyecup chamois. Problem solved and for less than $10! email me if you don't know what this is, and I'll send you a picture. Cheers.

Re: cheap solution - get a chamois eye cover
 

<<<-- Originally posted by Gary Siu : I had the same problem. Got a purpose-specific eyecup chamois. Problem solved and for less than $10! email me if you don't know what this is, and I'll send you a picture. Cheers. -->>>

Funny how well those work on a hot rooftop all day. :)


If you spend the extra bucks, a Hoodman will make a difference as well. It keeps your eye a little further back and absorbs lots of sweat.

The best thing to do is to give it a chance to breath every minute or so, if only for a few seconds.

Lines and rainbow colors in viewfinder! Fried?
 

I was using my XL1s to shoot an indoor scene yesterday and vertical lines began to show up in the viewfinder (I have the standard color one that comes with the camera). The lines seemed to be somehow related to the text overlay in the viewfinder screen because they only appeared above and below wherever there was some text or an icon (like the battery icon). Within 15 minutes or so the lines got much more apparent (they went from just looking like smudges above and below text to actually occluding the scene I was trying to film). Additionally, a rainbow of colors started to appear. This rainbow now stretches from one side of the viewfinder screen to the other. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the viewfinder to no avail. Switching modes (e.g., to VTR mode) also has no effect. The lines and rainbow effect are even apparent on top of the blue screen that shows up in playback mode.

The only thing I can think of is that the camera is that the viewfinder somehow got fried. I've heard of this problem before and how it can happen instantaneously, especially if the eyepiece is set to the near position. I do not know how it happened while filming indoors though. I was near a skylight but the sun was not streaming in directly through it.

Can anybody tell from the description I gave whether I have actually fried the viewfinder or if my camera is suffering from some other problem? Does anybody have any suggestions about how to fix this or, if I can't fix it on my own, how to get it to the appropriate people at Canon and how much it would cost them to fix it?

Thanks a lot -- Giacomo

Borrow your friend's XL1 and use the substitution method of diagnosis.

If that's not possible, remove both batteries and clean up all the contacts. Install a fresh backup battery and check the result. Also, make sure your viewfinder connection cable is secure and free of debris.

Beyond that, you will likely require a visit to the Canon repair depot.

Jimmy -- Thanks for your reply. I have definitely verified that the viewfinder cable is okay. I didn't think to check the battery because I didn't think there would be any connection between it and the problem, especially since the rest of the camera continues to work fine. But I will check it. Hmmm...there's only another XL1 I know of in the area. I'll see if I can try my viewfinder on it. Thanks again.

For your reference, the replacement cost of the color viewfinder is $399 (list). The Canon part number is FU-500. Check our Classifieds forum as these occasionally come up for sale from folks upgrading to the monochrome CRT viewfinder.

Chris -- Thanks. That's very helpful to know...it may be that I have to go the route of buying a new one. :-(

<<<-- Originally posted by Stefano Archetti : Oh, yes.
PC = printed circuit
I was tinking PC = personal computer

:-) -->>>

i am a little bit lost..help

what is wrong with an lcd monitor? stock cable available, no loss of signal/ audio .

the lcd monitor can be used for other objectives too...

b&h has very affortable monitors.

greetings

Viewfinder problem
 

the swivel on my viewfinder is now so loose if just flops about. I'm wondering if there is a home remedy for this problem.
Thanks,
Bryan Coleman

I don't have my XL1S anymore, but isn't there something around
that area you can tighten or something? Otherwise it sounds like
a trip to the factory....

Not sure what you mean by "swivel," is it the assembley that allows the CVF to rotate? If so there are a pair of internal plates that keep it aligned for rotation with a spacer between them, it may be that the screws that hold them are loose and need tightening. Requires at least partial disassembly of the CVF.

As an expedient, what happens if you place a small rubber band or carefully wedge some other soft friction material (thin leather) in the gap between the viewfinder and the mount to take up some of the slack?

Thanks for the replies. It looks like I might be able to disassemble it and retighten some screws. Worth a try anyway. I priced a new viewfinder and found them rather steep.

Bryan

You might be able to send the EVF only in to Canon for repair. if you do not feel up to doing it yourself.

I took it apart and found some screws to tighten...it seemed to help. Thanks for the replies

Question with the color viewfinder for XL1S
 

Hi everybody. First excuse my poor english but Im from France.
I just received my new XL1S a few days ago and I have a question relating to the camcorder.
When I turn on the power, the image in the viewfinder is unstable for a few seconds, but when the inner software of the video camera is done, the image is good. Do you have the same thing when you turn on your camera (in fact we can see white lines that disappear very quickly). Im not sure its normal but it can be, thank u for your answers. Its the same problem when you start the VCR program. Some users in France have the same thing. But because the camera is new, i would like to have your advice.
Thanks

Most equipment including the XL1S take a few seconds to stabilize.Computers,vtrs, monitors,TVs all can give a little flicker etc. until power and the capacitors charge and stabilize.
Direct answer to your questions is yes my XL1S does exactly that .

Yes, you have to give it a short minute to boot up. No big deal,

Hi Max

I had white flashing in my XL1s viewfinder at startup and thought that it was just a warming up thing and didn't think much of it. As I'm new to camera operation the camera only came out of it's bag about once per week so that I could get use to it's operation. But about a week after my 90 day warranty ran out the flashing turned into a full blown fault with green, pink, white flashing then the camera would shut off. Canon said it was a faulty Printed Circuit Board. But after I got it back from repair it still had the same fault and is now back there being repaired again. It's actually been there in total since the 5th of January 05. My camera is probably an unusual case as I know people who say they treat there XL1s's rough and they never have had any problems.

Good luck

xl1s horizental lines on viewfinder.
 

It's one darned thing after another. Canon xl1s has flicking horizental lines in the viewfinder on both record and playback. Totally unusable. Lines somewhat similar to warmup flicker, but remain. Lines only confined to viewfinder as they don't appear on tape or on a monitor thru Y/C or 'S' connectors. Is there a simple remedy, or is it back to Canon tomorrow?

Make sure the cable / connector is securely seated. If that doesn't help, the
camera probably needs to be send back to Canon for maintenance.

Thank you Rob for your reply. Yes, I have checked the cable fittings and still no go. It's going in for repair.

XL1 & XL1s Color Viewfinder Discontinued!?!?
 

I recently picked up another XL1s as a back-up and second camera. It was a body, remote and MA-200 adapter only. I had extra lenses and mics, so was not concerned. All I needed was to get a viewfinder, as not all camera info shows on an external monitor.

After failing to find a used one on ebay or anywhere else, I began looking for a new one at retailers. An on-line search revealed many retailers who sold the color viewfinder, FU-500. However, when I tried to get one, all of them said they were out of stock and did not have a firm delivery date yet. Some took my info, and said they would call me back.

One of the places I called was B&H, of course. To my surprise, the salesman said that the item had been discontinued! A day or so later I called directly to Canon, and I was told that it had not been discontinued, and that I could buy it from them directly. I felt relieved then, and gave the other retailers a few more days to call me back, as it was $100.00 lower than directly from Canon. No callbacks! I wanted to get the other camera up and running, so I said the heck with it and called Canon back to order the FU-500.

To my utter chagrin, the sales lady said that the item had been discontinued! I said, “What, I just called two days ago and it was OK!” She checked around and put me through to another location, and after talking to them I was able to order the part.

I waited to post this until the viewfinder actually arrived, but it finally did. I am not sure, but it does appear that the viewfinder is being discontinued. They may have stock, that they intend to keep to sell directly to consumers, but may never ship to retailers again. After all, the unit fits the XL1 and the XL1s, but not the new XL2.

The only alternative to the FU-500 is the FU-1000 B&W unit, but that is at least $1,600.00 no mater where you can find it, nearly $2,000.00 retail.

So, just a note of caution, if you think that you might need another FU-500, you might want to do some further investigating and decide for yourself. Hopefully they will still be able to repair units that go bad.

Just for your info.

Mike

Thanks for posting this.
Not very good news, unfortunately...