Problem with XL1s at DVinfo.net

Brad Simmons · June 29th, 2004, 11:24 AM

Hi guys, long time no visit.

I just noticed a problem with my Canon XL1s that I've never experienced before.

There seems to be something wrong with the tape drive. When I put in a tape, I cannot fast forward or rewind the tape in VCR mode. When I attempt to rewind, I get a message on the viewfinder telling me to eject the tape. I've tried numerous different tapes and it does the same thing for each tape. In one instance, it nearly ate up the magnetic strip on one of my tapes.

Needless to say, I'm pretty concerned that something is hosed on my camera. Note that I can still record footage, and I can still capture, I just can't rewind or fast forward without getting this error.

Does anyone have any ideas? Do you think I need to send it back for repair, or could this possibly just be something minor, such as dirty heads?

thanks guys.

btw, I always use one brand of tape, Sony Premium.

Keith Loh · June 29th, 2004, 11:44 AM

Have you tried cleaning the heads with a tape cleaner?

Brad Simmons · June 29th, 2004, 10:10 PM

hi Keith, yea I tried the head cleaner. Maybe they're dirtier than what the cleaning tape can handle. Don't know why though as I've always used the same tape. Could it be anything else? Guess I have to send it in regardless to get professionally cleaned or something.

Chris Hurd · June 29th, 2004, 11:05 PM

Definitely sounds like a job for Canon factory service.

Greg Boston · July 1st, 2004, 12:02 PM

Hi Brad,

Typically, when a tape won't fast forward or rewind, it's due to a worn or broken belt which drives the take-up reel. This drive belt is always driving the take up reel even during record or play operations. When you go to fast forward or rewind, the capstan drive(which is responsible for maintaining the tape at a constant speed while recording or playing back) is dis-engaged which allows the take up reel to go to full speed. Note the term take up reel refers to either reel depending on whether you are fast forwarding or rewinding. This is why the camera attempted to eat your tape. You don't want to do any record or playback with this belt gone bad cause you'll feed the tape through the heads with the capstan drive but it won't be spooled onto the reel. It will all end up inside your camera.

This is still a job for a trained technician but I wanted to let you know the most likely cause of your problem. It should not be a major repair bill.

regards,

-gb-

Brad Simmons · July 4th, 2004, 01:00 AM

thanks guys, I'll definitley send it back this week.
Thanks for the explanation Greg, good to know these things.

Michael Best · October 16th, 2004, 06:25 PM

Brad, so what ended up being the problem and how much did it
cost to fix? My XL1s just tonight would not record anything nor
play anything back. The counter would go but nothing got recorded?

June 29th, 2004, 11:24 AM	#1
Brad Simmons Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Washington DC Posts: 304	Problem with XL1s Hi guys, long time no visit. I just noticed a problem with my Canon XL1s that I've never experienced before. There seems to be something wrong with the tape drive. When I put in a tape, I cannot fast forward or rewind the tape in VCR mode. When I attempt to rewind, I get a message on the viewfinder telling me to eject the tape. I've tried numerous different tapes and it does the same thing for each tape. In one instance, it nearly ate up the magnetic strip on one of my tapes. Needless to say, I'm pretty concerned that something is hosed on my camera. Note that I can still record footage, and I can still capture, I just can't rewind or fast forward without getting this error. Does anyone have any ideas? Do you think I need to send it back for repair, or could this possibly just be something minor, such as dirty heads? thanks guys. btw, I always use one brand of tape, Sony Premium.

June 29th, 2004, 11:44 AM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Have you tried cleaning the heads with a tape cleaner? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

June 29th, 2004, 11:05 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Definitely sounds like a job for Canon factory service. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 29th, 2004, 10:10 PM	#3
Brad Simmons Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Washington DC Posts: 304	hi Keith, yea I tried the head cleaner. Maybe they're dirtier than what the cleaning tape can handle. Don't know why though as I've always used the same tape. Could it be anything else? Guess I have to send it in regardless to get professionally cleaned or something.

July 1st, 2004, 12:02 PM	#5
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Hi Brad, Typically, when a tape won't fast forward or rewind, it's due to a worn or broken belt which drives the take-up reel. This drive belt is always driving the take up reel even during record or play operations. When you go to fast forward or rewind, the capstan drive(which is responsible for maintaining the tape at a constant speed while recording or playing back) is dis-engaged which allows the take up reel to go to full speed. Note the term take up reel refers to either reel depending on whether you are fast forwarding or rewinding. This is why the camera attempted to eat your tape. You don't want to do any record or playback with this belt gone bad cause you'll feed the tape through the heads with the capstan drive but it won't be spooled onto the reel. It will all end up inside your camera. This is still a job for a trained technician but I wanted to let you know the most likely cause of your problem. It should not be a major repair bill. regards, -gb-

July 4th, 2004, 01:00 AM	#6
Brad Simmons Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Washington DC Posts: 304	thanks guys, I'll definitley send it back this week. Thanks for the explanation Greg, good to know these things.

October 16th, 2004, 06:25 PM	#7
Michael Best Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA Posts: 446	Brad, so what ended up being the problem and how much did it cost to fix? My XL1s just tonight would not record anything nor play anything back. The counter would go but nothing got recorded?