Thanks for all the good advice. I hope this fixes it.

I got the camera back on Saturday and thought it was doing the exact same thing that I sent it in for. Turns out my Sony Mini DV player was causing distortion when I was playing back today. When captured to Final Cut and played back image looks good.

I sent mine in to New Jersey for distorted playback image. Dropped over $550 , I just got it back and it's doing the exact same thing - like they never even tested before shipping it out.....

That is unfortunite, but they should have included a 3 month warrenty for the service (I would hope) they did for me. Still is rediculous to have to go through it again already... good luck.

Nix my prev comment. Looks like my Sony Mini DV player was causing the distortion. When I captured my footage to final cut and played it through there it looks fine.

Canon XL1 Service
 

Currently I have been noticing quite a lot of clitches come drop outs in the image I have shot on my XL1. Now this camera is some 10 years old and I bought it in July 2003 2nd hand. I haven't serviced it in all that time.

So my question is since it is long over due for a service from peoples experience can I expect to get the camera back and see no more drop outs come clitches in my video? Or is this just a sign that the camera is coming to the end of its life?

Thanks

Have you used a dry head cleaning tape? That will help get rid of the drop-outs.

Yes I have. I only ran the Cleaning tape through for about 15 seconds but I'm still noticing various clitches / drop outs in the image captured.

What brand of tapes are you using to record on?

Mike

Sony DV Premium.

I have been using these for quite some time now. At least for the last 12mths

The reason I asked about the tapes is that I used JVC tapes in my Canon XL1s and had problems. I cleaned it and again and still had problems. I switched to Sony and never had another problem.

If I were you, I would use the cleaning tape for a longer time, a couple three times if necessary and try again with a new recording tape. I that does not work it is off to Canon for service.

Mike

Tape Brand
 

I read a long time ago that it's best to use only one brand of DV tape. The article explained that the lubricants used in the tape can react to another brand's lubricant formula causing a stickly mess and consequently drop outs.

I also feel that my particular camera is coming to the end of it's life. I've been more than keen to upgrade over the last 12mths but just haven't had the jobs coming to justify it. Well this camera has served me incredibly well but the limitations of lack of true manual lens and audio have seen me constantly looking at the next camera. But considering that this camera is some 10 years old it has more than delivered in regard to my development as a cameraman.

Cost and whats involved in "refurb" for my XL1s?
 

Hey guys,

I tried to find a thread on this, but I couldn't. If something similar exists, sorry.

Moving on...I would like to send my camera back to Canon to get it performing like the day it was new.

I have read about people doing it, but I have no idea what is involved.

What all needs to be updated, repaired, adjusted, or replaced? And how much can I expect it to run me and how long will it take? Thanks!

What's wrong with your camera? Typically you'll send it to Canon's national HQ (or if you're American, one of two(?) national HQ's they've got) and they fix it and then bill you. They'd go through it and find everything that's wrong, and tweak a lot of other stuff too. Depending on what they've done, you'll get a price that varies. Usually it runs at about $200-600. Of course, maybe you've done something crazy to the camera, and you'll get an enormous $1000ish bill.