XL1S service manuals are not available to the public, sorry.

Some spare parts may be available through Canon service centers. Depends on what you're looking for.

Ok Chris

Thank very much
And the CanonXL1 ( non S ) service manual, is available to the public, or it is not ??

Thanks

Veronica

The XL1 service manual may be available. from Canon. The policy has varied a bit over time. You may have to sign a warranty waiver (if you mess up your camcorder as a result of using the manual - it is your fault). Not much in the manual of use to most camcorder owners/users. It is a very technical document. It is NOT as simple as programming a VCR.

<<<-- Originally posted by Don Palomaki : It is NOT as simple as programming a VCR. -->>>

And all around the world, there are VCRs flashing 12:00...
Keith

OK Don, thank you very much.

I understand that technical manual is not simple to understand, but is necessary for the hands of a technician who needs to repair some thing.

I will ask in Canon to know like acquiring it.

Thanks you again


Veronica

Canon Service Costs?
 

While I'm waiting (its been over a month now) for Canon to get back to me on my Owner's Club membership, I have a question about their prices that maybe someone here can answer. My unit basically has three problems with it. One is that it has about 3-4 dead pixels, which only show up when I shoot in anything lower than 1/60th shutter. As for external problems, the microphone holder is chipped and the little black metal square that the viewfinder attaches onto somehow got turned so that now when the viewfinder attaches it is crooked.

Does anyone know about how much this costs to have repaired? Would Canon have contacted me if there was a problem with my Owner's Club membership by now? Thanks.

If you decide to call either of the two Canon service centers (contact info at www.dvinfo.net/xl1.htm -- the page called "The XL1 Skinny"), be sure to let us know what you find out. I'm sure they'll give you a ball-park estimate based on your description. I'd like to know what they tell you. Thanks,

Hi,
A friend of mine sent in his XL-1 for cleaning, as a club member it would cost $95.00.

BUT in the process they found a few problems ($1384.35 worth, a very extensive list) , sent back his $95.00 check along with a list of necessary repairs and a request for repair authorization and a check for payment. If he decides no, they will ship it back n/c.

All I can say is that if your camera isn't working right, send it in asap.

Good Luck

Parts & Service Manual
 

I have the parts and service manual available. P/N DY8-1160-000;
# D16-0712 NTSC 1998 edition.

Someone requested a number via email and I dumped the email in the trash thinking it was from a wormer.

So whom ever it was ya can email me again and say DViC sent ya. I can't send a copy of the whole thing but I don't mind providing this website part numbers and faxes of some of the pages (service specs, schematics, wiring diagrams etc.).

Sorry for the inconvience. I'm getting old I guess.

Thanks Robert.

You'd be crazy to offer to copy the whole thing -- I've seen it and it's pretty thick, with a lot of fold-out diagrams. I sure appreciate the offer to provide some occasional info out of it. That's a valuable asset.

By the way folks, this is XL1 only, and *not* XL1S.

I should be getting the XL-1S manual soon.

Will let ya'll know down dair.

Canon Service Centers - CA vs NJ
 

I'm getting ready to send in my new XL1S to Canon for service. Seems the audio is no-longer recording. Just curious if there are any pros or cons with sending it to either the California or New Jersey service center. I'm a little closer to the NJ center, but is there a difference in turn around time or quality of work between the two that anyone is aware of?

Thanks,
G

Greg, you may want to do a search on this topic. I believe Chris Hurd felt the NJ was perhaps quicker than the CA. I don't want to say better because it implies the other does shoddy work. If you're in the Owners Club you might want to call and see if they have a preference.

Jeff

Xl1 Service Manual
 

Does any one know where I can purchase a service manual for the XL1 or XL1s

Or even a photocopy, pdf file anything


James

Nothing that is serviceable by most users in the Canon MiniDV camcroders. Spcialized tools and test gear are required. Circuit boards use special service mounted components and ASICs, so part swapping on them is a bit of a trick too. Also, opening the unit can void the warranty.

With that warning, in the USA manuals can be ordered from the Canon national parts outlet, cost is on the order of $50 or so as I recall. You can get ther from the menus on Canon's support number.

At one time Canon has a gatekeeper on manual sales, you have to sign a waiver statement regarding possible loss of waranty if you used the manual to make home-repairs.

Also, the manuals do not include all circuits in the machine, just the major boards. And they appear to be somewhat comulative where for some products the manual depended in part on having the manual for an earlier version, or some having specific factory training.

An interesting addition to the library only if you are a highly skilled technician and interested in the internal mechanics of the XL1, but a waste of money for most people

canon service
 

hello all..
i am a proud owner of a Xl1... i love this thing..
its an older model that i bought from a guy.
well... little did i know that you were not suppose to use
different brand tapes.. (i was buying whatever i could get the cheapest). now im paying for it.. at least i think thats what the problem is.
evrything was fine until the other night i was using the camera for a playback vcr... i know.... i know..... but i dont have the money for a minidv player right now....took everything i had to
get the cam.

anyways... now i have a large black line and a bunch of squares
at the left side of the picture.. ive cleaned and cleaned and ran the head cleaner thru it 5-6 times.. still the same... : (

so.. im just gonna go ahead and send it in to canon and let them fix it.. since they fix many other things to.. like the focus...and such..
anybody ever had this problem.. with the squares at the side of the picture?
do i need to send it in?
also... how much am i looking at for a "service"

i need to have an idea how much this is gonna cost me...

Thanks a mil in advance !!

Have you tried cleaning the heads with a dry cleaning tape?

- don

yes , i have... now about 7-8 times.. just wont clear up...
any ideas on the cost of a service?

i use this cam every week and cant really go with out it.. but.. i have no choice...
i figure i may have to wait a couple weeks to get it back.. probably needs serviced anyways..

thanks.

also .. the head cleaner im using is a dry tape .. i think.. it looks like a "tape" actually..
do i need to use the "cloth "type tape?

help!

The best thing to do Rod is to send it in to Canon. As it's a used camera it would be a good idea for them to check over it and make any adjustments/mods that are required. They will also fix your problem and send your camera back as good as new. I can't really help with the cost as it's a used camera and it's impossible to know what it might need. Short of having to replace heads/drums etc it shouldn't be too pricey.

Do other tapes play back OK. If the problem is specific to this one tape, you probably have a bad recording on the tape.

I bought my XL-1 in '98.

After three years of light use I started experiencing banding and square pixel drop out.
I tried the cleaning tape, but it was probably too far gone for that - and I had never used the cleaning tape prior to that.

I sent my camera to Canon Repair (as recommended by the XL-1 club) and they did a bang up job. I swear the camera came back as good as new and the banding and drop-out was gone.

Maybe I'm just imagining it, but the focus seemed to respond better as well.

Total cost: $283.00. Cheaper than buying a new camera.

Yeah, its very good idea to send the camera in for yearly maintenance and alignments. Someone I knew never sent their home camcorder in and when it was serviced all their old tapes would play. Yearly maintenance helps prevent that from happening.

To people who sent their XL-1s into Canon service to remedy digital artifacting...
 

My friend sent his XL-1s into Canon service because all the footage he shot started exibiting digital artifacting and no amount of running the head cleaner seemed to help.

Well 2 weeks later he got it back and it's apparently fixed. He was charged $270 for whatever service they did on it.

Now judging by that price what do you think was done- a tape transport replacement, or just a professional head clean? If you don't think his tape transport was replaced- how much is that service?

Very interesting question. I own an XL1s and if that happened to me, I'd insist on knowing the cause. Think of this old adage: Know how to do something you'll always have a job. Know why you do something, you'll always be in charge. I'd like to know the "why" concerning the artifacting with this guy's XL1s. It can happen to us, ya know.

It's been happening to alot of owners- well, not alot but a signifigant amount. Just browse around the forum for a bit and you'll find other XL-1 owners that are having head/cylinder problems.

I first had this problem 2 years ago. Canon replaced the drum and all was well. It cost me ¥40 000, roughly US$350, but that included some mods that were required. Twelve months later the same thng happened again an Canon again replaced the drum, this time under warantee. It happened again this year but they just gave it a clean and adjust for ¥8000.

Canon XL1 Yearly service
 

I need to get my Canon Camera shipped off for the yearly cleaning and maintenance service. How much does Canon Charge for this? Do I pay for shipping to and from Canon, or pay just to ship it to them?

Is it worth it to have my GL1 undergo the same service? I realize that Canon only offers the cleaning and maintenance to the XL1 and XL1s cameras. I would have the GL1 serviced locally, but should I have it done as well?

Thanks,

Chris R
Edit1Media

I know that others have asked this question before and an answer would probably come up with a Search.

But nobody here is a Canon service tech. It's best to just give Canon a call to get specific current answers to the basic maintenence service cost and logistics question.

Whether or not basic preventative maintenance service is worth the time and expense depends entirely on how much you use your cameras and whether or not you rely on them for contract work and/or to put food in your mouth. If you're a hobbyist or use the cameras infrequently it may not be worthwhile.

Cost is on the order of $100 (call Canon for the exact price) for members of the Canon XL1 users club. For others somewhat higher. Not sure what he cost is for the GL1/2. Value depends on how much you have used (and abused) the camcorder, and how citical your work is. You pay shipping both ways, althought the return shipping cost may be built into the rate.

Getting heads aligned and stuff is probably well worth the bother. I have some tapes from a much older Sony system. The cam was sent in for service and the heads were aligned. Now a number of the old vids are not viewable.

Canon service issues
 

I wanted to title this "canon service blows" but I've refrained from it. I own a Canon PAL XL1 I bought it off ebay and After reading the watchdog here I decided to have it specked out for general maintainence, so I called Apple. I spoke to the general canon number then the irvine branch specifically. THEY WON"T TOUCH MY CAMERA! They said if I want it serviced I have to send it to freaking England! What the heck? So I ask about a service manual I'm pretty handy with electronics they tell me to call 1800 OKCANON I call and they tell me there is no way to get a service manual for an XL-1 What the heck? SO now I'm faced with shipping the camera to England going to any number of "suggested" people to take a look at my camera or just dealing with it. If someone has a service manual/has done service on an XL1 please let me know, also has anyone ever adjusted their IRE settings' or had them adjusted for american standards? Help me Please!

I'm faced with the same situation here in Japan, I have to send my camera back to Australia to have it serviced/repaired. This is nothing new and not just a Canon deal, it is also why we always advise against buying cameras from overseas.

I know this isn't very helpful to you Nick but finding a 3rd party repairer will probably be your only option.

Adrian,

Thanks, while I do understand that, Canon did sell the PAL version of the XL1 (not the XL1s) in the states, (you could get it from B and H, and a few other places to I believe) and I purchased it from someone in the US, so there was definitely no overseas to be gone, I'm still blown away but the lack of access to a service manual though. I guess a 3rd party is going to be my only option.

I totally hear you about the hassles, it's never ending for me here in Japan. Did Canon actually release PAL cameras through their authorized dealers or are they sorced from overseas by the dealers? That's where your problem lays. Is the dealer you bought it from an authorized Canon dealer, if so you should have some form of legal recource.

It doesn't surprise me about the service manuals though, I don't know of any camera manufacturer, or any electronics manufacturer for that matter, that releases their manuals to the general public.

Most electronic manufactures only sell the service manual to authorized service centers. Sony would only sell camera manuals after completing a Sony camera training class. PAL cameras needs different equipment to service them. The standard NTSC waveform monitor/vector scope won't work. Neither will standard oscilloscopes. The US Canon technicians are not trained to work on PAL equipment. This situation is not unique to Canon. None of the major manufactures will work on PAL equipment here in NTSC land.

Service manual policy changes from time to time. They often are available, but are not cheap, you may have to convince someone to sell one to you, and you may have to waive warranty in the process.

There are NO USER SERVICEABLE parts in a camcorder. And well qualified technicians usually know how to obtain a manual.

The PAL XL1 was a little before my time here at ZGC but in talking to my partner Chris, any of the PAL XL1 units that were licensed for purchase in the US should have a US warranty card and be servicable here in the states.

She did mention that there were delays sometimes because parts had to be ordered from Europe but that the service was done here.

That being said, if they can service the ones that were under warranty, they should be able to service any of the PAL units. You might have to pay for the service, but better then paying for it to go to Europe, especially if your warranty is up anyway.

Seems like Canon's cages need to be rattled a little more to get to the bottom of this.

Nick, if you have the original warranty card and it states it's a US warranty I would raise a whole lotta hell.

mizell

XL1 Service.
 

So it turned out that my Firewire on the cam was broken. I don't know how, but I would like to know..

But now when I'm sending the camera to service at Canon. Are there any other things they should correct? I know XL1s sometimes have som factory problems, Are there any corrections I should be aware of and tell the service center to correct on the warrenty?

Thanks!
/Andreas

Andreas, I don't know how it is at Canon Europa, but at Canon USA the camcorders automatically receive whatever software / firmware updates they need, and the service center tells you what other chargeable repairs they think should be done. Please let us know what you find out,