XL1 tape drive problems.. at DVinfo.net

Thomas Weilguny · November 22nd, 2006, 02:28 PM

my very well-used (2nd hand) XL1 has been acting up lately. It´s hard to label, hence not much luck finding anything through search.
What happens is that occasionally when recording, the tape will rewind at half-speed, with the playback visible in the EVF. When it started, this went on for a few seconds, then everything was back to normal. Now this has increased in frequency to the point where recording is pretty much impossible.
Removing and re-inserting the tape temporarily helps, so does switching to a new tape.

Since I´m out of ideas I´ll probably have to bring it in for service, but if anyone knows this problem or has experienced something similar I´d appreciate the insight.
An unrelated thing: there seems to be a slight bit of underscan present (in the the output material, it´s not visible in the EVF or on a monitor), is this normal?

Lorinda Norton · November 23rd, 2006, 01:08 AM

That sounds weird, Thomas...at least, I've never heard of it. You're right, though; you don't have a choice but to send it Canon.

As for the second question--yeah, that's normal. :)

Don Palomaki · November 23rd, 2006, 07:13 AM

Is one of the record search buttons shorting?

The active portion of the image is about 704 pixels wide, with an 8 pixel black band on theleft adn right side. That is a DV standard, and is only visible on a monitor with no overscan such as a PC.

Thomas Weilguny · November 24th, 2006, 08:19 AM

thanks for the info! I don´t know about the buttons, nothing I could tell without opening the body up.
I brought it in today for a repair quote, I just hope it doesn´t get too expensive...

Thomas Weilguny · December 14th, 2006, 07:22 AM

update: the main PCB is damaged, apparently some corrosion... no idea how that crept in, but since the repair quote is for over thousand euros we´ll probably be looking for either a new body or a new camera altogether...

damn.

November 22nd, 2006, 02:28 PM	#1
Thomas Weilguny Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 51	XL1 tape drive problems.. my very well-used (2nd hand) XL1 has been acting up lately. It´s hard to label, hence not much luck finding anything through search. What happens is that occasionally when recording, the tape will rewind at half-speed, with the playback visible in the EVF. When it started, this went on for a few seconds, then everything was back to normal. Now this has increased in frequency to the point where recording is pretty much impossible. Removing and re-inserting the tape temporarily helps, so does switching to a new tape. Since I´m out of ideas I´ll probably have to bring it in for service, but if anyone knows this problem or has experienced something similar I´d appreciate the insight. An unrelated thing: there seems to be a slight bit of underscan present (in the the output material, it´s not visible in the EVF or on a monitor), is this normal?

November 23rd, 2006, 01:08 AM	#2
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	That sounds weird, Thomas...at least, I've never heard of it. You're right, though; you don't have a choice but to send it Canon. As for the second question--yeah, that's normal. :) __________________ Lorinda

November 23rd, 2006, 07:13 AM	#3
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Is one of the record search buttons shorting? The active portion of the image is about 704 pixels wide, with an 8 pixel black band on theleft adn right side. That is a DV standard, and is only visible on a monitor with no overscan such as a PC. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

November 24th, 2006, 08:19 AM	#4
Thomas Weilguny Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 51	thanks for the info! I don´t know about the buttons, nothing I could tell without opening the body up. I brought it in today for a repair quote, I just hope it doesn´t get too expensive...

December 14th, 2006, 07:22 AM	#5
Thomas Weilguny Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 51	update: the main PCB is damaged, apparently some corrosion... no idea how that crept in, but since the repair quote is for over thousand euros we´ll probably be looking for either a new body or a new camera altogether... damn.