A1

Jim Stamps · September 6th, 2007, 05:54 PM

For those interested, I'll post updates on my A1 which is now on the way to Irvine, CA for repair.

Background - Purchased in Jan '07, no issues until 9/5/07. Shot for 20 min on 9/3, brought it home and captured footage, no problems. Took it for a shoot on 9/5, wouldn't start up in any modes other than external control & VCR. Checked Standby/Lock switch, tried 2nd battery, replaced tape, reset, all no go. Used backup A1 for shoot.

Got bad A1 back home, connected to MBP, FCP recognized it, captured previous shot footage again, no issue. Called Canon, they were as confused as I was, and said ship it!

Shipping & Insurance was approx $50.

Only saw a couple of threads on serious issues on the A1, so wanted to share.

-Jim

Chris Hurd · September 6th, 2007, 07:47 PM

Sounds like a classic Standby / Lock switch, but you said you checked it. Pretty strange... let us know what they tell you!

Bill Watson · September 6th, 2007, 08:07 PM

Did you check both lock switches?

Jim Stamps · September 6th, 2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Watson

Did you check both lock switches?

Hey Bill,
Thanks for the note. If you're referring to the handle lock switch, that one doesn't keep the cam from turning on like the Standby/Lock switch does. It only locks the handle controls.

-Jim

Bill Watson · September 6th, 2007, 11:57 PM

Ah well. Learn something new every day on this website.

Good luck with the repair mate.

Jim Stamps · September 12th, 2007, 09:06 PM

Received email from Canon repair center stating they received the camera, performed initial inspection, and have determined there is an issue and will be covered by warranty. Email states that the camera will be shipped in ~7 business days.

No other detail was provided.

9/10 - Canon repair center signed for camera
9/12 - Received email

-Jim

Jim Stamps · September 26th, 2007, 10:10 AM

Received email this morning (9/26) that the camera repair is complete. No details yet as to what the issue was. FedEx tracking reveals camera is set for delivery today.

It was nice they sent it overnight. I'm assuming repair details are in the package with the cam.

-Jim

Rob Stoner · September 26th, 2007, 11:40 AM

im glad to hear that canon was so responsive with fixing this issue. i had an issue with another camera a while back and it took almost 2 months to get it back from a non warranty repair.

Jim Stamps · September 26th, 2007, 11:10 PM

Got the camera today as promised, everything seems to be fine.
Paper work from Canon was more vague than I imagined.

Under "Service Details", this is the exact wording:
'We have examined the product according to our request, and, upon close inspection the exact cause could not be identifed but it was found that images could not be output. The pcb assembly was replaced. Other electrical adjustments and parts replacements were carried out."

This is a bit scary for me, because I have a little experience with intermediate level repair work, and if the 'exact cause' wasn't found, it may come back soon.

Guess it's time to buy more backup cameras...

Repair timeline overview -
No function in cam selelction 9/5
Shipped 9/6
Canon received cam 9/10
Confirmation email stating 'it's broke' 9/12
Received camera back 9/26

-Jim

Chris Hurd · September 27th, 2007, 06:55 AM

Hi Jim, I seriously doubt you will ever have that problem again, since they replaced most of the camera's guts. Always a good idea to have a backup though. Thanks for the report,

Gary Barr · October 1st, 2007, 05:45 AM

Hi Jim,

Just to report that I had the same problem on a shoot with a PAL A1 here in the UK, just died (half like yours) although would come on for a minute or so intermittently. All this in the middle of a shoot. Luckily I was using 2 A1s and had a HV10 kicking around to save the day which it did well. It was only a few weeks old and didn't get any detail about what was wrong when it came back from Canon.

I always make sure to have a backup now on every shoot, just in case!

September 6th, 2007, 05:54 PM	#1
Jim Stamps New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 11	A1 - Half Dead For those interested, I'll post updates on my A1 which is now on the way to Irvine, CA for repair. Background - Purchased in Jan '07, no issues until 9/5/07. Shot for 20 min on 9/3, brought it home and captured footage, no problems. Took it for a shoot on 9/5, wouldn't start up in any modes other than external control & VCR. Checked Standby/Lock switch, tried 2nd battery, replaced tape, reset, all no go. Used backup A1 for shoot. Got bad A1 back home, connected to MBP, FCP recognized it, captured previous shot footage again, no issue. Called Canon, they were as confused as I was, and said ship it! Shipping & Insurance was approx $50. Only saw a couple of threads on serious issues on the A1, so wanted to share. -Jim

September 6th, 2007, 07:47 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Sounds like a classic Standby / Lock switch, but you said you checked it. Pretty strange... let us know what they tell you! __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 12th, 2007, 09:06 PM	#6
Jim Stamps New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 11	::update:: Received email from Canon repair center stating they received the camera, performed initial inspection, and have determined there is an issue and will be covered by warranty. Email states that the camera will be shipped in ~7 business days. No other detail was provided. 9/10 - Canon repair center signed for camera 9/12 - Received email -Jim

September 26th, 2007, 10:10 AM	#7
Jim Stamps New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 11	::update:: Received email this morning (9/26) that the camera repair is complete. No details yet as to what the issue was. FedEx tracking reveals camera is set for delivery today. It was nice they sent it overnight. I'm assuming repair details are in the package with the cam. -Jim

September 26th, 2007, 11:10 PM	#9
Jim Stamps New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 11	::final update:: Got the camera today as promised, everything seems to be fine. Paper work from Canon was more vague than I imagined. Under "Service Details", this is the exact wording: 'We have examined the product according to our request, and, upon close inspection the exact cause could not be identifed but it was found that images could not be output. The pcb assembly was replaced. Other electrical adjustments and parts replacements were carried out." This is a bit scary for me, because I have a little experience with intermediate level repair work, and if the 'exact cause' wasn't found, it may come back soon. Guess it's time to buy more backup cameras... Repair timeline overview - No function in cam selelction 9/5 Shipped 9/6 Canon received cam 9/10 Confirmation email stating 'it's broke' 9/12 Received camera back 9/26 -Jim

September 6th, 2007, 08:07 PM	#3
Bill Watson Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Noosa Queensland Australia Posts: 248	Did you check both lock switches?

September 6th, 2007, 11:57 PM	#5
Bill Watson Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Noosa Queensland Australia Posts: 248	Ah well. Learn something new every day on this website. Good luck with the repair mate.

September 26th, 2007, 11:40 AM	#8
Rob Stoner Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 50	im glad to hear that canon was so responsive with fixing this issue. i had an issue with another camera a while back and it took almost 2 months to get it back from a non warranty repair.

September 27th, 2007, 06:55 AM	#10
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Hi Jim, I seriously doubt you will ever have that problem again, since they replaced most of the camera's guts. Always a good idea to have a backup though. Thanks for the report, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

October 1st, 2007, 05:45 AM	#11
Gary Barr Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 186	Hi Jim, Just to report that I had the same problem on a shoot with a PAL A1 here in the UK, just died (half like yours) although would come on for a minute or so intermittently. All this in the middle of a shoot. Luckily I was using 2 A1s and had a HV10 kicking around to save the day which it did well. It was only a few weeks old and didn't get any detail about what was wrong when it came back from Canon. I always make sure to have a backup now on every shoot, just in case!