Hi all
I recently had an accident with my XL1 in which I dropped it about 1 m onto the ground (heart broken isnt the word). When I turnd it on everything seemed to be okay except that when I play back the tape its all pixelated. I take it that the heads are now misalighned. The problem I have is that the only canon authorised repair shop wants to charge me half the value of the camera just to look at it, without even fixing it. Has anyone got any idea how much this may cost (new set of heads) or is it even worth repairing as it is such an old camera now. Is there any second hand market (not just e bay please) for parts off XL1's which I could sell the rest of the camera on to ie XLR adaptor, mic, veiw finder, batteries, shoulder mount, lens etc etc.
Any advice would be much appreciated as any cash made would go towards my new camera.
PS its a PAL camera.
Thanks all

buy another camera body for cheap on ebay ?
upgrade to the next XL model and keep lens ?

Check ebay's PAST auction items for what you might want to sell, to get an idea of what they've been going for. Lens, viewfinder are the most obvious ones to sell. The lens will port up to the next models, but the viewfinder WON'T port up to an XL2.

Definitely not worth repairing, Martin. Instead consider an XM2 or XL2 or an XH A1.

Your alternative to Ebay is our Private Classifieds forum; new members gain access to it 30 days after their DV Info Net account has been validated.

Thanks guys for your help. I think I am going to go for a XH A1 if I can find one at a decent price here in Scotland. You boys in the US seem to get some nice deals from canon just now and your ebay prices are so much lower than here in the UK.
Once I have been on for 30 days I think I will post it on the classifieds forum so if anyone is looking for parts, please let me know.
Thanks again

If Scotland works with PAL camera's, be sure you buy a PAL camera and not a NTSC one, if you buy one in the US.