So today I set up my tripod to film outside and walked over to test something out. When I returned to the camera it had fallen in the grass. Dreading the worst, I picked it up and turned it on to find it worked perfectly. However, the viewfinder is now loose, and when I tilt it up it falls right back down, leading me to believe the camera fell on the viewfinder. The viewfinder is now bent very slightly to one side. However, the picture inside of the viewfinder still appears fine. I'm just bothered by the looseness of the viewfinder and something loose I can hear inside. Does anyone know if it's easy to repair this, or how much it would cost?

Hi

Sorry to hear that you dropped the camcorder!

If you can hear something loose inside the camcorder when it's powered off and the loose sound disappears when the camcorder is turned on, the loose thing you hear is the optical image stabilizer. It's loose when the camcorder is off and makes a ratteling sound when the camcorder is shaken, and this is normal.

If, however, the loose sound thing comes from the viewfinder, there is probably something in that region that is broken.


/Bo

Okay, how long have you had you camcorder? IF it has been less than a year, canon will fix it for free. I dropped my XHA1 after just a month and totally busted the view finder. They fixed it for free. I just paid for shipping to the nearest canon dealer.

I have a 5 year extended warranty plan. Not sure if the 3rd arty company will charge for the e fix. But the way i look at it, dude this is a lifetime investment on your camera. You need to fix it. Go ahead and get it done now.

Nope. The camera is no longer under warranty. I think that was the image stabilizer making the noise. I'll have to pay for the viewfinder repair myself.