Hey guys. I went to shoot an interview and I kept having the following problems with my XL1s:
1. I would zoom in and the camera would promptly zoom out on its own
2. When I pressed the record button, I was at times unable to pause the camera and the only way was to flip it to off position.
3. I tried both lenses and all got the same issues in both instances

I managed to finish my shoot and came home with a big knot in my throat, plugged the camera to the outlet and started looking for answers. I found a message in which someone mentiones batteries so I tried my camera while it was still connected directly to the outlet and now everything works normal. I than put the battery in and things still work fine.
I have been using these batteries for about six months now and would hate to think that it had anything to do with batteries.

Did any of you experience such a thing before and if you did could you tell me what it ended up being?
Thanks.

Have you tried using the remote control and see if it is repeatable?

Nathan. No I haven't. I didn't even think about it, but will try tonight. I was just thinking that as an electronic device, software driven, maybe something happened equivalent to a OS crash and that somehow I "rebooted" the camera. Strange.

I can think of two possible areas to check. One might be a sticking button or switch. I can't test it on my XL1s (in for repair) but if one button is stuck down it may disable the other one (such as your record button). Also if your memory backup battery has a problem maybe that could be an issue. Check if you still have all your presets (white balance and time and date). Just a couple of ideas - i don't think you want that to happen again. Intermittant problems make me twitch...

"Did any of you experience such a thing before and if you did could you tell me what it ended up being"

I was trying to zoom in on a white card one time and my XL1s refused after several tries. Pushed for time I reluctantly used auto WB. This was months ago and it has never happened since though (so may be no biggie).
Randy

Rafal,

Was there heavy RF in the vicinity of the cam?

Hey, thanks to all for the input but the new development is such. TRhe footage I show while the camera was having a problem is fine but the audio portion is completely useless. Alsmost as if there was a HUGE electric interference. Also the camera is back to zooming in and zooming out on its own so I guess it will have to go in for repairs. WHY ME GOD !!!!!!!!
I wouldn't be so bummed out but I have my directorial debut this Wednesday and really wanted to film it. Gues I'll have to swallow my prive and pull out the old TRV 140 :-(

ROBERT, As far as the RF, it came across my mind but there was none that I was aware plus it's doing the same thing at home.

My only wonder is that while the camera was running I plugged in the RCA video cable to it so is it possible that there was some power surge? Maybe.

Thanks again.

Rafal,

I can't conceive of a surge from plugging in your video cable, but anything is possible.

Let me make another suggestion: Remount the lens. If their is some small residual charge some where, this might dump it.

Just tried it with both lenses and still no dice. Maybe a zoom motor? I wonder what the service people will say.