i overthreaded a step down ring.. anyone tell me where i can purchase a replacement bayonette mount for my xl1s??

the step down ring is stuck... this is horrible..

If just stuck, and not cross threaded, you mght be able to remove it using a photo filter wrench, or even by hand. DO NOT squeeze the filter towards the center as you grasp it to twist. This distorts the filter ring about like drum brakes on a car, and will prevent turning the ring.

Instead try press flat on the edges of filter ring as if forcing it ingto the camcorder body and then twist it off. That usually works for me. Using one of the rubber things sold to help remove jar lids in the palm of the hand may improve the grip on the ring.

i overthreaded a step down ring.. anyone tell me where i can purchase a replacement bayonette mount for my xl1s??

That sounds like two questions, 1)the step down ring is the front of the lens 2)The bayonet mount is part of the camera body.....is that what you ment?

If it's just a stepdown ring stuck to the front of the lens and all else fails, get a pair of needle nose pliers and very carefully grab the ring and twist it towards the center of the lens - this will get it off, but will obvisouly damage the ring.They're pretty cheap so in the end, just be very careful and if possible, place a protective piece of cloth on the lens and if you don't think you can do it, don't.

There is a front bayonet mount - the lens hood uses it, as do the Century wide angle adapters/converters.

oh yeah....forgot about that mount.

yeah.. its the mount i have to find a replacement for.. pliers arent going to do the job.. had the lens into the shop in some vicegrips.. no luck.
does anyone know where to get these little replacement pieces? i dont want to have to send the lens to canon for some work that a 6 year old could do. i just need the part.. i emailed customer service but they havent gotten back to me yet

Try call the Canon toll free number, then follow the prompts to the parts line. They may be able to help you. In the USA it is 800-828-4040 (assuming things have not changed), they might be able to help you.

parts department guy told me he wasnt technically inclined enough to understand what part of the camera i was trying to explain to him. I think its pretty simple.. i kept trying to dummy it down for him. "the last plastic piece on the end of the lens.. thats the end that you point at people.. it has a 72mm thread to screw on adapters, converters and filters.. and also has a outer bayonnette mount for your sunshade... its round and black"

his response: "im looking at a diagram.. you mean the lcd right??
me: "no, im talking lens.. not viewfinder."
him: "so the ccd then?"
me: "no.. the other end of the lens.. that you point at what you're filming" (second time i told him that)
him: "im not technically trained to be able to identify this part"
me: "and whats your position with canon"
him: "parts specialists for cameras"
me: "awesome..you're doing a good job"

he transfered me to tech support.. who also didnt know exactly what i meant... so he put me on hold for a while and i had to hang up cuz i was only on a break at work.. i think ill have to try back later tonite.

the parts guy did offer to fax me a digram of the camera so i point an arrow to what i mean though and fax it back ... (if emoticons were enabled..this would be a frustrated looking face)

Say, if he is willing to fax a diagram that shows the parts, that is a step beyond what many are willing to do, and it may even have some other useful information as well. By all means take him up on it, if for no other reason than to be sure you get the right part.

BTW, on the GL1 that component also appears to include the front protective glass as well as the bayonett and filter threads. There also might be a seal involved that would need replacement.

FWIW, you can order a full lens service manual as well, but they are not particularlly cheap.

on the xl1s it seems like its just the thread.. not attatched to any glass fortunately.. probably still going to cost big

i was just frustrated that for a living this guy does replacement parts orders for canon cameras.. and he wasnt camera literate enough to figure out the part i meant. and the guy in tech didnt know either!! what training do these people take when they start their job??? i could explain that part to a child who knows nothing about cameras and he/she would be able to identify what i mean from a picture of the xl1s.. someone who does this 40 hours a week should have the ability

I suspect that they provide very little component piece parts support to end users - they deal mainly with technicians who have actual part numbers in hand. Thus the parts person may be more akin to a stock clerk than a camcorder technician.

Also, the tech support people are probably trained more on how to use the camcroder than how to repair it. The really talanted and experienced technical people usually move past the support desk role quickly.

this is the response i just recieved. Right now the overthreaded step down ring is not a huge inconvenience because im shooting everything with my letus which requires it.. but i cant comprehend how a company that makes these cameras cannot figure out a part number.. im defintately not putting my cam out of commission for a few weeks so i can get charged for maintenance on a piece that i can replace myself if i had the part. Thi is frustrating. I wish i could get someone on the phone taht hasd actually held an xl series camera in their hands at least once in their lifetime.. i would call that customer service!!


Dear Andrew Todd

Unfortunately, we were also unable to locate the requested item number for
the part. If you require further assistance, I would suggest forwarding
the lens directly Mississauga Factory location below for inspection. When
forwarding the lens please include your name, address, daytime telephone
number, copy of your bill of sale [if it falls within the manufacturers
warranty limitations] and a brief description of the symptom(s). Only the
lens should be forwarded (do not send additional accessories), ensure
product is properly protected i.e use bubble wrap, as well you may consider
insuring your product. Upon receipt, we will have a technician thoroughly
inspect your product and advise you of the findings.

Listed below is the address for your convenience:

CANON CANADA INC.
1400 Courtneypark Dr E
Mississauga, ON, L5T1H1
Tel.: 905/795-2005
Fax: 905-795-2079

We apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused you.

Sincerely,

Kirk M.
Technical Support Representative
Customer Information Centre
Canon Canada Inc.

Take a good photo of the part, pull it into a photo editing program, annotate it appropriately, and then sent it to them via e-mail. That might help.

dont know why i didnt think of that.. thanks don for handling all the "out of the box" thinking for me.. much appreciated :)

I ran across a February 1998 manual for the XL1 stock lens (manual is Canon part # DY8-1510-310-010). The component with the bayonet is called:

"Front glass ass'y"
part number: YG9-5738-000 000
and it appears to be held inplace by 4 small screws.

thank you very much!! fortunately after 2 weeks of this being stuck it just decided to come off last nite... i had it in the vice for like a half an hour last week and then last nite it just came off in my hands... it was weird.. thats for the info though

A bit like the old finger trap toy.

yes.. exactly.. and then it got stuck on my letus35.. i think ill go with another brand of stepdown ring

What make, model, material is it? Others might want to avoid it if it is a rign issue rather than a lens issue..

i hate to namedrop... but i went through some crazy stress over this little hunk of metal.. IMHO it would not be wise to purchase the Fotodiox Step down ring 72-58mm,72mm-58mm. I bought it off ebay for $5