A1 troubles, please help at DVinfo.net

Gabriele Sartori · August 17th, 2007, 04:06 PM

My A1 has been used very little since I bought it, a change of job kept me very busy, at my 2nd tape a 4 months ago (bought the camera when they just came out) I saw something funny with the tape, it was coming out. After trying gently a few times it came out and I used the camera for my 3rd tape. At my 4th tape a couple of months ago I noticed that expelling the tape wasn't easy. The door was opening and then I had to be very very quick pulling out the tape or the door will close on it. The same for a new tape, it is a fast exercise of opening the door, pull the old tape quickly, the door will close by itself immediately, open the door again, push a new tape in and the door will close itself right away. Nothing look broken or bended. Anyone had this problem? anyones knows of a mechanical reset (BTW I did the reset in the menu but it is just about the electronics). I hope some of you may help or next week I've to send it to Canon. It was really sad, I went to Italy and Spain for vacations and I had to keep it at home.... Everything else is perfect, the quality is amazing.

Regards
Gabriele

Eric Weiss · August 17th, 2007, 04:33 PM

that sounds pretty serious... and progressing.
first make sure that the cover is completely open when you eject the tape.
then make sure that there is nothing inside the tape area that would force it to act that way. if not, it's not something that will fix itself. send it back.
canon is notorious for tape drive issues.
they'll take care of it and are very good about it.

Bill Pryor · August 17th, 2007, 06:41 PM

I thought I had a problem at first, but the door was not opening all the way because it was hitting the strap. I just push the strap down and mic cable out of the way and make sure the door opens all the way and all is well. You might check that first, just to be sure. If it's not that, then it needs repair.

Gabriele Sartori · August 18th, 2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

I thought I had a problem at first, but the door was not opening all the way because it was hitting the strap.

Indeed I thought about having the same problem. The strap wa by default a little tight and the door was touching it but unfortunately after releasing the strap it is still showing the problem. Too bad.. :-(

Gabriele Sartori · August 18th, 2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Weiss

that sounds pretty serious... and progressing.
first make sure that the cover is completely open when you eject the tape.
then make sure that there is nothing inside the tape area that would force it to act that way. if not, it's not something that will fix itself. send it back.

Thanks, tomorrow I check one more time although previously I didn't see anything odd. The strange thing is that beside this door issue the mechanic works well. Once the tape is inside it works like a charm. I will give one more try tomorrow and then I will send ti to Canon, they are here in California, I hope to get it back in a couple of weeks.

August 17th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#1
Gabriele Sartori Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA Posts: 112	A1 troubles, please help My A1 has been used very little since I bought it, a change of job kept me very busy, at my 2nd tape a 4 months ago (bought the camera when they just came out) I saw something funny with the tape, it was coming out. After trying gently a few times it came out and I used the camera for my 3rd tape. At my 4th tape a couple of months ago I noticed that expelling the tape wasn't easy. The door was opening and then I had to be very very quick pulling out the tape or the door will close on it. The same for a new tape, it is a fast exercise of opening the door, pull the old tape quickly, the door will close by itself immediately, open the door again, push a new tape in and the door will close itself right away. Nothing look broken or bended. Anyone had this problem? anyones knows of a mechanical reset (BTW I did the reset in the menu but it is just about the electronics). I hope some of you may help or next week I've to send it to Canon. It was really sad, I went to Italy and Spain for vacations and I had to keep it at home.... Everything else is perfect, the quality is amazing. Regards Gabriele __________________ Gabriele - San Francisco Bay - CA

August 17th, 2007, 04:33 PM	#2
Eric Weiss Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philly,PA Posts: 360	that sounds pretty serious... and progressing. first make sure that the cover is completely open when you eject the tape. then make sure that there is nothing inside the tape area that would force it to act that way. if not, it's not something that will fix itself. send it back. canon is notorious for tape drive issues. they'll take care of it and are very good about it.

August 17th, 2007, 06:41 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I thought I had a problem at first, but the door was not opening all the way because it was hitting the strap. I just push the strap down and mic cable out of the way and make sure the door opens all the way and all is well. You might check that first, just to be sure. If it's not that, then it needs repair.