What to do with this machine? at DVinfo.net

Ger Griffin · June 15th, 2008, 12:08 PM

So I let my A1 fall of the tripod the other week - don't ask.

Anyway, It fell about 5 feet and hit the ground on the lens hood.

The hood is a little dented but other than that it seems to be perfect.

I've done 6 weddings since, all perfect.

But I have this nagging voice in my head saying-

" quick, buy another, relegate this camera to back-up, now, you'll regret it etc etc etc."

What do you guys think? If it was going to produce a problem as a result of this fall would it have shown up by now?

What would you do?

Jim Miller · June 15th, 2008, 12:55 PM

I had a similar fall last year at Bike Week in Daytona -Not from a tripod - broken strap instead - from 5 feet right on the lens hood. It's still working perfectly today.

I'd say "forget about it" don't look back and keep on shooting.

Jerome Cloninger · June 15th, 2008, 01:12 PM

I had this happen to a Sony HC1 though it was about 7 feet and hit gravels on the lens hood (aftermarket) and at a slight angle. I saw it happen in slow motion. ;) Works perfectly ever since and that was 3 years ago. Though I'd have a heart attack if that happened to my A1. If it works fine, I'd say you are ok.

Jerome Marot · June 15th, 2008, 02:30 PM

Tape a few newspaper pages to a wall and take some photographs of it with your A1 at various zoom steps and full aperture. Look if the print is sharper on one side or the other.

This is a simple test to know if your lens is out of center. If it is, check if the direction of the off-center is linked to the position of the lens (roughly).

If you answer no to any of the two question, consider your camera in order. In practice, the hood acts as a bumper and absorbs the shocks relatively well.

Tripp Woelfel · June 15th, 2008, 03:57 PM

If you're really worried, you could give it to me. (grin)

Bill Pryor · June 15th, 2008, 08:24 PM

If it works and all is well and everything's sharp, it's OK. Hitting on the lens hood probably helped the fall by flexing a bit.

Dave Pecunies · June 15th, 2008, 08:37 PM

I would not worry about it either, it's a Canon. Fortunately I have not dropped my A1, but have dropped a few Sonys and never had a problem. However a DVX would have disintegrated on impact.

Dennis Murphy · June 15th, 2008, 08:56 PM

I think it's completely ruined. It isn't even worth trying to fix.
You might as well just send it to me so I can use it as a prop *cough*.
I'll even pay the postage.

James R. Leong · June 16th, 2008, 03:22 AM

I've opened an A1 and it's just an HV20 inside, which you can replace like a battery :)

But seriously, when offloading footage with a firewire cable, it's a good idea to keep the camera as low as possible, like on the floor. It's easy to snag a firewire cable and send the camera crashing to the floor!

Loren Simons · June 16th, 2008, 12:46 PM

Amen to that

Ger Griffin · June 17th, 2008, 10:56 AM

Yea she's a sturdy machine.
I must do the newspaper test out of curiosity.
Thanks for the reassurance.

But seriously, im in love with Canon after this experience.

June 15th, 2008, 12:08 PM	#1
Ger Griffin Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 579	What to do with this machine? So I let my A1 fall of the tripod the other week - don't ask. Anyway, It fell about 5 feet and hit the ground on the lens hood. The hood is a little dented but other than that it seems to be perfect. I've done 6 weddings since, all perfect. But I have this nagging voice in my head saying- " quick, buy another, relegate this camera to back-up, now, you'll regret it etc etc etc." What do you guys think? If it was going to produce a problem as a result of this fall would it have shown up by now? What would you do?

June 15th, 2008, 01:12 PM	#3
Jerome Cloninger Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: East TN Posts: 415	I had this happen to a Sony HC1 though it was about 7 feet and hit gravels on the lens hood (aftermarket) and at a slight angle. I saw it happen in slow motion. ;) Works perfectly ever since and that was 3 years ago. Though I'd have a heart attack if that happened to my A1. If it works fine, I'd say you are ok. __________________ Jerome www.jeromecloninger.com

June 15th, 2008, 08:56 PM	#8
Dennis Murphy Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Whangarei, New Zealand Posts: 396	I think it's completely ruined. It isn't even worth trying to fix. You might as well just send it to me so I can use it as a prop cough. I'll even pay the postage. __________________ http://www.dmvideostuff.co.nz

June 16th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#10
Loren Simons Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 288	Amen to that __________________ Loren Simons

June 15th, 2008, 12:55 PM	#2
Jim Miller Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa,Florida Posts: 236	I had a similar fall last year at Bike Week in Daytona -Not from a tripod - broken strap instead - from 5 feet right on the lens hood. It's still working perfectly today. I'd say "forget about it" don't look back and keep on shooting.

June 15th, 2008, 02:30 PM	#4
Jerome Marot Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Munich (Germany) Posts: 107 Images: 4	Tape a few newspaper pages to a wall and take some photographs of it with your A1 at various zoom steps and full aperture. Look if the print is sharper on one side or the other. This is a simple test to know if your lens is out of center. If it is, check if the direction of the off-center is linked to the position of the lens (roughly). If you answer no to any of the two question, consider your camera in order. In practice, the hood acts as a bumper and absorbs the shocks relatively well.

June 15th, 2008, 03:57 PM	#5
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	If you're really worried, you could give it to me. (grin)

June 15th, 2008, 08:24 PM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	If it works and all is well and everything's sharp, it's OK. Hitting on the lens hood probably helped the fall by flexing a bit.

June 15th, 2008, 08:37 PM	#7
Dave Pecunies Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albany Township, ME Posts: 95	I would not worry about it either, it's a Canon. Fortunately I have not dropped my A1, but have dropped a few Sonys and never had a problem. However a DVX would have disintegrated on impact.

June 16th, 2008, 03:22 AM	#9
James R. Leong Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada Posts: 81	I've opened an A1 and it's just an HV20 inside, which you can replace like a battery :) But seriously, when offloading footage with a firewire cable, it's a good idea to keep the camera as low as possible, like on the floor. It's easy to snag a firewire cable and send the camera crashing to the floor!

June 17th, 2008, 10:56 AM	#11
Ger Griffin Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 579	Yea she's a sturdy machine. I must do the newspaper test out of curiosity. Thanks for the reassurance. But seriously, im in love with Canon after this experience.