xl2 maintenance at DVinfo.net

Derek Grimes · April 28th, 2009, 12:31 PM

We have 3 xl2's that we use at church. We have been using them for IMAG for about 2 years. Is there any maintenance that we need to be aware of? Does it need to be professionally serviced? Any recommendations on places to clean the heads?

Jeff Anselmo · May 1st, 2009, 05:44 PM

Hi Derek,

As far as I know, there are only two places that would service XL2s, and that's in Irvine, CA and Jamesburg, NJ.

Support - Digital Camcorder - XL2 - Service Locator - Service Locations - Canon USA Consumer Products

We've been using our XL2 for around 3 years, and have not taken it in for maintenance (crossing fingers :). I've "regularly" used a tape head cleaner, meaning I use it only after I see the dreaded "heads are dirty needs cleaning" flashing in the viewfinder.

FWIW, we shoot outdoors, I'd say, more than 50% of the time; it's been through all sorts of weather, even rode on the back of a muddy, dirty ATV. And the XL2 still performed (but not too well initially; first tape had alot of dropouts).

If you shoot mostly indoors inside a church, I don't think you really need to worry about the XL2's maintenance. Unless, you really, really think they need it.

Best,

Marco Leavitt · May 6th, 2009, 07:08 PM

This is one of those things that's kind of a bummer about Canon service. I kind of want to get my heads professionally cleaned as well, but nobody will touch it in my area. You have to send it Canon. It's not an easy item to ship.

Jeff Anselmo · May 6th, 2009, 09:07 PM

Hi Marco,

Have you sent your XL2 for service/cleanup before? I'm just wondering if you say that shipping is a pain in the @$$, maybe I should just drive it there!?! (I have family in Southern California, and have passed the Canon service building in Irvine a few times. Will be going there sometime in July.)

Best,

Marco Leavitt · May 6th, 2009, 09:25 PM

If you have your original box, it's a bit easier, as the box is designed for the camera to be shipped in. Still, I don't like the idea of it bouncing around with UPS or the postal service or whoever. If you can drive it easily, I'd do that.

Jack Barker · May 7th, 2009, 09:50 PM

You know, you can go to the Canon web site and join the "club," or what ever it's called. You get some benefits from it (I forgot), and I believe they will send you packaging materials for shipping your XL in for service.

Jeff Anselmo · May 8th, 2009, 05:08 PM

Hi Marco,

Drat :) I just did throw away the XL2 box just after we moved into our new house!

Hi Jack,

I am a member of the XL Club, so I might have to give them a buzz to see if they can ship out a proper box with proper shipping materials included.

Best,

April 28th, 2009, 12:31 PM	#1
Derek Grimes Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: nashville, TN Posts: 107	xl2 maintenance We have 3 xl2's that we use at church. We have been using them for IMAG for about 2 years. Is there any maintenance that we need to be aware of? Does it need to be professionally serviced? Any recommendations on places to clean the heads? __________________ tayproductions

May 1st, 2009, 05:44 PM	#2
Jeff Anselmo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 566	Hi Derek, As far as I know, there are only two places that would service XL2s, and that's in Irvine, CA and Jamesburg, NJ. Support - Digital Camcorder - XL2 - Service Locator - Service Locations - Canon USA Consumer Products We've been using our XL2 for around 3 years, and have not taken it in for maintenance (crossing fingers :). I've "regularly" used a tape head cleaner, meaning I use it only after I see the dreaded "heads are dirty needs cleaning" flashing in the viewfinder. FWIW, we shoot outdoors, I'd say, more than 50% of the time; it's been through all sorts of weather, even rode on the back of a muddy, dirty ATV. And the XL2 still performed (but not too well initially; first tape had alot of dropouts). If you shoot mostly indoors inside a church, I don't think you really need to worry about the XL2's maintenance. Unless, you really, really think they need it. Best, __________________ --JA

May 6th, 2009, 09:07 PM	#4
Jeff Anselmo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 566	Hi Marco, Have you sent your XL2 for service/cleanup before? I'm just wondering if you say that shipping is a pain in the @$$, maybe I should just drive it there!?! (I have family in Southern California, and have passed the Canon service building in Irvine a few times. Will be going there sometime in July.) Best, __________________ --JA

May 8th, 2009, 05:08 PM	#7
Jeff Anselmo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 566	Hi Marco, Drat :) I just did throw away the XL2 box just after we moved into our new house! Hi Jack, I am a member of the XL Club, so I might have to give them a buzz to see if they can ship out a proper box with proper shipping materials included. Best, __________________ --JA

May 6th, 2009, 07:08 PM	#3
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	This is one of those things that's kind of a bummer about Canon service. I kind of want to get my heads professionally cleaned as well, but nobody will touch it in my area. You have to send it Canon. It's not an easy item to ship.

May 6th, 2009, 09:25 PM	#5
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	If you have your original box, it's a bit easier, as the box is designed for the camera to be shipped in. Still, I don't like the idea of it bouncing around with UPS or the postal service or whoever. If you can drive it easily, I'd do that.

May 7th, 2009, 09:50 PM	#6
Jack Barker Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 342	You know, you can go to the Canon web site and join the "club," or what ever it's called. You get some benefits from it (I forgot), and I believe they will send you packaging materials for shipping your XL in for service.