XL2 color LCD viewfinder

Lucinda Luvaas · July 31st, 2005, 01:27 PM

I feel so slighted.....ha.

Richard Hunter · August 8th, 2005, 07:18 PM

In hot and humid Singapore, I managed to get some perspiration on the EVF lens. I was able to clean it up reasonably well using lens tissue and cleaning fluid, however the lens is recessed inside the EVF housing and access is difficult. I would really like to get inside to give it a proper cleaning.

I can remove (and replace) the rubber eye cup no problem, but then there is a plastic housing that looks a bit trickier to deal with. Does anyone know if this is supposed to be easily dismantled (and how to do it)? If not, any other tips for cleaning the EVF lens?

Richard

Steve Cox · September 30th, 2005, 12:10 PM

I just purchased a new XL2 and received it via parcel post yesterday. It's a wonderful piece of kit, but there seems to be something stuck in the viewfinder. Please have a look at some pictures I took at http://canonxl2.shutterfly.com and let me know if you have any ideas on what the problem may be and what I can do to fix it. I need to use the camera this weekend, so sending it back isn't really an option.

Thanks in advance!

Patrick King · September 30th, 2005, 12:20 PM

Steve,

Don't get mad for me saying this, I'm really trying to help.

You know that the viewfinder has a button on the bottom that lets you swing the eyepiece optics up and out of the way so that you can view the 2" LCD display in the viewfinder directly.

It looks like a piece of packing tape is still between the viewfinder optics and the viewfinder screen.

If you already confirmed this isn't the case, I apologize, and I can't make out from the pictures what it might be.

Chris Hurd · September 30th, 2005, 12:42 PM

Push the release button on the bottom side of the EVF as Patrick describes, and flip it open. You should be able to pull that thing right out, whatever it is.

Justine Haupt · October 1st, 2005, 05:37 PM

Unfortunately, it's more complicated. I have the same problem, but as I usually use the flip-up screen it's not a big problem.

At first, I assumed it was some kind of framing aid, but there's no button/switch to activate it! It looks like a metal cutout that swings down in the viewfinder (it's inside the unit, between the lenses).

If anyone could shed some light on how to get it to move
, I'd also be greatly appreciative.

Jamie Mullaney · October 7th, 2005, 02:00 PM

Mine came like that to..

It's sealed between the last two lense's and can't be removed with out taking it apart..

I fixed mine by undoing the 3 srews at the top of the viewfinder and then carefully took out each part till I got to the final lense at the bottom ..It's a t shape bit of plastic with a small adhesive strip on one side and to this day have no clue to where its from..I just removed it and have had no problems since..

15 minutes job done...

Chris Hurd · October 7th, 2005, 09:09 PM

Thanks for the updates. In just over a year's worth of XL2 reports, this is the first I've heard of such an issue.

Josh Dahlberg · October 9th, 2005, 12:46 AM

Don't want to hijack the thread but I'm curious (not having my hands on an XL2 yet), I know the VF flips up, but can the flip up section be removed completely?

Bob Thompson · October 9th, 2005, 11:06 PM

I also have a new XL2 with the same problem but not as bad as the above posts. The black metal shim has rotated and in the bottom of the viewfinder you can see that the shim is not horizontal.

Assuming so far that it is only being noticed in new camera's, it must be a manufacturing defect.

I will take mine back to Canon next week

Andrew Jack · January 26th, 2006, 09:44 PM

Got my new XL2 today : )
However looking through the viewfinder there seems to be a fault.
It looks like a side piece of the viewfinder has become detached inside the actual viewfinder?
Is this a sealed unit or has anone opened a viewfinder up yet?

http://photobucket.com/albums/v463/a...Viewfinder.jpg

Bob Thompson · January 26th, 2006, 10:32 PM

There is a metal shim or mask inside the viewfinder that comes lose and moves around, in my case the metal came down in the centre of the picture.

Canon service have ordered a new viewfinder, although they could have glued it back in place, with the high heat and humidity in Hong Kong I insisted that the viewfinder be replaced. The metal appeared after only one week from purchase.

Check earlier threads as I remember somebody had pull the viewfinder apart and repaired it

Good Luck

Bob Thompson · January 26th, 2006, 10:34 PM

Checkout this thread

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=52021

Andrew Jack · January 26th, 2006, 10:54 PM

Thats the exact problem, I might have another go at removing it.
Got scared the first time and quicky put it back together.

Ian Scanlan · January 31st, 2006, 03:42 PM

Hi...sorry if this may have been posted elsewhere. Just got my XL2 and was wondering how best to set up the viewfinder. Any tips most appreciated

August 8th, 2005, 07:18 PM	#122
Richard Hunter Trustee Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lipa City Batangas, Philippines Posts: 1,110	Cleaning EVF Lens In hot and humid Singapore, I managed to get some perspiration on the EVF lens. I was able to clean it up reasonably well using lens tissue and cleaning fluid, however the lens is recessed inside the EVF housing and access is difficult. I would really like to get inside to give it a proper cleaning. I can remove (and replace) the rubber eye cup no problem, but then there is a plastic housing that looks a bit trickier to deal with. Does anyone know if this is supposed to be easily dismantled (and how to do it)? If not, any other tips for cleaning the EVF lens? Richard

September 30th, 2005, 12:10 PM	#123
Steve Cox Tourist Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1	Viewfinder problem with brand new XL2 I just purchased a new XL2 and received it via parcel post yesterday. It's a wonderful piece of kit, but there seems to be something stuck in the viewfinder. Please have a look at some pictures I took at http://canonxl2.shutterfly.com and let me know if you have any ideas on what the problem may be and what I can do to fix it. I need to use the camera this weekend, so sending it back isn't really an option. Thanks in advance!

September 30th, 2005, 12:20 PM	#124
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Steve, Don't get mad for me saying this, I'm really trying to help. You know that the viewfinder has a button on the bottom that lets you swing the eyepiece optics up and out of the way so that you can view the 2" LCD display in the viewfinder directly. It looks like a piece of packing tape is still between the viewfinder optics and the viewfinder screen. If you already confirmed this isn't the case, I apologize, and I can't make out from the pictures what it might be. __________________ Fear No Weevil!

September 30th, 2005, 12:42 PM	#125
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Push the release button on the bottom side of the EVF as Patrick describes, and flip it open. You should be able to pull that thing right out, whatever it is. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

October 7th, 2005, 09:09 PM	#128
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Thanks for the updates. In just over a year's worth of XL2 reports, this is the first I've heard of such an issue. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 31st, 2005, 01:27 PM	#121
Lucinda Luvaas Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 233	I feel so slighted.....ha.

October 1st, 2005, 05:37 PM	#126
Justine Haupt Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 208	Unfortunately, it's more complicated. I have the same problem, but as I usually use the flip-up screen it's not a big problem. At first, I assumed it was some kind of framing aid, but there's no button/switch to activate it! It looks like a metal cutout that swings down in the viewfinder (it's inside the unit, between the lenses). If anyone could shed some light on how to get it to move , I'd also be greatly appreciative.

October 7th, 2005, 02:00 PM	#127
Jamie Mullaney Tourist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: SCOTLAND,UK Posts: 1	Mine came like that to.. It's sealed between the last two lense's and can't be removed with out taking it apart.. I fixed mine by undoing the 3 srews at the top of the viewfinder and then carefully took out each part till I got to the final lense at the bottom ..It's a t shape bit of plastic with a small adhesive strip on one side and to this day have no clue to where its from..I just removed it and have had no problems since.. 15 minutes job done...

October 9th, 2005, 12:46 AM	#129
Josh Dahlberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 513	Don't want to hijack the thread but I'm curious (not having my hands on an XL2 yet), I know the VF flips up, but can the flip up section be removed completely?

October 9th, 2005, 11:06 PM	#130
Bob Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 340	I also have a new XL2 with the same problem but not as bad as the above posts. The black metal shim has rotated and in the bottom of the viewfinder you can see that the shim is not horizontal. Assuming so far that it is only being noticed in new camera's, it must be a manufacturing defect. I will take mine back to Canon next week

January 26th, 2006, 09:44 PM	#131
Andrew Jack Tourist Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4	Viewfinder Fault Got my new XL2 today : ) However looking through the viewfinder there seems to be a fault. It looks like a side piece of the viewfinder has become detached inside the actual viewfinder? Is this a sealed unit or has anone opened a viewfinder up yet? http://photobucket.com/albums/v463/a...Viewfinder.jpg

January 26th, 2006, 10:32 PM	#132
Bob Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 340	There is a metal shim or mask inside the viewfinder that comes lose and moves around, in my case the metal came down in the centre of the picture. Canon service have ordered a new viewfinder, although they could have glued it back in place, with the high heat and humidity in Hong Kong I insisted that the viewfinder be replaced. The metal appeared after only one week from purchase. Check earlier threads as I remember somebody had pull the viewfinder apart and repaired it Good Luck

January 26th, 2006, 10:34 PM	#133
Bob Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 340	Checkout this thread http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=52021

January 26th, 2006, 10:54 PM	#134
Andrew Jack Tourist Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4	Thats the exact problem, I might have another go at removing it. Got scared the first time and quicky put it back together.

January 31st, 2006, 03:42 PM	#135
Ian Scanlan New Boot Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 21	How to calibrate XL2 viewfinder Hi...sorry if this may have been posted elsewhere. Just got my XL2 and was wondering how best to set up the viewfinder. Any tips most appreciated