Houston camera repair shop at DVinfo.net

Fresnel Phan · July 25th, 2005, 03:17 PM

Hi guys.

My Canon XL1 is acting up. Is there any camera repair place in Houston somebody can recommend? The camera is way out of warranty so I don't want to send it back to Canon. I also don't want to take it to a place I find out of the yellowpages.

The problem is that sometimes none of the audio inputs work. It plays back with audio, but it won't accept any in. The only solution is to turn it on and off over and over until it suddenly "snaps" back into operation.

Stephen Finton · July 25th, 2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fresnel Phan

Hi guys.

My Canon XL1 is acting up. Is there any camera repair place in Houston somebody can recommend? The camera is way out of warranty so I don't want to send it back to Canon. I also don't want to take it to a place I find out of the yellowpages.

The problem is that sometimes none of the audio inputs work. It plays back with audio, but it won't accept any in. The only solution is to turn it on and off over and over until it suddenly "snaps" back into operation.

Is there a RESET button on the XL1? Sounds like the logic is a little out of whack. If it is outputting but not inputting, you could try a reset. It might go back to defaults if you take off the AC power, battery and watch battery. Try that before spending any money on repairs.

Richard Alvarez · July 25th, 2005, 03:52 PM

I don't think theres any 'authorized' repair facilities in Houston. You might see if Industrial Audio and Video will take a look at it.

Robert Ballew · July 25th, 2005, 06:37 PM

Hi Fresnel

Give Houston Camera Repair a call. They have been servicing my equipment for about ten years, both still and video cams. I have no qualms recommending them.

Fresnel Phan · July 26th, 2005, 03:04 PM

Robert, is this place on Fondren? The website is here:

http://www.houstoncamera.com/index.html

Thanks everybody for the quick responses.

Stephen, this is actually how I do "fix" it. Sometimes it works after one try. Other times, it takes a lot. Once it works, as long as you keep it powered on it stays fine. Every time you turn it off, you're taking a risk. Crazy problem.

Robert Ballew · July 26th, 2005, 05:43 PM

Fresnel

Yes, they have two places, one on
Fondren between Richmond and Westheimer and the other is in the Clear Lake Area.

This place does not have a fixed price like Sony does. If your repair is a $25.00 repair, then it costs 25.00. I have had several repairs and regular annual maintenance, always less than 100.00 with only one exception.

Give 'em a call. They've been good guys to do business with.

Patrick King · July 26th, 2005, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fresnel Phan

Hi guys.

My Canon XL1 is acting up. Is there any camera repair place in Houston somebody can recommend? The camera is way out of warranty so I don't want to send it back to Canon. I also don't want to take it to a place I find out of the yellowpages.

The problem is that sometimes none of the audio inputs work. It plays back with audio, but it won't accept any in. The only solution is to turn it on and off over and over until it suddenly "snaps" back into operation.

Fresnel,
I may be just saying something you've already done, but have you changed the little lithium ion battery on the camera? This is not the same as the main battery, its a little button style battery that retains some variables in memory even when the camera is off. When these fail they can cause odd symptoms.

If you already "been there, done that", sorry. Cool name BTW, especially for someone on this forum.

Fresnel Phan · July 26th, 2005, 10:16 PM

Patrick, thanks for the advice. I haven't changed the little battery in at least two years. I assumed that if it was dead, I wouldn't have my date and time anymore. I'll try changing it tomorrow.

Yeah tell me about my name. Almost like I was fated to go into this business. All through public school (and through life) people always think my name is "Fresno."

But people in photography and theatre know better. :)

Chris Hurd · July 26th, 2005, 11:08 PM

There are only two authorized Canon factory service centers in the U.S. that can fix an XL1, and neither are in Houston. See their contact info here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/skinny.php#service

Bill Rankin · July 28th, 2005, 06:36 AM

Is there an authorized Sony repair shop in the Houston area?

Fresnel Phan · July 28th, 2005, 09:38 AM

I called Sony broadcast a while back and they told me the closest authorized repair place was in Austin. I don't remember the name of it. You can call them at 1-866-766-9272.

If your camera is out of warranty, even Sony will suggest that you take it to some local place with a good reputation.

Fresnel Phan · August 5th, 2005, 10:20 PM

Well guys, the camera is back. $225 to repair it. (I didn't send it to Canon, just to a local shop that Robert Ballew recommended).

Sound logic board was messed up. They had to replace it. They also cleaned up the heads and gave it a lube job.

Thanks for the help guys.

Robert Ballew · August 5th, 2005, 11:02 PM

Glad it worked out.

Robert

July 25th, 2005, 03:17 PM	#1
Fresnel Phan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 29	Houston camera repair shop Hi guys. My Canon XL1 is acting up. Is there any camera repair place in Houston somebody can recommend? The camera is way out of warranty so I don't want to send it back to Canon. I also don't want to take it to a place I find out of the yellowpages. The problem is that sometimes none of the audio inputs work. It plays back with audio, but it won't accept any in. The only solution is to turn it on and off over and over until it suddenly "snaps" back into operation.

July 26th, 2005, 11:08 PM	#9
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	There are only two authorized Canon factory service centers in the U.S. that can fix an XL1, and neither are in Houston. See their contact info here: http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/skinny.php#service __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 28th, 2005, 06:36 AM	#10
Bill Rankin Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 433	Authorized Sony Repair Shop Is there an authorized Sony repair shop in the Houston area?

July 25th, 2005, 03:52 PM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I don't think theres any 'authorized' repair facilities in Houston. You might see if Industrial Audio and Video will take a look at it.

July 25th, 2005, 06:37 PM	#4
Robert Ballew Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 29	Hi Fresnel Give Houston Camera Repair a call. They have been servicing my equipment for about ten years, both still and video cams. I have no qualms recommending them.

July 26th, 2005, 03:04 PM	#5
Fresnel Phan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 29	Robert, is this place on Fondren? The website is here: http://www.houstoncamera.com/index.html Thanks everybody for the quick responses. Stephen, this is actually how I do "fix" it. Sometimes it works after one try. Other times, it takes a lot. Once it works, as long as you keep it powered on it stays fine. Every time you turn it off, you're taking a risk. Crazy problem.

July 26th, 2005, 05:43 PM	#6
Robert Ballew Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 29	Fresnel Yes, they have two places, one on Fondren between Richmond and Westheimer and the other is in the Clear Lake Area. This place does not have a fixed price like Sony does. If your repair is a $25.00 repair, then it costs 25.00. I have had several repairs and regular annual maintenance, always less than 100.00 with only one exception. Give 'em a call. They've been good guys to do business with.

July 26th, 2005, 10:16 PM	#8
Fresnel Phan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 29	Patrick, thanks for the advice. I haven't changed the little battery in at least two years. I assumed that if it was dead, I wouldn't have my date and time anymore. I'll try changing it tomorrow. Yeah tell me about my name. Almost like I was fated to go into this business. All through public school (and through life) people always think my name is "Fresno." But people in photography and theatre know better. :)

July 28th, 2005, 09:38 AM	#11
Fresnel Phan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 29	I called Sony broadcast a while back and they told me the closest authorized repair place was in Austin. I don't remember the name of it. You can call them at 1-866-766-9272. If your camera is out of warranty, even Sony will suggest that you take it to some local place with a good reputation.

August 5th, 2005, 10:20 PM	#12
Fresnel Phan Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 29	Well guys, the camera is back. $225 to repair it. (I didn't send it to Canon, just to a local shop that Robert Ballew recommended). Sound logic board was messed up. They had to replace it. They also cleaned up the heads and gave it a lube job. Thanks for the help guys.

August 5th, 2005, 11:02 PM	#13
Robert Ballew Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 29	Glad it worked out. Robert