Checking / reading hours on an XL1 or XL1S

[Robert Mann Z.]

is their a way to get an hours readout for the number of hours the cam was in use?

[Jeff Donald]

It depends on the camera, but most models do not have the ability to display hours on, tape threaded etc. Most pro cameras and decks will display that information. what model do you need information on?

Jeff

[Don Palomaki]

There is no such feature documented in the service manual for the XL1.

If the concern is tape head condition, it is possible to get a count of tape read errors using the RM-95 adjusting controller. A high error rate can indicate a poor tape or poor condition of the heads.

[Robert Mann Z.]

i was looking at xl-1 or gl1 but i guess my question was answered...i would love to be able to get an hours read out measuring record and drum spin ect... for more specific billing purposes...

[Jeff Donald]

It wouldn't surprise me if the next version had a feature like that. Sony and Panasonic have that on some of theirs. The PD150 comes to mind, but I don't think the 2000 has it though.

Jeff

[David Clark]

Does anyone know if there is an hour meter (heads, thread, etc.) through a series of button pushes? Perhaps in the service manual? Probably not.

[Ken Tanaka]

No, there is no meter (at least none owner-accessible).

[Robert Mann Z.]

augh horrible oversight, good question i forgot to ask this...maybe this could be fixed with firmware update like the still cams get...

a counter would great, nice to know when to service your cams when you have multiple cams to keep track of...

[Robert Mann Z.]

for some reason with all the hype i thought this was an xl2 thread...i'm going to re ask this question maybe chris knows...

[Elmar Tewes]

is a internal hour counter for the tape deck in the xl-1s ? one you could access from outside ?
and does someone know after (approx.) how many hours you need to think about replacing/cleaning the tape deck at the canon service ?

[Rob Lohman]

To the best of our knowledge such a counter does not exist, at
least it is not consumer accessable.

Regarding the cleaning most people seem to think it is best to
send the camera every year to Canon for a cleanup if you use
it often, especially if you do so commercially (where you need
your camera to be in tip-top shape).

It's a bit like you need to let your car be checked out every year
as well to make sure it is roadworthy...

[Elmar Tewes]

i think about renting it out and it's quite hard to calculate the hours on the deck. when someone rents it for 10 days he could use it for 10 hours or even 240 hours.
you know how much is a cleanup at canon ? doesn't need to be an exact number, just a rough idea

[Rob Lohman]

I don't know how much it costs, but hopefully someone else will
chime in what that information.

Why not rent the camera with a direct-to-disk recording device?
You should have no trouble paying it off with rentals and you
don't tax the heads at all (if they don't use tape, but you could
of course tape the tape door (hehe) so it can't be opened).

I think a more serious issue is perhaps tape brands etc. If people
are going to be using your camera you have no idea what kind of
tapes go in there. The XL1 line of camera's is pretty susceptible to
head clogging etc., so it might be wise to run cleaning tapes
regularly when renting the camera!

[Elmar Tewes]

yes those are good points !
need to look how much a easy to use direct-to-disk recording device is. but i bet it's 1000-1500$ (one that also has a good way to get powered - best thing would be 12V or 7.2V external power supply).
yes, tape brand... need to make clear that they must take the panasonic tapes i used before. best is to sell them directly with it ;-)

[Rob Lohman]

The problem is that you cannot garantuee they will use Panasonic
in your case, even if you sell the tapes with the camera. They
may have another camera or tape deck that only ever had Sony
for example and thus not wanting to use Panasonic for the same
reasons. And since yours is a rental..... You get the idea!

I believe the price range is between $500 - $1000 for such a
device, but it shouldn't be too much if your doing rentals. Most
people seem to use Focus Enhancements Firestore devices,
we even have a dedicated forum here for that:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisp...?s=&forumid=65

Earlier models are available secondhand, so perhaps that would
be an option for you.

Good luck!