I recently record an event on my Canon XHA1 onto a mini DV tape. The first 10 minutes recorded just fine but after that, during playback or capture, the footage freezes every second. No more than one second plays or captures at a time.
The second tape i used on that day acts in the same way, the first 15 minutes or so, also recorded fine and then it stops every second, rendering the footage unusable.
Has anybody else experienced this before, is there a way to save this footage?
Though I have never heard of this problem I do however wonder if it relates to dirty or clogged heads.
John
Try a cleaning tape. Also , and you may of course know this, best to stick to one brand of tape per camcorder. Tapes from different manufacturers can have different properties as I've discovered in the past,
Ron
Experience (with Z1 & A1) suggests you have no chance of recovery.
If you are lucky it was just a head clog during recording.
If not then the entire transport mech is stuffed (or heading that way).
We're looking at using either HDD or CF recorder for our remaining Z1.
Have to say that I`m relying more on CF whilst using our 270 & Z7`s.
I have 2 Canon XH A1s, and I had a problem with the first camera similar to what you are experiencing. The problem was with the mechanism and the camera had to be returned to a Canon repair centre to have the whole tape mechanism replaced. My experience with the repair centre was dire - each time the camera was returned it had a new fault. After 3 attempts they fixed it. In contrast my second camera did not have such a problem - it did have some other minor issues though, such as the zoom rocker having a mind of its own at times.
Interested to know where it was that you experienced problems. My limited experience with Canon repair has been okay. I sent my old XL2 to a place where Geoff Hurst was born (a fellow Lancashire lad)
Ron
Thanks for all replies on this.
JAC - can I ask how much the repair cost?
Thanks
Steve
The repair company was H. Lehmann Ltd. The price of repair was about £200. The repair involved fitting a new tape transport. However the camera was not re-assembled properly and the iris and autofocus didn't then work properly. I returned the camera. They then fixed that and sent the camera back to me. This time they created a new problem. Now the camera wouldn't record sound. I returned the camera. Finally the camera was fixed and returned to me. I got the impression this was the first XH A1 they had worked on. It was also apparent that they did not fully test the camera after repair - aside from the fact they caused new problems during the "repair".
When I had a problem with my XH A1 a year or so ago I returned it to Canon at Elstree for repair. The camera was returned in perfect condition and I seem to remember the cost was not exorbitant.
I note Lehmann's is an authorised repairer, but the XH A1 doesn't appear to be on their list .. see this page.
I realise Elstree is a long way from Wales, but it might be worth speaking to them.
Good luck, NL