XH-A1 Firewire Problems

[geehawk]

So my XH-A1 stopped interfacing with my computer via firewire... I tried replacing the firewire pcb assembly board($35 from Canon parts direct), but the issue remains. From what I've read it is likely a bad system board. Unfortunately, the warranty ended in May and I live in Minnesota which doesn't exactly make for a quick trip to any of Canon's service centers.

Parts direct quoted me ~$550 for a new system board, but I'm not really comfortable replacing it, because it would require dissasembling the entire camera.

I've also considered buying a cheaper HDV camera and using it as a deck. I'm really hoping to keep my costs below $600-700, so is the HV30 a good solution?

Also, is it possible to capture component out via an intensity pro from an HDV tape? (i know live capture is possible, but I'm not sure about tape). How would compression work in that scenario? I'm guessing that it would capture as "uncompressed" footage and require a ridiculous amount of throughput, even though the footage has undergone HDV compression already... Doesn't sound like a very effective solution, but I'm considering buying an intensity pro anyway (for live capture), so I figured I'd ask what you guys thought.

Thanks a ton,

OH and if anyone has, and would like to sell, a broken HDV camera that can still capture footage from tape...

[geehawk]

bump

[Larry Vaughn]

I'm having the same problem. It might be best to buy an HV 10, 20 , 30 or 40 to use as a deck, you will have an extra smaller camera for another angle and solve your problem as well.

How did you replace the firewire cirduit board? Are there instructions online?

[Allan Black]

There are other posts with this problem, the consensus is, always connect up the A1/Fwire then power everything up. Don't know about component capture out and intensity pro.

Yes we use Canon HV20 and a 40 to xfer A1/S files in post. We use the HV remote to shuttle the tape, it avoids wear through punching the buttons on the LCD and we can place the HV further away on the editing desk.

Even buying a new HV40 means you have a second/holiday cam, but note, Nov 2011 Canon discontinued them so I'd guess used ones will go up in price. HTH

Cheers.

[maranfilms]

yup, get an hv 20,-30-40, as a deck, heck for the price of the fix, you could buy two. But if you need the firwire to record to a firestore or external recorder, then you have no choice but to have it fixed. I use my xha1 s with a citidisk because it has six pin firewire, where the xha1 has the four pin, and it's wobbly when using the firewire port on the four pin.

[Allan Black]

+1 if you use the A1 or A1s to xfer via FW, use their remote to shuttle the tape .. especially with the 4 pin FW on the A1.

Take care moving the A1 on the editing desk with that flimsy connection.

Just inserting the FW 4pin plug is an exercise taking care and patience. Use both hands and take a deep breath

Cheers.

[NickG]

I use an HV10 as a deck for this reason - I had a similar problem with my XH-A1 and, having got it repaired, decided not to take any more chances.

[maranfilms]

Thats interesting, I honestly didn't know the hv10 could transfer the 24f from the xha1. I imagine the hv10 is even cheaper than the 20, as it didn't do as well in the market.

[NickG]

Thats interesting, I honestly didn't know the hv10 could transfer the 24f from the xha1. I imagine the hv10 is even cheaper than the 20, as it didn't do as well in the market.

Can't speak for 24f because I'm in 25f PAL-land. The HV10 works fine and saves a lot of wear and tear on the A1 heads.

I've just bought a Datavideo DN60 - records to Compactflash - to go tapeless and, I hope, consign head wear to history. Not a solution for bad FW port, because the DN-60 connects via that port. But if you have the port working, it's looking like a really good solution

[Allan Black]

Even if you do use the A1 to xfer your programs, you'll eventually upgrade your A1 long before you get anywhere near to wearing out its heads.

But damage can occur to tape heads, I know of an instance where someone poked a screwdriver wrapped in a damp tissue to remove dried sand after a trip to the beach.

So when Canon do install new heads, they also install all new tape guides because all DV tapes will wear a distinct individual pattern on the tape path.
Even if the camera has just a few hours on it, it's cheaper to change everything rather than spend the time aligning a new path.

So they go by the book in case the customer complains, maybe after changing tape brands. Tapes are made to very strict DV specs, but some cheap Asian brands .. ?

Cheers.