Flipping the Xh A1 LCD, footage inside

Ramon Boutviseth

Ramon Boutviseth

Well-known member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqlCKaC-HSI

I had this camera in the marketplace recently, saddenly no one was interested so I tried to fix it. I look the LCD cover off and it fixed itself! Then this morning while I was messing with the Letus extreme and it flipped again. I couldn't believe it happened again so I went to unscrew the screws and this is what happened. Now I'm glad I didn't sell it but it someone wants to buy it hit me up! now I wish Quyen had made a non-flip version of the letusXtreme.. it would take so much weight off.

In the video, im just tightening & loosening the screw.
 
Wait, so your camera had a problem with flipping the image or were you messing around with the lcd and you were able to flip it? Let us know, because if you have found a way to flip the image there's be A LOT of people interested.
 
The camera had a problem with the LCD, one day the image just flipped after flipping the LCD over and bringing it back. I thought it was something internal with the chip. The camera was practically useless to me, so I had no choice but to tinker with it. I have NO idea how to flip it. Maybe this video can provide clues.
 
it looks like, if you over tighten the little screw (creating more friction), it'll stay flipped if you turn the lcd over. that's what it looks like anyway
 
If I wasn't too much of a chicken I'd give it a go. Lets get some DIY guys here to get a logical step by step process documented for big clumsy fellas like my self.
 
I might try this on the one at work, I'd be too scared to try it on mine. I'll try it on monday.
 
mine was on its way out as well. Strange huh? I noticed it was almost completely out during a shoot and quickly screwed it back in..
tisk tisk canon... tisk tisk.
 
Got this link of the HV20 forum.
Probably has something to do with the parts referenced. Regardless, would be interesting to see the Extreme - non flipped, in terms of how they'd design it now.
 
oh wow, if someone could figure this out, that would be amazing! Just bought my M2 and really don't have any money for a monitor! woops=) hahaha so if someone has figured it outt. PLEASE drop me an email: lorensimons@mac.com

EDIT: I just tried it and it didnt work for me, two thoughts:
are there more than one A1 model? all i know is i have the Canon XH A1 A,
second, i most likely could be doing this wrong, so if someone else has done this, it would give me alot more confidence to tighten it with the risk of stripping =D not the good kind either =(
 
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I doubt that you've discovered a magic way to flip the LCD, the most likely cause would be a faulty flip switch. The switch is a fragile little thing that is triggered by a metal cam. Perhaps what is actually happening is that the excessive force exerted by the tightening screw is distorting the casing to the point that the flip switch is simply flexing and shorting itself out.

Here's a view of the camera with opened LCD case:
I apologise for the blurry snaps - my crappy Kodak digital does not have macro function.)

LCD_01.JPG



A closer look:
LCD3.JPG


The switch is actually located just under the grey multi-core cable:
(the vignette is caused by the SLR lens I took the photo through to get this macro shot.)
LCD0.JPG


My biggest disappointment is that the XH-A1 does not have a left-to-right flip switch (like the the HV30) so even though the image will be upright, any horizontal movement will still be in reverse.

At this point I don't see where a switch could be mounted anywhere inside the LCD casing because there's just too little room.

Considering that a lot of independent film makers & event producers use the XH-A1 I'm certain that it would be a no brainer for Canon to simply implement a flip function for 35mm DOF adaptor users in the camera's software (JVC already has this as a menu option in all their Pro-HD cameras). If you have your 35mm DOF adaptor permanently mounted to the cam you could simply tape down the flip switch with gaffer tape or a more drastic solution would be to simply short out the black & white cables coming from the switch and leave it at that :)

At the end of the day for run 'n' gun hand held work, a cumbersome & heavy rig with optical flip and rail support is not very practical (not for me at least.)
 
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