Canon 814XL-S Problems

[Guest]

Hi All,

I have just bought a seemingly emaculate Canon 814XL-S on Ebay. However, it has a couple of problems that need addressing.

Firstly, I think that its auto light metre might be dead. When on auto mode the f-stop reading does not alter to changes of light, it just stays on f45 all the time. I can switch it to manual though and that seems to work fine. Maybe I should just use my handheld light metre anyway - would I get better results than if auto worked?

The second problem appears to be some fungus growth inside the lens. How can I get rid of this? I know you can't really open up the lens. I read somewhere that fungus dies under UV light. Could I leave it with the lens pointing into bright sunlight for a while, or maybe a UV tanning lamp?

Thanks in advance for any replies.
Dave.

[Alex]

You posted this question on another forum.

But it appears you deleted the entire thread after a few people had responded.

Why?

The answer your question generates can help others, but not if you delete the topic. Why do you expect people to take the time to answer your question as thoughtfully and helpfully as they can if you then delete their comments?

[DC]

Hi, I absolutely did not delete that thread. I tried to re login in to that forum and it seemed I had never signed up and my post dissapeared. I would never do anything like delete my own thread when I needed help from others and they reply.

Now I have signed up to this forum, I hope to be able to post questions and replies and gain useful information, and insight into the world of filmmaking.

Much Appreciated,
Dave.

[S8 Booster]

I belive the main problems for most Canons (as well as many other makes) are that:

1) Seldom used - storage corrosion (My term)
2) Incorrect storage - high temperature - high humidity
3) extremely humid environment - some mentioned Florida ex.
4) Dried out - lack of lubrication alt cleaning/lubrication.
5) In some rare cases - I have not seen on Canons yet - the soldering material used on components on PCBs may partially evaporate over the years causing bad contacts. Re-soldering will help but that is a very extensive job on cams like yours.

The storage corrosion usually seem to be a result of no use.
An (extremely) thin grease-like layer seem to apply to contacts and general all over.
Moving knobs an buttons frequently - "gymming" have helped on a NikonR10 and a 8mm Canon reflex Zoom 8-3 I own.

I may suggest something that may possibly be a general help but no guarantee when buing cams of higher complexity: Search cams which have been "living" in places like or areas indentical to where they store airplanes in the desert. A few examples:

November 2000 marked the 30th anniversary of the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. As of October 2001, only a little over 50 TriStars remained active. A growing number of first-generation widebodies, facing their twilight of their era, are being retired. All are initially flown to storage facilities, often in the desert, where the climate and conditions are suitable for airliners to be left inactive for a long period. A number of storage facilities are located in southwestern US, including Marana and Mojave, which have been doing this business for decades. Other facilities include Amarillo, Kingman, Roswell, Tucson, and the recently-popular Victorville.. Airliners once stored all wait for their next assignment. Those that are snatched up by airlines that cannot afford to acquire new aircraft are fortunate, because all others that do not get the treatment are eventually reduced to scrap.

It may be the better environment for cameras in the first place but in the end it depends on the owners handling of the cams.

R

[teadub]

S8booster:

This is a very good idea. I live in Arizona, and I have never thought of this. Cars from Arizona can fetch a higher price in the upper mid-west and the east coast, because they never have rust.

The only problem I could see it long term storage in garages, where the temperature gets well over 100 degrees fahrenheit(40 degrees celcius).

Edit:Also another thing to consider. This is one of the fastest growing regions of the USA. So just because a camera ships from the southwest, doesn't mean that it lived most of it's life here. Conversely, Florida and the south east of growing too. So maybe if a camera ships from there . . .

[T-Scan]

S8booster:

This is a very good idea. I live in Arizona, and I have never thought of this. Cars from Arizona can fetch a higher price in the upper mid-west and the east coast, because they never have rust.

The only problem I could see it long term storage in garages, where the temperature gets well over 100 degrees fahrenheit(40 degrees celcius).

Edit:Also another thing to consider. This is one of the fastest growing regions of the USA. So just because a camera ships from the southwest, doesn't mean that it lived most of it's life here. Conversely, Florida and the south east of growing too. So maybe if a camera ships from there . . .

Dry them out 8O so what would be the best place to dig up cameras in the US? Idaho? i worry about fungus up here in the NW.

[Alex]

Hi, I absolutely did not delete that thread. I tried to re login in to that forum and it seemed I had never signed up and my post dissapeared. I would never do anything like delete my own thread when I needed help from others and they reply.

Now I have signed up to this forum, I hope to be able to post questions and replies and gain useful information, and insight into the world of filmmaking.

Much Appreciated,
Dave.

I suppose you don't owe me an explanation but I'm glad you gave one. Sorry for the error on my part. It looks like that other forum has "backdated" itself by about a week, it looks like a lot of posts from the last week have disappeared.

[Alex]

Here's what happened to your topic post on that other forum!

http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004 ... entry18025

[teadub]

Dry them out 8O so what would be the best place to dig up cameras in the US? Idaho? i worry about fungus up here in the NW.

The south west probably would be the best place, as far as climate is concerned. Provided they originated here and they weren't cooking in someones garage for ages.