20 Most Recent Canon GL2 Mini DV Digital Camcorder - Page 6 Questions & Answers

This happens when the internal focus lens is off track, usually caused by impact and can usually be repaired fairly inexpensively. However, it’s not a user serviceable problem and will need to be repaired by a qualified service technician.

My name is Rick and I’m a professional repair technician with over 20 years in the business and have repaired many of these. I’m semi retired and work from home with little overhead so I can keep repair costs low. If you decide to have the camera repaired, please click HERE for a directory listing that suits your needs.

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Tape mechanism problems are quite complicated but they can usually be repaired fairly inexpensively. However, it’s not a user serviceable problem and will need to be diagnosed by a qualified service technician.

My name is Rick and I’m a professional repair technician with over 20 years in the business and have repaired many of these. I’m semi retired and work from home with little overhead so I can keep repair costs low. If you decide to have the camera repaired, please click HERE for a directory listing that suits your needs.

If this response has been of any help to you, please be sure and give a positive vote for me on FixYa.com .

you would plug the firewire cable in. Then from there you import it from a software. You can even use windows movie maker to import the video. For more information on setting up the capture to a computer refer to this manual. click here for manual.
if you need further assistance or more info on how to set up a specific software to capture the video please let me know.

Go to the Canon website or Google search for Canon GL 2 drivers.

If you don't want sound and have a mini jack cable, you might be able to plug into the mike jack on the side of the camera.
I have an external 2 input audio mixer on my camera. It connects through that input. If I do not have a mike plugged into my mixer and the mixer is plugged in, I will not get audio. You could also maybe try turning your audio levels all the way down.

I think I had that same problem. I had to send it in to have the ribbon cable replaced to the flip out screen. I am trying to find the company I sent it to. Mine needs a tune up again.
I don't think it was cheap but it was cheaper than replacing the camera.

What brand and model is your laptop?
Since we don't know the laptop model I have to cover a little more info here.

Most laptops have at least 1 expansion ports available on the side and you can use that to add additional ports or features if needed such as Firewire, USB2.0, or Ethernet, etc

Older laptops came with 1 or 2 full size PCMCIA ports. Those are rarely used anymore.

Newer laptops usually have an ExpressCard port.
These newer cards come with either 54 or 34 pins so you'd need to get the right one for your laptop.

For example, view the main ExpressCard info here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExpressCard


Be aware that Firewire is officially known as the "IEEE1394" protocol. So some sites may refer to it with that name and it's the same thing. Apple calls it Firewire and Sony calls it iLink.

There are several different pin configurations for firewire.
Original 400Mbps speed Firewire from 1995 has a mini 4 pin or a full size 6 pin cable.

Newer Firewire 800 has 800Mbps speed and is called 1394b.
That has it's own cable connector as well and is not very common. It's much faster than USB (even Firewire 400 is ) but it didn't get used a lot.

The firewire connector s are visible here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_1394_interface


The Canon GL2 uses the original 400Mbps 1394 protocol but the connector might be proprietary since it appears to have 5 pins.
It's visible here from the user manual.


There are 6-pin sockets and smaller (non-powered) 4 pin sockets and they are both still "firewire" but the small one has less options since it has no power connections with it. So the small connections can send data but can't run a portable hard drive or anything that needs power.

The small connectors are used for laptop ports and camcorders while full size desktops usually have the full size 6 pin ports. So to connect the 2 they make adapter cables with one of each type on each end.

Such as this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-IEEE-1394-4-Pin-FireWire-Meters/dp/B000165AS0

That fits most applications but I think the Canon cable is proprietary, so hopefully you have the original cable.

So,
You probably need a laptop 1393 DV expansion card, DV editing software and the right cable. The socket on the GL2 doesn't look like a typical IEEE connector in the user manual so that may be Canon specific. If you still have the original cable that came with it then you're all set.

You can find a laptop expansion card online such as doing a search on Amazon.com with the words expresscard + 1394 and you will see many ExpressCard adapters to pick from.
Get the laptop 1394 expansion card that matches your Canon Cable and that can plug into your laptop on the other end (choose the right 54 or 34 pin type) that matches your laptop.

probably during the transfer you have chosen to delete files from the card after transfer ...This feature is a case that need to be checked if you want this to happen ...and cause the card is set to read only ...or its locked (if it is a SD card has a locking devise at the side ...a physical slide button ) or if it is another kinda card its set for erasure protection from the camera ..or during the formatting ...
if you successfully transferred the files and you do not need it on the card ...just see that the card it is not locked ..and format it again from the camera's menu ...look for storage ..choose the card and on the options you have format ....this will erase it and format it again ... if you need the files try to insert the card into a card reader..for to direct access on the files and see if they are affected or not..also get into properties of the card and see if they are read only ..remove that for to be able to use it again ..(in case it is not locked from that button I said it has if it is a SD card ..

I think this could be interference from something near camera, as I stood near a train last week, same thing happened to my movie too.
Keep mobile phones away.

Dear njfire,

Test or change your cable !!

(Cable is IEEE 1394 and/or Firewire and/or I.Link, 4-4 pin)

Regards

Dear Darcopro,
First ensure that the problem is of firmware only.Try by reinstalling firmware again..... If problem persist, then there could be a problem of processor......... So get it serviced.

Camera needs service. There is an assembly that get replaced in the side cabinet, it's a flexible printed circuit or FPC. You can expect to pay ~ $220.00 for this type of repair. Of course, don't overlook having general maintenance performed while it's in the shop... usually it's just a tad more labor, and the cost of parts. www.AVRepair.com is one such place.

Some GL2's exhibit the behavior that if the clock battery is dead, they will start up in VCR mode but not in camera mode. Removing the clock battery will let the camera mode start up again. I realize this is not your problem, but it occurred to me that their might be enough juice in your batteries to start up in VCR mode and thus pop your tape out. (& I thought you could file the tip about the clock battery away.)

Barring that hope, there is no way to force the eject mechanism due to the motors required to manipulate the transport.

I am afraid you need to get power to your GL2 or have it taken apart by a tech.

I hope that helps.

its sounds like the tape deck needs to be cleaned

This happened to me once. I found that there is a switch on the back of the camera. It was accidentally moved to the locked position. Once I put the switch back to the standby position, it worked fine.

You should try head cleaning. It will most likely resolve the issue. You have to purchase a head cleaning cassette, insert it into the camcorder and play it a couple of times. Also it is always advisable to always leave the first two minutes of a tape before starting the recording especially if you want to store the tape for several years. Transferring the tapes to CD/DVDs is also a good idea just in case something happens to the tape.