Problem with EOS 1v

[retrac]

Hi

Been using the 1v with power drive booster E1, all working fine. Then today tried to take a picture half press the shutter button got autofocus beep then camera dies, flashing battery icon.

Tried new batteries (two different sets), then tried without booster, same thing.

Any idea to what has happen.

Thanks

 

[film_man]

Check the battery contacts and clean them. If it still happens then clean the electrical contacts between the lens and body. If it still happens, try another lens. If it still happens then I'm afraid it is probably some electrical issue in the circuit boards or shutter.

 

[retrac]

Tried cleaning everything, still no luck. Looks like a trip to canon.

Thanks

 

[unclemack]

I bought one cheap a while back with the same symptom except that it would appear to work without film or lens.
Turned out to be slight corrosion of soldered connection between the flexiconnector from the lens pins to another circuit board...conveniently located right behind the front panel.
A few screws, desolder, remove corrosion, resolder, reassemble.
About half an hour.
Easiest fix in a long time!
I was lucky, yours may have a different fault.

 

[retrac]

Not sure I fancy taking it apart.

But thanks for the reply.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Try putting on a diffrent lens. I had a similar problem and I think it is the lens but I didn't have another one to put on. When I would take the lens off and fire the shutter, the camera would work fine.

 

[Sim2]

One of my 1n's has a similar issue. Will get the flashing "bc" symbol and camera won't do anything except a pathetic little click when the shutter is fired. I suspect a loose connection or slight miscalculation by the electronics on a routine internal systems check.

Sometimes it can be fixed by removing and reattaching the lens, sometimes attaching a different lens, sometimes realigning the batteries in the powerbooster and other times will fix itself if I go off for a coffee. Not joking here.

It is a pain but am living with it. As the occurences are random and the "fixes" equally random, I suspect that to find the problem would cost more than a replacement would cost but the camera has been with me for ages so at the moment I let it grow old slightly more gracefully than myself!

 

[retrac]

Tried a different lens tried without a lens, same flashing battery icon.

Sent a email to Fixation they said:

"The most likely cause is the main board has become faulty .replacement
cost would be app. £95.69p part and £120.00p labour (subject to
inspection )+ vat and p&p"

Nearly as much as i paid for the camera!

 

[flatulent1]

Sounds like you have a decision to make. If it were me I'd be inclined to just have it repaired, unless you're tripping over cheap used 1V's where ever you turn. You could, of course, sell it for parts and get another.

 

[Sim2]

"The most likely cause is the main board has become faulty .replacement
cost would be app. £95.69p part and £120.00p labour (subject to
inspection )+ vat and p&p"

Eeeek! I guessed fixing it might be expensive - tough call that one. Get it fixed and know it's ok or take a chance on a replacement. At least if Fixation repair it they can give it a clean and general check as well so it comes back with a reasonable "bill of health".

Tough choice, sorry.

 

[retrac]

I'm going to get it fixed, I've wanted a 1v for year's and I finally got one.

The sad thing is, I didn't even finish the first film i put in it!

Thanks for all your replies.

 

[Sim2]

I'm going to get it fixed, I've wanted a 1v for year's and I finally got one.

FWIW - I think a good choice, tough pill to swallow but you chose this camera over all the other ones out there nurse it back to health and you'll probably feel happier with it than an unknown replacement.

Fixation are a great company, they should be able to do a general check/clean on the camera for a *nominal* sum, just explain exactly what you want/expect. Their turnaround on gear is massive so they won't remember what was said at the counter when a technician picks the job up. They might/should have a changing bag to get the film out and send it back to you wound back into the cassette - worth asking.

All the best with it.

 

[film_man]

Yes, I think fixing it is the better choice if it costs the same as another used 1V. At least you now know that the camera has now been serviced and everything is as they should be, not about to break on the next roll!

 

[philosomatographer]

Ouch... all the replies in this thread make me relieved for using a mechanical Olympus OM-1 nowadays. I suspect an EOS 1V is nearly as complex as a 1D inside (I used to use a 1D MkIIN) and repair jobs at Canon were usually quite expensive, always resulting in the replacement of some circuit boards.

I wish you the best of luck, or otherwise it's time to get yourself an F1 if you wish to stay with Canon (of course, I know you won't be able to use your EOS lenses, but I am not sure what else to suggest.)

If it were me, I'd send it in for a repair quote, and if it's too expensive, pick up another 1V body second-hand.

best of luck...

 

[flatulent1]

It's definitely worth it to get the 1V repaired, though I suspect for somewhat less money you could get yourself an excellent copy of the just-as-good EOS 3. Functionally the same camera.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

The flagship EOS 1V is virtually bombproof and exceptionally well sealed; I'm very surprised to learn of a fault like this; it's more common to hear of niggling faults with the EOS 3.

The statement:
"The most likely cause is the main board has become faulty .replacement
cost would be app. £95.69p part and £120.00p labour (subject to
inspection )+ vat and p&p"

highlights a loose approach to repair. Diagnostics come first; the camera has this feature. Canon has specialised diagnostic tools that plug into the EOS 1V (also the 1N and 3) to quickly trace faults. If there is a fault that indicates repair, it is precisely targeted. This bench test should not be expensive. On a simpler level, it could be just a need to reset all primacy control using the Clear/Clear All, similar to the 1N. Have you tried this? Also, remove the power drive booster and test the camera body in isolation.

The EOS 1V evolved from the 1N; it bears little relationship to the EOS 3.

Canon has published an excellent resource for the EOS 1V detailing its background. Link: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/tech/report/200003/200003.html

 

[retrac]

Tried the clear button, same thing still happening. Also tried without the booster.
I will mention the "specialised diagnostic tool" when i drop it off to be fixed.

Thanks

 

[film_man]

The EOS 1V evolved from the 1N; it bears little relationship to the EOS 3.

Canon has published an excellent resource for the EOS 1V detailing its background. Link: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/tech/report/200003/200003.html

For a camera that bears little relationship to the EOS 3 there is an awful lot of mention of the EOS 3 in that Canon link provided.

Just saying.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Canon had to have a "footprint" to hand down for the next model from the stalwart 1N, the new chum being the 1V and the 3. It would not have been a big deal for Canon to shoehorn 45 point focusing into the 1N, but that model had served its time, production stopping in mid-1999.

For most of us working professionals there are far too many irritating "features" and options on the 1V and 3, chiefly the extraordinary number of custom functions, many of which double up, leading to confusion (this however, is also present on the 1N, but not to the same extent). In real life, only 3-4 custom functions will be changed regularly e.g. mirror lock, pre-release timer, leader in/out, exposure steps 0.3/0.7/1. As much as the 1V is a tour de force of technology, it is typical of cramming excessive automation into the body instead of encouraging the photographer to use his own brain—especially photographers only using it for the occasional snapshot of the kids. And mine? My 1N is used on M much of the time...

The 1V can be had for $1100 2H in some pro places Dowunder. Ex-Pro use (meaning quite battered like the 1N, but ever-so ready for work!). Mint conditions to $1700 with PDB.

I remain perplexed as to the fault described in this thread and still believe it is a simple misconfiguration, usually easily fixed with the Clear button (I believe there are other higher-level interrogation methods, but I am familiar only with the 1N's "force-down" Clear/Reset).

 

[flatulent1]

Gary, while I am not a working pro, I do have the 1N, 1V and 3 here, and use them all. While the 1V is descended from the 1N, the 1V has far more functionality in common with the 3 than with the 1N. Build-wise, you are correct.

 

[df cardwell]

Luv, luv, luv my 1V.

 

[Koh]

Tried the clear button, same thing still happening. Also tried without the booster.
I will mention the "specialised diagnostic tool" when i drop it off to be fixed.

Thanks

Did you ever get this camera repaired, if so what did canon or the repairer have to say the issue was?