Hi there,

I have a Canon ZR65MC, and it has worked well up until recently. Upon turning it on, I was met with a rather unsurprising black video screen (similar to the lenscap being on). Of course, me being the forgetful type, I check for the cap first, as usual. But it wasn't there. I preceded to check other things, and wasn't able to resolve it.

I further tried playing back a tape. This actually works. All contact to the lenses still works (zoom/zoom out action I can see physically). Changing the mode is not effective, it's still very black. I'm trying very hard to figure this out, and it's killing me (it's out of warranty

Connecting via FireWire doesn't yield anything but black (oh what a surprise) and trying to record...records...guess what..black!

If anyone has any clues, please try to help me out. I'm going on vacation soon (over 4000 miles each way...wehee) and it would be terrible to be out the use of my video camera. Further, it's a merely out a month of warranty (unless this Sears label is wrong, which I hope it is [dated 9/7/03]). I'm willing to crack her open if there is any solution you guys can think of.

TIA.

My ZR 60 went overnight from working fine to no image in camera mode. Of course just out of warranty.

Noted several others on this forum have had the same problem. Has anyone been able to determine if this is a CCD failure or something else?

The same thing happened to my ZR65MC. Fortuantely for me the camcorder was still under warrenty. I returned it to the factory and they replaced the CCD. I got the camcorder back in under two weeks time. It has worked fine ever since.

- Dennis -

__________________
"If a child cant learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn" - Ignacio Estrada

All symtoms leads to it: a CCD failure.
1) The camera plays pre-recorded videos (so, LCD display is also OK).
2) Sound is recorded normally
3) Previous records are erased normally
4) The black screen isn´t a result of a loose wire (as someone says) but a REPRODUCTION of a recorded black video. The CCD becomes blind.
If they were a serious company (as I though they were), they should made a recall for all ZR cameras. There is a obvious issue.

Guys who have replaced CCD unit, can you please tell me abt the performance of the camcorder after replacement of CCD?

I am out of warranty and I am thinking of repairing my camcorder by replacing CCD unit. If the report of post-replacement are is not good then I might have to buy new cam.

I don't think this problem affects only ZR line. I checked other forums here about Canon digicams and also found the problem there (maybe Elura, Optra, i don't remember).

With the current prices, i'd go for a new camera.
Probably not a Canon.

__________________
- -
Fabio Bernardino

any new info on how to fix this??? my ZR60 went black, just after a year when i bought it. I can play tapes on it fine, i can do Analog to digital fine, but camera mode records BLACK VIDEO with only sound. I opened it up, but have no idea if this is fixable?

Don´t do that! Do not open the camera. This is a issue from ZR series. Problably is a faulty CCD, the most expensive part of the camera. This IS NOT serviceable. They must pull it out and put a brand new on the place. You know WHO is pay for it? Guess.

Same problem mine is ZR60 went black and cannot record. I notice that many Canon camcorder owners, is having the same problem. It just happened overnight from working fine to not recording. It might be a bad parts that Canon needs to fix and recall our camcorder.

ZR70MC, was working fine the next day the video is black. Anyone found a fix for this? Out of warranty of course!

Thanks

JC

same thing just happened to my ZR70MC, and of course mine is out of warranty also. Anyone know how much it is to have repaired? Let me know. Thanks

I also have the same issue on my ZR 65. Canon asked me to send to their factory service center and they would provide me with a "free" estimate. Anyone has had experience with Canon with such a scenario ? What is generally the issue... and how much do they charge ? Ofcourse, I am out of warranty !

Thanks
AS

Hi

Eventually, I sent my ZR 65MC to Canon Factory Service Center and they gave me an estimate of $145 + $12 (shipping) to get it fixed. They did not tell anything about the cause. This is for their labor and fixing minor parts... and if they find more problems once they open up the camcorder, they would send a revised estimate. They are offering the repair with a 90 day warranty.

Any update from anyone to help me decide whether I should go for the repair or buy a new one... which is around $350 or so these days.

Thanks
AS

Hi,

Looks like I am also facing the same problem, all of a sudden my ZR 70MC displaying a blank screen in record mode. When I tried to play back after recording, audio is working. but shows a blank image as video. Don't know what to do as the piece is out of warranty. Did anyone find some fix for this problem? If yes, please share it across.

Thanks,

Mouli

Mine Was Dead Today. I Will Have To Send It In. Warranty Was Out A Month And A Half Ago. I Hope Canon Treats Me Good.

Old John