VIXIA HF G40 - Zoom out problem, pleeeeeease help!

[serazoo]

Hello all,

I have a Canon Vixia HF G40, brand new, a few months use.

It has started to zoom out automatically..  randomly I zoom in on a shot,, randomly (not always) it decides to zoom out on its own. Extremely annoying, I literally (sometimes) must keep my hand on the zoom button to prevent it from zooming out... I really don't understand what the purpose is, if this is a configuration issue. Where the hell can I go or do to stop this from happenning ?

thanks

Sandra

[BlankIsMyName]

Hi Everyone,

My original post is below in green for reference.

In short, after just over a year of studio only use, my zoom keeps widening without constant light pressure on the zoom rocker switch.

I tried the compressed air solution repeatedly to no avail.  I never felt like it was getting in deep enough to do anything.

I had some time and desparation so I took it apart as much as I could to see what what was going on. Photos attached.

It took some time but I got it down as far as possible without breaking anything to get the toggle switch. It was glued together so I couldn't take it fully apart.  

I blasted it with air from all directions hoping it would work.

I reassembled it carefully and found the homes of all the screws.

I plugged it in and it started up fine.

I used it at work in the studio and for the first few days, it worked perfectly!  I was so happy and relieved.

But then, sure enough, it started up again every so often.  Then more often.  Now I'm back where I started, zooming out on its own.

I don't know what to do next.  Maybe see if I can find a new toggle switch and try that.

I'd take advice on that if you have it.  Thanks.

I've had my Vixia HF G40 for just over a year. Used only in a studio for work.

I too, have major zoom out issues.  Canon wants me to send it in, and then they'll tell me what it will cost to fix it.

This should be a recall. I should not have to pay an extra fee for something that breaks down in so many cameras.

I'll try the compressed air solution, but will need to buy a new camera as I can't risk the experiment if it doesn't work.

[Inapickle]

Fortunately I have not encountered this problem on my HF-G30 or HF-G40. There again I rarely use the zoom rocker. Hate the tapping that get's picked up when using the internal mic and find it very difficult to achieve fine zoom control with it. When I do need to zoom, mostly for shooting sports, I use a LANC remote, currently a Libec ZC-LP. Something to bear in mind is that LANC remotes can also cause these problems if used improperly. The camcorder should always be powered off before connecting and disconnecting, and allowed to fully boot (until the onscreen data markers appear) before touching the remote rocker. If connected/disconnected while the camcorder is powered on it can screw-up the LANC control instruction sets, especially if the camera zoom rocker is used after disconnecting the remote, resulting in the type of behaviours described above. If the remote is inadvertently disconnected while powered on, the camcorder should be immediately powered off so that the camcorder can reset, otherwise these behaviours might persist. So it may not always be the camera rocker/switch that's to blame. 

All of this rhetoric about 'recall' is fine, but you know that's not going to happen. What I would like to know is if Canon addressed and rectified this flaky zoom switch issue on subsequent models, especially the current 4K models (HF-G50, HF-G60) ?  When I checked out an XA50 in a store the other day, the rocker mechanism did seem better designed - not as loose and 'rattley'. But have they done anything about the switch itself.

[BlankIsMyName]

I appreciate your advice, Inapickle, but I paid $1000 for this camera and I expect it to work as advertised.

And just because we don't expect a recall doesn't mean we shouldn't ask for one.

If it were due to misuse or overuse, I could understand it.  But it happens so often that a local repair shop has it as it's first issue with the camera. A "bad zoom rocker switch".

And by your logic, it's okay that they've been negligent in the past, so long as they fix future models?

[Inapickle]

@BlankIsMyName. Don't get me wrong. Yes, I would like to know if the flaky zoom switch design has been perpetuated on the current models, because if I do upgrade to one I want to be sure that I'm not going facing this issue. But more to the point, if it has been rectified, it indicates that Canon do acknowledge that this was a design fault on the earlier models. And if they haven't rectified this fault it means that they don't care enough about their customers, because they surely know that this is a longstanding issue, yet are content to draw additional revenue from unwitting customers who are left with no other choice than to pony up for the repair only to receive back a camcorder with the same faulty zoom switch design, one assumes.

Yes, I agree entirely that Canon should be repairing affected models free-of-charge, and ideally retro-fitting an improved zoom switch  that does not suffer from these problems. That goes without saying. What I did write originally, then thought better of it, is that probably the only thing that would compel Canon to do that, and compensate those who have already paid for repair, would be a Class Action Law Suit. Is that what you are getting at by 'we should ask for one'. If not, how do you imagine a request for a 'recall' being conveyed and heard by those in a position to do something about it - a petitioned open letter to the CEO of Canon Inc perhaps? I'm just being realistic. 

Incidentally if 'bad zoom rocker switch' is the first issue that your local repair shop has with the camera, how do they make the repair ?

[Stephen]

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@BlankIsMyName wrote:

I appreciate your advice, Inapickle, but I paid $1000 for this camera and I expect it to work as advertised.

And just because we don't expect a recall doesn't mean we shouldn't ask for one.

If it were due to misuse or overuse, I could understand it.  But it happens so often that a local repair shop has it as it's first issue with the camera. A "bad zoom rocker switch".

And by your logic, it's okay that they've been negligent in the past, so long as they fix future models?

---

This is not our website. To get an estimate from Canon USA, you can go to our site at canon.us/repair 

If there are any local Authorized Service Facilities, we'll list them there, however, only the Canon Factory Service Center in Costa Mesa, California and Newport News, VA are authorized by Canon to perform repairs on this model. 

We give free estimates, and you'll usually get a general estimate right on our site prior to sending your camera to our facility.

If you have any questions about this process, you're encouraged to reach out to our US-based support team at 1-800-OK-CANON (800-652-2666). 

[Inapickle]

Case in point. It's one thing stating that 'The problem is caused by a bad zoom rocker switch' and here's the cure....part with more money. It's another acknowledging that it's a design fault, which it surely is, and that Canon will fix it at no charge (irrespective of existing warranty status) which they should. That is the point, isn't it ? Doesn't have to be a 'recall' per se (how could that work) - simply a commitment to repair affected units at no charge. What warranty do Canon give on the rocker switch repair, out of interest ? 

I'd still like to know from Canon if this issue has been rectified on the current 4K models (HF-G50, HF-G60 specifically). Surely this is the place to ask ?

Have anyone owning any of these models encountered this issue ?

[BlankIsMyName]

I know it's not your website. My point is that this is such a problem that it's this companies first item on the list of things that may go wrong with this camera. That should be telling.

[BlankIsMyName]

You are correct, InAPickle, a true recall would not be necessary. My wording have been more precise.

I would think a free repair would be the right thing to do.  I love the camera and would hate to lose it, but it is unusable in its current state.

This is obviously a common problem with Canon cameras and they should recognize that and do the right thing.

I have a 5D, a 7D, another Vixia, 2 GL2s, and several Elphs back in the day. But I can't see buying another at the moment.

[Inapickle]

I fully sympathize. So you purchased the HF-G40 brand new (under warranty) and the problem first appeared after one year ?

Only thing I can suggest if you don't want to send it into Canon for repair ( I assume you don't) or try your luck with that local repair shop, is selling it on EBay for 'Parts or Not Working".  I really wouldn't have another go at fixing it yourself and running the risk of completely trashing the camcorder. Might be best to leave well enough alone and get what you can for it. Sad state of affairs.

[Inapickle]

Incidentally, saw another thread addressing this issue ("XA20 Zoom Problem") and one post (by ContactJim) which seems to suggest that a LANC zoom remote control can serve as a workaround even when the rocker zoom switch has gone 'bad', quote:

"Hi thanks, on research this is a reoccuring issue with the XA line. The rocker switch on top of the body of the camera has a transducer that is not in a sealed housing, and it developes problems. I run a fabrication clean room and fixed it. For folks who have this problem, a can of compressed air might let you blow out the switch and fix it. If this does not fix it, consider a remote zoom control switch. They cost between $60 and $200. Alternatively, you can (carefully) take off 3 body panels, then you can liff off the switch housing and clean it"

Is that really the case ? If so, that might be the best solution available to you having already tried the 'compressed air' fix and taking the camcorder apart to clean the switch assembly. You could try one of the many, cheap 'Libec ZC-3DV' knock-offs available on EBay to see if it works first. Just make sure to power-off the HF-G40 before connecting and disconnecting the remote and don't touch the zoom rocker on the camcorder while you are using the remote zoom rocker.

Edit: As mentioned earlier, I use a Libec ZC-LP (upgrade of the older ZC-3DV model) - $79 at B&H:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1344165-REG/libec_zc_lp_zoom_control_for_lanc_panasonic.html

Actually in the Reviews section there's a 5 star review that caught my attention, entitled 'The solution to a flaky zoom rocker on the Canon HF G30' quote:

"...I would not have seriously considered it, but for the zoom rocker switch on my Canon HF G30 acting up (seems to be the norm, for many who own this camera)."

So maybe a workaround in your case after all, especially if you are shooting in a studio environment on a tripod ?