The camera shuts down with the error message condensation, open cassette door for 1hr ... i've used it before in worse conditions with no problem

I've had this before. It usually occurs when go outdoors from an air conditioned space. Moisture condenses on the headwheel which will cause the tape to stick... and THAT will make a real mess!
If you're in a hurry, remove the tape cassette leaving the camera open, and use a hairdryer on LOW to dry out the inside of the unit. Then allow the camcorder to cool down (not in the cool or air-conditioned room) before you use it.
In the future, you should take the camera out of the cooled area still in the bag several hours before you intend to use it. To hurry things along a bit, you can put in a sealed plastic bag indoors and then bring it up to temperature, but don't open the bag until has reached the temperature of the space in which you will be using it.

If your camcorder experiences an error, you may be presented with a ?Remove the Cassette? message. There are several reasons that this message may appear, but it is essentially a safety warning that is designed to protect the camcorder and/or tape from damage. The camcorder?s tape drive mechanism is made up of many precision components that, once damaged, may cause further problems if the mechanism continues to operate. When a problem is detected the safety mechanism is activated. The ?Remove the Cassette? warning and the camcorder?s safety mode may be activated by a variety of conditions such as: 1. Condensation is detected ? If condensation is detected by the camcorder, the ?Remove the Cassette? warning may occur. 2. Component failure ? If an electrical or mechanical component in the camcorder fails, the safety mode may activate to prevent any further damage to the camcorder. 3. Sand or grit damage ? The camcorder?s tape drive mechanism consists of many tiny gears. Sand or grit can cause a gear to jam and stop turning. This will cause the camcorder's safety mode to activate. 4. Impact damage ? If a camcorder is accidentally dropped or bumped against a hard surface, it is possible that a misalignment of the tape drive mechanism may occur. 5. Liquid damage ? If either the camcorder or the tape is exposed to water or any other liquid, a variety of malfunctions may result. Please avoid this situation. 6. Improper videotape insertion ? If a tape is forced into the cassette compartment, or if the cassette compartment is pressed down while the tape is loading, damage may occur to the tape drive mechanism. Please refer to the User's Manual. 7. Damaged or defective tape ? If a tape becomes damaged, please discontinue its use. Operational Recovery Steps Depending on the conditions that caused this message to appear, it is possible that the camcorder operation may recover. Please follow these steps: 1. Eject the videotape Insert a new or known good videotape. If the message does not persist, it is possible that the tape was damaged. If the camcorder still displays the message with a new tape, please proceed to step 2. 2. If condensation had been detected causing the Remove the Cassette warning, remove the cassette, and allow at least one hour for the moisture to dry. If the "Remove the Cassette" message continues, the camcorder may require service. Please contact Canon USA's Tech Support Center at 1 (800) 828-4040. Technical support hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 12:00 midnight; and Saturday 10:00am - 8:00pm (all times EST). Alternatively, if electronic support is preferred, please send your email to [email protected].

This can be due to few issue and what could be checked by you is to look if the cassette is properly loading. Check if there is any objects blocking within the carriage. Also if the cassette hass any issues, try with another one.
Next check if the set is having condensation and so gives out the error message of a protect. So use a hair dryer into the cassette compartment and into the drum section.
Finally a fault in the servo or the loading can issue a fault condition.

There is a DEW sensor within the camera as a protection as when there is condensation due to cool condition within the tape can get chewed into the cylinder head drum.
So all what you need to do next time is to keep it in a warm place, use a hair dryer slighly into the door after ejecting tape or you can put the set On overnight without any harm.
When you travel keep the camera covered with a blanket and do not expose the camera to direct AC vent.

Please go further down on the message, you must see a numeric code, like 03, or 02. In case you'll see 03, open the cassette door(let it open until cassette come out) about 5 sec or more(make sure you have enough batt. charge or use adapter). Once ejected do not use that cassette again. Using new cassette and same thing happen, have your camera checked by the expert. Error code other than 03, you need to consult the expert. Hope it helps

Dew has condensed in the camera. Eject the cassette but leave the cassette door open.remove the battery . Borrow a hair drier . set it to optimum temperature(not vey hot but but hot enough to cause discomfort when blown on fingers). direct the hot air through the cassette compartment door for about five minutes. reattach the battery and reinsert the tape.
Good Luck,
Luwangula

Dew has condensed in the camera. Eject the cassette but leave the cassette door open.remove the battery . Borrow a hair drier . set it to optimum temperature(not vey hot but but hot enough to cause discomfort when blown on fingers). direct the hot air through the cassette compartment door for about five minutes. reattach the battery and reinsert the tape.
Good Luck,
Luwangula

Use camera without tape

What error message is it giving to you ?? as this will be a good indication of fault.You have tried all the usual things to try by the sounds of things,

When pouring a chilled beverage into a glass, water droplets may form on the surface of the glass. This happens because the air around the glass is rapidly cooled down, and moisture in the air adheres to the surface of the glass. This phenomenon is called condensation. This kind of condensation may also occur with camcorders. If you continue to use the camcorder with condensation on it, it could damage the camcorder. Condensation may form on the camcorder in the following cases: (1) When being moved from a cold place to a warm place (2) When being used in a rapidly-heated cold room (3) When being used in a humid room (4) When being moved from an air-conditioned room to a warm, humid place When condensation occurs: The camcorder stops operating automatically after its power lamp flashes. The warning message "CONDENSATION HAS BEEN DETECTED" appears and the condensation-warning icon below starts flashing. Condensation-warning icon If a cassette is loaded, the warning message "CONDENSATION HAS BEEN DETECTED" and "REMOVE THE CASSETTE" appear and the cassette-warning icon starts flashing. Cassette-warning icon If a cassette is loaded in the camcorder, remove the cassette immediately and leave the cassette compartment open. If condensation is detected, the POWER switch and cassette-removing switch will be activated. Leaving the cassette in the camcorder may damage the tape. A cassette should not be loaded into the camcorder when condensation is detected. How to avoid condensation Unload the cassette and place the camcorder in an airtight plastic bag when moving to locations where temperatures vary. Allow time for the camcorder to adjust to temperature changes slowly before removing it from the bag. Resuming use Allow at least one hour before resuming use; more time may be required for heavier condensation. When condensation has been eliminated, turn the camcorder on. After the condensation-warning icon stops flashing, wait one hour before resuming use.