Flashing icon hi my canoin xl1 recently start3d flashing a small red symbol..it looks like a little boat with a diaginal line through it..i dont know what it is..any suggestions?

From what you are saying it sounds like the battery warning symbol. Have a look at page 150 onwards in the instruction manual. All the symbols are displayed there.

I had the same problem with my ZR800. After lots of searching on the net I found out what the symbol indicates. It means that the little battery that holds the memory for the clock is weak. It's under a little cover behind the main battery compartment. I put in a new one that the flashing icon is gone. I put the battery I took out into another ZR800 and the icon started flashing on it. A simple solution that Canon should have posted in the manual.

On page 24 of the manuel it shows the symbol that you mentioned below the battery symbol. It's labeled item 4. Which states "flashes in red when the lithium button battery is not installed, or when it needs replacing". I guess you need to check the lithium battery with a voltmeter to see if it's any good.

This symbol means that your backup battery needs to be replaced. It is a "button battery", type CR1616. Instructions for replacing it are in the manual, which is available to view or download here.

The flashing "boat" in the middle of the viewfinder just means the button battery is dead. Camera will still work. It's the little pull-out light grey plastic thing that's next to the heel of your right hand when you're using the camera normally. You need a CR2025 cell.

That symbol means that the backup (date) battery needs to be replaced. This is a button style battery and the replacement number is CR2025. It is located in a holder that slides out of its slot on the bottom of the camera. To keep your current settings, make sure you have the normal battery installed and put the unit in STANDBY mode when changing the backup battery.

it means you have no back up battery installed to save time/date info. I know on the GL2 if you open the LCD screen there is another small plastic tab you can open and insert a relatively small battery. Do it and the icon will disappear. Otherwise its no big deal. If you dont need time/date stamps on your tapes then there is no need to install the battery unless you are just annoyed.

Your CR1616 battery is not installed properly. +sign to +sign
[email protected]

your battery is missing or in wrong or dead

I had the exact same problem; my tape icon was flashing red with a line through it and the recorder would not record, no matter how hard I begged it to. After a full day of frustration, I called the videographer who had used it previously. There is a little trick.

1. Open the exterior tape door with the "Eject" button.
2. Wait, dont touch the tape. The little metal encasement will pop over and open within a few seconds.
3. To properly put the tape in, insert tape, push the little metal door that sais "Push this first".
4. Then push the exterior door closed.

Voila! Thats all there is to it!