OT: HDR-FX1 - died on me shooting a wedding

Earl_J wrote on 7/11/2010, 9:48 AM

L8R...
that is a bummer ...
I have no idea what would cause such a catastrophic shutdown...
Sony may have a forum in their forums for that camera... hmmmm...
Let me take a peek...
Okay;
the right menu selection on this page has a few troubleshooting videos that might prove helpful...
UPDATE: Well, there are only four short videos there - so I watched them all.
Three of them end with a reset of the camera;
the fourth indicates using the AC power supply to attempt to start the camera; if it does not start, both the camera and the power supply should be sent in for service.

I fully understand that you may already know these techniques - I apologize if I have insulted your intelligence... and bummed that you've tried them and it is still broken.

After all this, it comes to mind that it may have been the temperature... was it hot or cold during the shoot (I'm not sure where you are) ... if you took it from a cool building (where it may have been for a while) or the car with A/C blasting out into the warm summer air, perhaps, just perhaps a bit of condensation created your problem. In this case, I'd take all the batteries off, open every door and window on the camera, and let it sit for a day or two in a stable cool, dry climate and then try it again.
* * *
I'm really posting to inquire about the rest of the shoot... ?
I certainly hope you were able to continue recording without interrupting the wedding... ?
That sort of interruption would really be catastrophic for your client, your business, and your reputation ...
* * *

Until that time... Earl J.

Dreamline wrote on 7/11/2010, 11:21 AM

Sounds like the same thing that happened to my pd170. It went green because 1 ccd chip blew. This chip blowing in the pd170 is well documented and was replaced for free because sony makes bad chips. The serial number had to be under a certain number in order to receive the replacement. You should contact sony and use the pd's case as leverage if you are not under warranty.

Even though the fx uses cmos the green screen sounds similiar and might be able to be used for your advantage.

Beware, after the Sony Giants fixed the cam they charged me $500 for a head cleaning that I didn't authorize and they were forced to give me that for free. They are a shady group even in the best light.

Also, take the battery out over night and hit the reset button with a pin. Most cams have a reset button but I am not sure about the fx..

Good luck.

John_Cline wrote on 7/11/2010, 12:52 PM

"sony makes bad chips"

They made a small batch of bad chips, all the chips they make are not bad.

"They are a shady group even in the best light."

I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Sony equipment over the years and I have always found their service to be impeccable.

Why is it a large number of your posts are quite negative, either toward a forum user or Sony?

John

Cliff Etzel wrote on 7/11/2010, 12:57 PM

musicvid10 wrote on 7/11/2010, 1:13 PM

Have you tried a hard reset? Not sure how you do it on your model but I'm sure you can find it on the internet.

DGates wrote on 7/11/2010, 1:26 PM

That sucks. So was that your only camera that day?

Earl_J wrote on 7/11/2010, 3:41 PM

John,
well, he is fisheyes, after all - so perhaps the focal point in the center is set to negatives ... ?

Until that time ... Earl J.

L8R wrote on 7/11/2010, 3:43 PM

Thanks Earl,

Ya I watched all those videos when I got home from the wedding and tried their "easy pleasey" methods of fixing the issue.
I took it into sony today. I had the camera fixed back in Febuary for a sub assembly replacement. The camera is 2 years old. I noticed the other day that there was something rattling around inside. Sounded like one of the 900 little screws that hold the camera together. My thought is that this screw may have touched the main board and fried it.
The rest of the shoot was quite difficult, you may have well as cut off my right arm and leg. Would have had the same result.
I have two FX1s and and HC1. The HC1 I use as a "C camera" for the ceremony only, as it doesn't fair so well in the low light conditions of a reception.
The couple was very understanding but ultimately the product will suffer from not having the equipment I needed.

fldave wrote on 7/11/2010, 8:15 PM

"Even though the fx uses cmos..." FishEyes said.

Not all of them, though I don't think any of them use CMOS. Mine are CCD.

Serena wrote on 7/11/2010, 9:03 PM

The FX1 is CCD

L8R wrote on 7/11/2010, 9:04 PM

Yeah they are CCD and that sounds sensible that that's the issue. At any rate, it's under warranty and in Sony's hands. I'll find out soon enough what the issue was.
Bad thing is, I have a wedding this weekend and next weekend.
I'll need to rent a comparable camera until it's back.

willqen wrote on 7/12/2010, 5:17 AM

Welcome to the (pro) life.

Sony's equipment is great. You see it used all over many broadcast and cinematic type projects so, they must be doing something right.

These type of folks, who can use what they want, wouldn't be using them if there were problems

FX-1 is the sister cam to my ZR-1. They both are 3 X 1/3" CCD. That's why I still use mine - The Picture Quality from the CCDs

I'm glad you had the camcorder repaired, and believe me, after having gone through battles like this myself, Good Job completing the project with what you had !

Will

L8R wrote on 7/12/2010, 8:23 AM

Yeah Will I am really happy with my Sony equipment. Like anything though, as soon as it goes or you have to repair it, you curse the name. Only natural I suppose.
From the amount of video that's been shot with these cameras, they've held up quite nice.
It was just really bad timing, I mean I use my cameras for everything, no problems....
Literally, the bride's limo was coming down the street when this happened. It was game time and I had to think really quick and just deal with the situation.
I was in complete shell shock for the rest of the day though as I knew how much I depend on that second FX1 to be there for me.
I am looking at buying the Z5U but don't have enough money right now to be anywhere close to the purchase.
I'm getting sick to my stomach just thinking about this again. Shooting weddings is enough of a pain in the ass without having to worry about your equipment failing on you.

Dreamline wrote on 7/12/2010, 9:17 AM

John Cline it's your perspective that sees everything I do as negative towards sony.
Reality is neither negative or positive. Stop forum stalking me. Try to flow a little like water and stop being so judgmental and less pedantic. You read everything I write wrong and take it the wrong way. Stop hijacking threads to goad me. You and your little club are like school kids. I'm here and I'm staying for a long time and there is nothing you and your club can do about it, so get used to it full frontal.

If you think sony has an impeccable record then you do not know the history of Sony's many recalled products that have done damage all over the world ie fire batteries. If facts hurt your feelings...I'll be more sensitive next time.

Beware sony forgot to send my camcorder back to me and practically lost it after I told them I needed it asap for the wedding season. You got to keep up on these guys, they seem understaffed in Teaneck, NJ regardless of what the fans say.

I have great success with Armato's Pro Video repair service. In fact I have had bad cams come back in 4 days with low price in repair and speedy service they are much better value then sony repair.

Best thing about Armatos, they lend cams while the cam is in repair!

Did I do ok, Cline...? or did I forget a comma or is there a figure of speech you want to take literally and twist for your benefit.

L8R wrote on 7/12/2010, 10:02 AM

Easy now fish. The problem with text is that depending on the mood of the person reading it or their personalities, text can be read all different ways.
As I said, I love every piece of technology I own..... until it breaks! Then I curse it. It's human nature.
Don't forget as well that Sony covers quite a global area and although Sony is the name brand, you could hit some rough and sometimes shotty workmanship/ customer service/ or sales depending on where we live.
Sony fixed my camera the last time, had it back in a week. I wasn't worried because it was in the wedding off season and I could get away with only one FX1.
I'm in the middle of my peak time and this has just thrown me for a loop.

This forum is a great forum, I would hate to see them down because people bicker about pointless stuff.
People have their opinion, other people should take it with a grain of salt.

Can't we all just get along?

John_Cline wrote on 7/12/2010, 11:48 AM

Thanks for making my point for me, Fish. I'm not pedantic, I'm literal. Apparently your statements like "Sony makes bad chips" and "they are a shady group even in the best light" were meant to be positive?

Maybe you should try getting up on the other side of the bed for a change.

farss wrote on 7/12/2010, 3:45 PM

Cold comfort I know but be thankful the camera died before the wedding and you knew about it.
I've now come accross two instances of a very wierd problem. The HDV cameras failed to record the "I" frames. Sony cannot explain how this can happen, it's most certainly not a transport problem. One unlucky soul had all 4 tape from the A camera on a wedding shoot with this problem. The other guy just lost the ceremony.

When you spool the tape you can see vision, nothing revealed in Play and you only capture black. Timecode is still there though. Wish I had the gear and expertise to delve deeper into this.

In one instance I know for a fact this problem occurred with a Z5, not certain about the other. The media itself tests OK and the cameras have logged many flawless hours of video since. Truly wierd problem.

Bob.