Hi - just wondering if anyone has a rough idea of a reasonable annual maintenance budget for the F33x or the F35x? I'm looking to replace some existing equipment in the next 6 months.

Hi - just wondering if anyone has a rough idea of a reasonable annual maintenance budget for the F33x or the F35x? I'm looking to replace some existing equipment in the next 6 months.

We've had a couple cameras for a full yr now, and aside from an issue with a dead pixel (on one), there hasn't been any maintenance costs at all.

Thanks Ryan - I think Sony has a general 1 year warranty and a five year warranty on the drive, which is the best warranty I've seen on a Sony cam. Anyone else? (apart from blown firewire ports which usually stems back to user error)

My 350 hasn't needed any service yet. It's like a BMW in the first few years... it really shouldn't need anything, unless you wreck it.

Yes, the PDW series cameras have a longer warranty than other previous broadcast cameras. That tells you something about Sony's thoughts on reliability of the drive.

I had a shutter board failure last year, but of course that was well within warranty.

I don't think you'll have to spend much. As far as I know, there's not even a cleaning disc available.

-gb-

As far as I know, there's not even a cleaning disc available.

That's because it has a cleaning system built in. Everytime you insert a disc it does a cleaning cycle on the laser head. :-)

That's because it has a cleaning system built in. Everytime you insert a disc it does a cleaning cycle on the laser head. :-)

Yeah, I knew that. Was more a direct comparison to tape based units and their need for cleaning tapes.

-gb-

20 Months of hard use and so far not a penny spent on maintainance, other than cleaning dirt, dust and grime off the exterior.