I've had my Z1U for 5 years and only just used the component jack and cable for the first time last week, having purchased an HD external monitor. The connection worked for one day then crapped out. I know it's not the monitor as composite output via the cam's mini jack is fine.

It could be the jack but I have no way of testing that as I have neither a spare cable nor access to a second cam with a similar jack at the moment.

I have had firewire cables and jacks go in the past, so it wouldn't surprise me if a component connection is equally fragile. But in this case the replacement is 50 bucks!

All cables eventually go bad and should be replaced or rebuilt as soon as they show any problem. $50 is just the cost of doing business.

Yes, all cables go bad eventually, but not normally after the first few hours use. As I wrote in my post, this one had hardly been used. It had been sitting on a shelf since I bought the camera.

Guess I am just unlucky. Doesn't look like anyone else has experience this.