Hello,
Recently received the following message from a Lighting Cameraman at BBC London:

"Important information about the Z1 camera.

We have been advised by Sony that if the Z1 is powered up when changing the battery, it is possible to blow one of the internal surface mounted fuses, thus leaving the camera powerless.

DV Solutions have seen this happen on a number of cameras.

The fix is the replacement of a circuit board or replacing the fuse which is not easily available.

Therefore, make sure the camera is switched off before changing the battery."


Regards,
Jonathan Lee

Thanks for this.

How do you...."power up when changing the battery."

Do you mean "charging the battery"

?

Hello John,
I assume it means attaching a new battery when the Z1 is switched on in "Camera" Mode.

Jonathan.

I think the operating manual says this is a no no as well.

Don't know about other countries but in the UK manual there is no warnings about the potential hazards of doing this. I can only find an instruction to turn off the camera when changing the battery but nothing to suggest what might happen if you don't.

Seems to me that common sense alone should tell you this is a bad idea :-)

Seems to me that common sense alone should tell you this is a bad idea :-)

Well,yes but its certainly something that can very easily be forgotten or overlooked when on a shoot or a quick changeover is needed.

And this one thing Sony should be designing against. An inadvertant act when removing a battery should not result in the destruction of the camera. Sony is usually good about designing idiot proof stuff -- and love their stuff because of it. I can be one of those absent minded idiots sometmes... Does this warning apply my FX1 too?

See the following:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=44855
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=52628

And also, it sounds like Andrew had this exact problem with his Z1: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=56149

And this one thing Sony should be designing against. An inadvertant act when removing a battery should not result in the destruction of the camera. Sony is usually good about designing idiot proof stuff -- and love their stuff because of it. I can be one of those absent minded idiots sometmes... Does this warning apply my FX1 too?

I've certainly done it too on occasion, when in a rush, but looks like we got away with it (unlike some other's on the forum, it would seem!)

I would also have to assume it does apply to the FX1 as well.

See the following:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=44855
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=52628

And also, it sounds like Andrew had this exact problem with his Z1: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=56149


Boyd: Thanks for these threads. I caught myself doing the battery change the other day not realizing the camera was still on.. lucky this time.