My HC7's LCD has been developing blotches since 1 1/2 weeks ago, now the screen's got 15% blotches, 85% untouched. When you look closer, the blotch actually looks like chipped glass. I was afraid that it might be the nails scratching the LCD screen or something. This is very annoying when I shoot in bright sunlight. So, what should I do? (exchanging and shipping it away to a non-local location is not an option, I'm going to China on July 13th.)

Please answer ASAP.

Hi Jack -
Thought your LCD was losing pixels for a second there... More than likely you've got something on your fingers when touching the screen - it doesn't take much. I'd suggest you use a gentle cleaner or slightly damp cloth - I'll bet those blotches will come off with careful cleaning, and then you might want to put a scren protector on it. It may be a body chemistry thing, or something you handle regularly that left the blotches.

DB>)

Nope, it isn't residue, just tried cleaning it off and it just wouldn't come off.

HMMM -
Can you tell if there are scratches in the screen? That seems like a lot of "wear" for a short period of time...

I can't tell if it's your picture or what, but my HC7 seems to have a much "shinier" screen - yours looks sort of semigloss, mine's actually almost a gloss... any chance there's a protective film on it? Got my cams used, so don't know if they put anything on the screen at the factory, but that's the only other thing I can think of...

DB>)

Here's another picture taken under sunlight instead of flash.

Hi Jack -
All I can say is that screen looks very different from mine - I'll try to snap off a picture tomorrow and post... You might want to at least report it to Sony or whoever you bought it from so it's been noted and you can get it fixed - owned several touch screen cams, and none looked like yours...

Jack, do you still have the protective film sheet over it? Those look like air patches that you would get under a screen protector. Also, some touchscreens get oil smears that water (ONLY) on a soft cloth will remove with a lense cleaning cloth to finish. DO NOT USE a cleaner. Other than that, if those are not it, was it exposed to direct sun in a hot car? Overheating might do something like that.

My HC7's screen after about 2 weeks of use looks nothing like Jack's either. It does look like Jack's screen has a protective film, but I don't recall peeling one off on my new HC7. After cleaning my HC7's screen with a microfiber eyeglass towel it looks like new.

I hate to say it, but I have a weird way of cleaning the LCD when I'm on the run:

Dampen t-shirt with saliva and rub...

could that be it?

And I had to special order the camera from Sony through Future Shop cause none of the retailers in Canada have it. We do have an extended warranty.

So should I fix it? Please answer ASAP.

Update: It's gotten worse! The blotch size has increased, and for a moment, the touch panel malfunctioned! It kept trying to point at one spot whenever I turn on the camera.

I think it's fine now (the touch panel) and it might've been due to a static charge but I'm not sure so I need to send it in for repair and to possibly find out what's wrong with the LCD. The camera can still record though.

Attached is an updated picture of the blotched LCD. (very high resolution)

Hopefully I'll get it fixed tomorrow.

Hi Jack -
Looked at the two pix you've posted, and observe that the problem areas are in the same spots, just enlarged in the second pic, so it's not just dirt/surface... you may have a bad LCD - I'd begin to suspect that one or more of the layers that go into making the actual panel is missing or defective (unless of course there's a protective film that sure doesn't look to be there <wink>). It looks to me like a de-lamination or contamination between two layers of the panel.

I've deconstructed a couple of these LCD panels on defunct digital cameras (no touchscreen) just for amusement and education - they have LOTS of layers, and anything gets in there, and you can get blotches... usually though the blotches would be more indistinct - yours are very well defined and growing...

I'd take it in, and take printouts of the two photos so you can show that the problem existed early on, and is getting worse - that should substantiate the problem enough to get a diagnosis and get it fixed.

I don't know about your cleaning technique - I know some people have really toxic body chemistry that attacks some materials... but I doubt that's the source of your problem as the blotches are in the exact same spots... only bigger!

I've just it taken in for repair but I had to do it via the customer service counter at the place we bought it so no printouts unfortunately. It might be back in two weeks.

Update: Sony refuses to fix my HC7 and charged us $49 as a diagnostic fee.

They say the blotches were caused by self-mishandling that is not covered by the warranty. But I really hoped to have it fixed.

Should we still fix it or is it over? Give me a suggestion quick cause we're pretty pissed about this.

This is really bothering me so can someone quickly reply about this?

Sony refused to fix it, they're in the progress of sending it back, what should I do? Get a local authorized repair shop to replace the LCD after I get it? Or do nothing?

UGH, sorry to hear that Jack -
Well if the blotches don't bother you, use the cam as is... I'd imagine parts are not cheap, but that LCD has many layers, and it may be there's just something that got in between them (maybe your cleaning technique?) that someone who knows their stuff could clean?

I emailed Sony Canada about a cam I bought from a Canadian retailer that won't acknowledge the battery (it's perfect otherwise, and I knew it had the issue, I've got a workaround... and it's a 4th cam anyhow). I wasn't impressed with their responsiveness... maybe it's a Sony Canada thing?

You don't have to tear the cam down too far to get the LCD panel, but it's not for the novice... I fix things for a living, so I'm sort of a bit more qualified to poke at these sorts of things!

After we get it back (which currently it still hasn't even been received by the customer service desk...), we might go to a different local Sony authorized repair shop and specifically ask for them to replace the LCD cause it's really annoying to me in bright sunlight. It's like a mirror ball when you reflect sunlight off the blotches.

Ok, it's back, and they've updated their explanation by saying I have sharp nails which pierced the LCD and started the delamination and is NOT covered by the warranty... **bleep**!

And the price to replace the LCD is as same as buying a new camera. I can't believe those **bleep**...

Either I'm stuck with a really annoying blotched LCD or I should do something about it... I could use some real help here! The sooner the better cause I'm very pissed.

Edit: Sorry, I was venting a lot of steam on that post, We'll try to take it in on Monday to a local service center and bring a printout of this thread and the pictures.

Hi Jack -

One thing that I notice - the blotches seem to not correspond to the virtual "buttons" of the touchscreen - that suggests to me that it may be something other than "sharp nails"...

I'm going to guess from your previous posts that there is some foreign liquid (possibly from your cleaning technique?) trapped between the layers rather than a "delamination" - you might want to download the service manual for this model (PM if it's not on the Sony site, I've got it), you'll see the LCD has lots of layers, and ANYTHING gets in between any of them, and you've got a mess. Not certain that it would look like your blotches, but possibly.

Parts are exceedingy expensive on new cameras - it's sort of crazy. I quoted the board I needed to replace, and it was half the camera price... ended up with a cheaper solution... just bought import batteries that bypass the problem.

Not sure what to suggest, if you were nearby, I'd say pop in and disassemble your cam and see what's reallly going on! Depending on how handy you are, all you really need is a jewlers screwdriver, probably some magnifying glasses, and extreme patience with infinitesibly small things, and don't forget to discharge that nasty capacitor properly...

HTH

I don't think it's water, the blotches on the edges looks like sharp streaks.

Plus, disassembling something for me usually means it's broken for sure. I'll just go to the service center.

... disassembling something for me usually means it's broken for sure. I'll just go to the service center.

he he he, I know what you mean by that, but these are almost idiot proof, stilll not a recommended procedure for a novice.

Looked at the service manual, and there is a part referred to as a "cusion, tp", part 558, pn 2-672-277-01 that appears to be the top layer over the touchpad - if indeed this is a "surface" damage (shine light off the surface, can you see scratches or other damage on the OUTSIDE surface of the LCD?), I think that specific layer shouldn't cost too much, and would fix you up - labor will kill ya, but it would save on parts. I'm sure you don't need the whole LCD block, which is undoubtedly expensive, but more likely one layer of the assembly (there are 10-11 by my count on the parts diagram). if it's the touchscreen layers, those could hurt.

NOW, if you cannot see surface damage, then IMO Sony gave you a bogus diagnosis - if your nails are "sharp", they should have scratched the surface layer as well as caused "delamination" - Sony used to supply stylii with their touch screen cams, so they ought to stand up to a "sharp" point, I should think.

See what another repair center says, worst case keep an eye out for a "parts cam" - probably any of the XX7 series, and perhaps some of the other sony models - many parts are interchangeable.

I'd have a cam for parts for ya, but it turned out to work fine if I bypass the battery and use the cheap import batteries with a bypass to the DC in... got lucky on fleabay!

DB>)

I think I see surface damage cause there are outlines where the Blotches are.

And now the blotches leave fingerprints. So I guess it's the top protective layer that's de-laminating. Poor manufacturing perhaps? The pixels and the touchscreen sensors however are totally unaffected. The incident on the plane with the malfunctioning touchscreen might've been to some abnormal radiation or something else.

Maybe after cleaning the layer under the protective one (is it cleanable?), then replacing the protective layer only, it'll be fixed. But I'm not doing it, the service people will.

I'm probably gonna need that service manual so e-mail me from the boards to find out my e-mail address and send it over.

Hi Jack -
PM'd you, sounds to me like you could just replace that first layer, and I think one of those protective films might be in order - can't imagine what would scratch up the film, but at least it's surface, and if you can get that first layer as an individual part, you should be set.

DB>)

I sent it in to the Sony Western Canada service center in Coquitlam and hopefully they might be able to replace the top layer.

Update: It has been FIXED under the 1 year warranty by the Sony serivce center.

But there's a downside... I have to wait till Monday to pick it up cause they notified us just as they were closing FRIDAY... very lackluster of Sony Canada...

Ok, finally got it back with no blotches...

But there was a catch.

In my final notes it says:

"This is not a Manufacturer's defect.
As a one time good will gesture Sony of Canada will cover the replacement of the LCD
Excessive rubbing or some cleaning solutions will cause this type of wear and tear."

I'm not sure if my new one has either a Gloss or Semi-gloss screen. The sun does reflect very well at an angle on this new screen but I'm not sure if that means it's glossed.

The part they purchased was a "TP BLOCK ASSY (27ESHGU07)"... Which is unfortunately.... The LCD and touchscreen layer. Ouch.

The blotches did scrape all the way down to the touchscreen layer and might've caused some uncleanable damage... Luck ran out there...

Now the big question, should I get a screen protector ASAP?

for the couple $ that a screen protector costs, I'd say it's good insurance...

Just got one 13 pack of protectors (non-standard size, in fact, they're Palm Pocket PC protectors), tried a few times wasting a few... but finally got one on. Now back to filming...