Black Screen on my brand new HD1 Help!

Bo Lorentzen · June 16th, 2006, 07:10 PM

"lens assembly" might include the chip attached to the back of the lens.. kind of... :-)

Bo

www.bophoto.com/HDV

Maury McEvoy · June 17th, 2006, 10:10 PM

The repair only lasted one day!

Today, it is back to the constant 'Black Screen' state.

Back to square-one.

Wayne Morellini · June 19th, 2006, 01:02 AM

Maybe it got jolted around in transit to the center and caused a loss connection/component to reconnect (or maybe a faulty component discharged). They might have then thought it was something to do with the lens assembly instead.

It is unlikely to be iris or shutter multifunction. Probably best to explain that no menus or screen data appears at all.

Rhett Barnes · June 20th, 2006, 08:50 PM

OK, I'll have to admit that when I first glanced _very_ quickly at this thread I thought the original poster just didn't know how to turn the camera on (you know, "black screen"). But the other day I pulled my HD1 out to try to take a picture, and now I've got the exact same problem. It's as if there's no light on the CCD - though I never took a picture with the lens cap on to make a precise comparison. P-Autoexposures maxed out to f/3.5 and 1/2 sec, and only recording black in movie or picture modes.

I'll be interested to see how effective the "repair" is for other people, so please let us know!

Carlos Barbino · June 21st, 2006, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhett Barnes

OK, I'll have to admit that when I first glanced _very_ quickly at this thread I thought the original poster just didn't know how to turn the camera on (you know, "black screen"). But the other day I pulled my HD1 out to try to take a picture, and now I've got the exact same problem. It's as if there's no light on the CCD - though I never took a picture with the lens cap on to make a precise comparison. P-Autoexposures maxed out to f/3.5 and 1/2 sec, and only recording black in movie or picture modes.

I'll be interested to see how effective the "repair" is for other people, so please let us know!

Oh my! This "black lcd" problem seems quite widespread. It's gotta be either a design flaw or a manufacturing flaw.

Why doesn't Sanyo just recall the whole shebang and start over?

Carlos Barbino · June 21st, 2006, 06:15 AM

To add to this: I was at a Fry's Electronics in the San Francisco area yesterday and they had an HD1 on display.

Guess what?! That display model had the "black lcd" virus as well. Quite frustrating as I was there to hold the unit in my hand and see how it feels. I love the form factor and small size.

Too bad about this black lcd disease.

Wayne Morellini · June 21st, 2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlos Barbino

Oh my! This "black lcd" problem seems quite widespread. It's gotta be either a design flaw or a manufacturing flaw.

Why doesn't Sanyo just recall the whole shebang and start over?

It shipped with bugs and we are yet to see a firmware update. Hopefully they can do a recall. I have stopped advising people to buy the camera, it was obvious that this bug might be wide spread.

Rhett Barnes · June 21st, 2006, 03:52 PM

OK, looks like I'm going down the same road that Maury already did above: I'm supposed to ship it to Studio City in order to change the "lens assembly." I'm thinking that this is going to be as successful for me as it was for him...

Bo Lorentzen · June 21st, 2006, 04:04 PM

Rhett,

Keep us posted please. This is really becomming a concern, mine have not shown any problems "yet" living in my backpack, but Im starting to think its only a matter of time.

Bo

www.bophoto.com/HDV

Peter Solmssen · June 21st, 2006, 04:39 PM

While we are talking about the screens, please note that they are very delicate. Mine has two small gashes now that reflect back in gold when the sun hits them, and I have no recollection of hitting it, though it is perfectly possible I did in my active use of the camera.

Carlos Barbino · June 21st, 2006, 05:25 PM

Sanyo should have better business sense than this. To keep selling a product that they know is defective will only give people a poor view of the company.

The buyer deserves a well tested product. He/She shouldn't be a "beta tester" for the company.

While I was at Fry's yesterday, I also held and played with a Panasonic SDR-100. It's similar in form factor to the HD1 (although I admit I like the HD1's pistol grip better).

This Panasonic only captures DVD resolution video but I can see myself getting one of these when Panasonic finally incorporates the AVCHD standard into it as they have stated they would.

Good things going for the Panasonic:
-3 CCD
-Optical Stabilized lens (which I hear works great)
-lens made my LEICA

Nathan Pease · June 21st, 2006, 07:02 PM

I am now on my third camera. The first two from prestige both had this problem. I just recieved my third camera from Amazon and it seems to be working fine so fare but I am just waiting for the black screen to come back. Does anyone know what the labor cost is to have it fixed if it is out of the 90 day labor warranty?

Chris Wells · June 21st, 2006, 10:01 PM

It may be good to compare serial numbers on failing units. I got mine in Feb and it's running strong. Not a grey market unit.

Wayne Morellini · June 21st, 2006, 10:06 PM

Scratching

For a few years there has been a dvd coating that is virtually scratch proof, not even steel wool, and I read a report of one guy that attacked it painfully with a swiss pocket knife in order to scratch it. Chemical diamond coatings have been around for 2 decades, so it is not very acceptable, except in the case where it is the anti-reflective or glare coating getting scratched, that would have to go on top of such a coat. But is is pretty obvious this does not have such a coat.

Gen Franks · June 24th, 2006, 07:15 AM

Have had it for about 2 months pulled it out to video tape and black screen is all I got. Looks like I will begin the process. We should get a petition going for a recall. This is ridiculous. Is there a head count of how many this has happened to? Add me to the list.

June 17th, 2006, 10:10 PM	#32
Maury McEvoy Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cambria CA Posts: 45	Re: My 'Black Screen' problem was repaired under warranty! The repair only lasted one day! Today, it is back to the constant 'Black Screen' state. Back to square-one. __________________ Maury

June 20th, 2006, 08:50 PM	#34
Rhett Barnes New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 7	Me Too... OK, I'll have to admit that when I first glanced _very_ quickly at this thread I thought the original poster just didn't know how to turn the camera on (you know, "black screen"). But the other day I pulled my HD1 out to try to take a picture, and now I've got the exact same problem. It's as if there's no light on the CCD - though I never took a picture with the lens cap on to make a precise comparison. P-Autoexposures maxed out to f/3.5 and 1/2 sec, and only recording black in movie or picture modes. I'll be interested to see how effective the "repair" is for other people, so please let us know!

June 24th, 2006, 07:15 AM	#45
Gen Franks New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Utay Posts: 14	My HD1 now has the "black screen disease" Have had it for about 2 months pulled it out to video tape and black screen is all I got. Looks like I will begin the process. We should get a petition going for a recall. This is ridiculous. Is there a head count of how many this has happened to? Add me to the list.

June 16th, 2006, 07:10 PM	#31
Bo Lorentzen Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles - California Posts: 114	"lens assembly" might include the chip attached to the back of the lens.. kind of... :-) Bo www.bophoto.com/HDV

June 19th, 2006, 01:02 AM	#33
Wayne Morellini Inner Circle Join Date: May 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 2,762	Maybe it got jolted around in transit to the center and caused a loss connection/component to reconnect (or maybe a faulty component discharged). They might have then thought it was something to do with the lens assembly instead. It is unlikely to be iris or shutter multifunction. Probably best to explain that no menus or screen data appears at all.

June 21st, 2006, 06:15 AM	#36
Carlos Barbino New Boot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Bruno, CA Posts: 23	To add to this: I was at a Fry's Electronics in the San Francisco area yesterday and they had an HD1 on display. Guess what?! That display model had the "black lcd" virus as well. Quite frustrating as I was there to hold the unit in my hand and see how it feels. I love the form factor and small size. Too bad about this black lcd disease.

June 21st, 2006, 03:52 PM	#38
Rhett Barnes New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 7	OK, looks like I'm going down the same road that Maury already did above: I'm supposed to ship it to Studio City in order to change the "lens assembly." I'm thinking that this is going to be as successful for me as it was for him...

June 21st, 2006, 04:04 PM	#39
Bo Lorentzen Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles - California Posts: 114	Rhett, Keep us posted please. This is really becomming a concern, mine have not shown any problems "yet" living in my backpack, but Im starting to think its only a matter of time. Bo www.bophoto.com/HDV

June 21st, 2006, 04:39 PM	#40
Peter Solmssen Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 133	While we are talking about the screens, please note that they are very delicate. Mine has two small gashes now that reflect back in gold when the sun hits them, and I have no recollection of hitting it, though it is perfectly possible I did in my active use of the camera.

June 21st, 2006, 05:25 PM	#41
Carlos Barbino New Boot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Bruno, CA Posts: 23	Sanyo should have better business sense than this. To keep selling a product that they know is defective will only give people a poor view of the company. The buyer deserves a well tested product. He/She shouldn't be a "beta tester" for the company. While I was at Fry's yesterday, I also held and played with a Panasonic SDR-100. It's similar in form factor to the HD1 (although I admit I like the HD1's pistol grip better). This Panasonic only captures DVD resolution video but I can see myself getting one of these when Panasonic finally incorporates the AVCHD standard into it as they have stated they would. Good things going for the Panasonic: -3 CCD -Optical Stabilized lens (which I hear works great) -lens made my LEICA

June 21st, 2006, 07:02 PM	#42
Nathan Pease New Boot Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 18	I am now on my third camera. The first two from prestige both had this problem. I just recieved my third camera from Amazon and it seems to be working fine so fare but I am just waiting for the black screen to come back. Does anyone know what the labor cost is to have it fixed if it is out of the 90 day labor warranty?

June 21st, 2006, 10:01 PM	#43
Chris Wells Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kelowna, Canada Posts: 148	It may be good to compare serial numbers on failing units. I got mine in Feb and it's running strong. Not a grey market unit.

June 21st, 2006, 10:06 PM	#44
Wayne Morellini Inner Circle Join Date: May 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 2,762	Scratching For a few years there has been a dvd coating that is virtually scratch proof, not even steel wool, and I read a report of one guy that attacked it painfully with a swiss pocket knife in order to scratch it. Chemical diamond coatings have been around for 2 decades, so it is not very acceptable, except in the case where it is the anti-reflective or glare coating getting scratched, that would have to go on top of such a coat. But is is pretty obvious this does not have such a coat.