Maintenance budget for F3XX series at DVinfo.net

John Mitchell · November 7th, 2007, 08:32 PM

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.

Ryan Hollings · November 7th, 2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mitchell

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.

John Mitchell · November 7th, 2007, 10:49 PM

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)

Mike Watson · November 7th, 2007, 11:41 PM

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.

Greg Boston · November 8th, 2007, 12:24 PM

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-

Simon Wyndham · November 9th, 2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

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. :-)

Greg Boston · November 9th, 2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Wyndham

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-

Alister Chapman · November 11th, 2007, 07:51 AM

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

November 7th, 2007, 08:32 PM	#1
John Mitchell Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 873	Maintenance budget for F3XX series 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.

November 11th, 2007, 07:51 AM	#8
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	20 Months of hard use and so far not a penny spent on maintainance, other than cleaning dirt, dust and grime off the exterior. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

November 7th, 2007, 10:49 PM	#3
John Mitchell Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 873	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)

November 7th, 2007, 11:41 PM	#4
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	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.

November 8th, 2007, 12:24 PM	#5
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	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-