DXF-20W viewfinder problem for PDW-f350 at DVinfo.net

Tristram Clark · October 29th, 2011, 10:03 AM

Hi
My DXF-20w viewfinder for my Sony PDW-f350L is causing me some problems. I seems that the right hand vertical portion of the Band W screen has been squeezed in. So, when I look through the viewfinder, the right hand side of the image looks like it has been keystoned (or squeezed) in by about 3/4 of an inch. This throws off my framing and actually distorts that side of the B&W viewfinder image. The recorded image on the XDCAM disk and the color flipscreen look fine, so it seems it is definitely an issue with the viewfinder.
Has anyone seen this happen before? Is there any way that you can electronically move or size the image on the B&W screen of your viewfinder? Cannot seem to find a way in the menu (or anywhere else) to customize or move/stretch the image on the B&W viewfinder.
I would really appreciate any help on this

TC

Doug Jensen · October 29th, 2011, 10:54 AM

Have you considered the possibiiilty that it is just plain broken? There's no menu that is going to compensate for that kind of distortion. Do you have access to another VF that you can swap it out with to compare? Sounds like it needs a trip to the hospital for repair. :-(

Anton Strauss · October 31st, 2011, 02:11 AM

it appears to be a common problem with that viewfinder, I bought a spare one so I can quickly swap while the other one has a tiny transistor replaced (same problem as yours)

I bought the service manual for the viewfinder but could not narrow it down myself

Luc De Wandel · October 31st, 2011, 04:14 PM

A strong magnet in the vicinity of the viewfinder (which is a small cathode ray tube) could also cause this problem. Headphones ?

Anton Strauss · October 31st, 2011, 10:36 PM

according to the tech who fixed mine

most likely cause, turn off camera and turn on camera with no pause, such as when making a menu change that requires restart

and I must admit, I did that many times

October 29th, 2011, 10:03 AM	#1
Tristram Clark Tourist Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. John's NL, Canada Posts: 1	DXF-20W viewfinder problem for PDW-f350 Hi My DXF-20w viewfinder for my Sony PDW-f350L is causing me some problems. I seems that the right hand vertical portion of the Band W screen has been squeezed in. So, when I look through the viewfinder, the right hand side of the image looks like it has been keystoned (or squeezed) in by about 3/4 of an inch. This throws off my framing and actually distorts that side of the B&W viewfinder image. The recorded image on the XDCAM disk and the color flipscreen look fine, so it seems it is definitely an issue with the viewfinder. Has anyone seen this happen before? Is there any way that you can electronically move or size the image on the B&W screen of your viewfinder? Cannot seem to find a way in the menu (or anywhere else) to customize or move/stretch the image on the B&W viewfinder. I would really appreciate any help on this TC

October 29th, 2011, 10:54 AM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,442	Re: DXF-20W viewfinder problem for PDW-f350 Have you considered the possibiiilty that it is just plain broken? There's no menu that is going to compensate for that kind of distortion. Do you have access to another VF that you can swap it out with to compare? Sounds like it needs a trip to the hospital for repair. :-( __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools Last edited by Doug Jensen; October 29th, 2011 at 11:56 AM.

October 31st, 2011, 02:11 AM	#3
Anton Strauss Major Player Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 201	Re: DXF-20W viewfinder problem for PDW-f350 it appears to be a common problem with that viewfinder, I bought a spare one so I can quickly swap while the other one has a tiny transistor replaced (same problem as yours) I bought the service manual for the viewfinder but could not narrow it down myself __________________ Anton Strauss www.videoproductions.com.au

October 31st, 2011, 04:14 PM	#4
Luc De Wandel Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Knokke-Heist, Belgium Posts: 963	Re: DXF-20W viewfinder problem for PDW-f350 A strong magnet in the vicinity of the viewfinder (which is a small cathode ray tube) could also cause this problem. Headphones ?

October 31st, 2011, 10:36 PM	#5
Anton Strauss Major Player Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 201	Re: DXF-20W viewfinder problem for PDW-f350 according to the tech who fixed mine most likely cause, turn off camera and turn on camera with no pause, such as when making a menu change that requires restart and I must admit, I did that many times __________________ Anton Strauss www.videoproductions.com.au