Firewire ports destroyed by Z1, also case with HC1/A1?

Betsy Moore · July 2nd, 2006, 02:17 PM

I think my firewire's blown too and my warrantee's gone. Instead of spending 500 on repair I might spend an extra 500 and get the cheapest Sony HDV camera for about 1000. Will an NTSC Sony HDV camera play my Sony HDV PAL footage via firewire into my Apple G5?

Boyd Ostroff · July 2nd, 2006, 03:57 PM

I don't think so. Unless I'm very mistaken, the Z1 is the only camera with both PAL and NTSC capability. If you need PAL then you'd need to buy a PAL HC3 or HC1. But of course, then it wouldn't work with NTSC tapes. I know that some Sony camcorders will play PAL footage on the built-in LCD screens, but they won't send it out over firewire.

Heath McKnight · July 2nd, 2006, 04:20 PM

Boyd is right, only the Z1 can do 60i and 50i.

heath

Betsy Moore · July 2nd, 2006, 04:48 PM

It won't even play back 50i? Ah well...

Ben Winter · July 16th, 2006, 11:19 AM

This 'blown firewire' thing just happened to me on my FX1 about two months after its initial purchase. It's covered by warranty right?

Boyd Ostroff · July 16th, 2006, 11:51 AM

I would think so. Find info on repair centers on Sony's website here: http://eservice.sony.com/webrma/web/index.do

Enter the model number as hdrfx1 and fill in the other info on the web form.

I know this doesn't help you guys, but for anyone considering the purchase of a camera, the level of service and support is higher for the Z1 because it comes from Sony's professional division. From what I've read (happily no personal experience yet :-) the turnaround time for repairs is much shorter from the pro division than the consumer division. Just another thing to keep in mind as you ponder the price difference between the Z1 and FX1. The pro cameras are serviced here: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...eCenters.shtml

Betsy Moore · July 16th, 2006, 12:06 PM

That's a good point. My Sony rep says it'll be about 3 weeks to a month from the time I send it to the time it gets to their nearest repair shop (in Texas!) to the time they get around to looking at it once recieving it, and finally return it and I won't be able to do without my camera for that period of time for--yeesh.

Jon Omiatek · July 17th, 2006, 10:48 AM

Sony FX1 service can be great.

One of our guys slipped and fell and dropped his FX1 and completely smashed it. I thought the repair would be as much as a new camera. Sony repair charged him for parts only and it was just shy of $500 in parts. Lucky for him they didn't charge him any labor and he had it back in two weeks.

I prefer the pro service, I had a guest at a wedding dump a drink on my camera and shorted it out. I had it back in 7 days. Luckly for me, the guest paid for the service :)

Jon

Laurence Spiegel · July 23rd, 2006, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Hart

.....
It would seem that a culture of haste, unthoroughness and expediency may have now fully developed over a few generations of familiarity with powered devices and what was once exceptional has become commonplace practice.....

For some years now consumer PCs have shipped with ports designed to be hot plugged, such as USB and ethernet. As a result users expect 1394 to be hotpluggable. We constantly hot plug USB + enet at work. The manual for my camcorder had no warning about this issue, nor did any other firewire device I've bought. After reading this forum topic I see it ain't so.

Anyone know if the following sequence is safe?
i. touch PC case to de-static oneself
ii. Plug 1394 cable into PC, PC on.
iii. Plug 1394 into video device with device off
iv. power up

It sounds like owners of pro gear would do well to put antistatic mats under the PC + camera when connecting, touching the mat 1st.

July 2nd, 2006, 04:20 PM	#33
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Boyd is right, only the Z1 can do 60i and 50i. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

July 16th, 2006, 11:19 AM	#35
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	This 'blown firewire' thing just happened to me on my FX1 about two months after its initial purchase. It's covered by warranty right? __________________ BenWinter.com

July 2nd, 2006, 02:17 PM	#31
Betsy Moore Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 444	I think my firewire's blown too and my warrantee's gone. Instead of spending 500 on repair I might spend an extra 500 and get the cheapest Sony HDV camera for about 1000. Will an NTSC Sony HDV camera play my Sony HDV PAL footage via firewire into my Apple G5?

July 2nd, 2006, 03:57 PM	#32
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I don't think so. Unless I'm very mistaken, the Z1 is the only camera with both PAL and NTSC capability. If you need PAL then you'd need to buy a PAL HC3 or HC1. But of course, then it wouldn't work with NTSC tapes. I know that some Sony camcorders will play PAL footage on the built-in LCD screens, but they won't send it out over firewire.

July 2nd, 2006, 04:48 PM	#34
Betsy Moore Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 444	It won't even play back 50i? Ah well...

July 16th, 2006, 11:51 AM	#36
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I would think so. Find info on repair centers on Sony's website here: http://eservice.sony.com/webrma/web/index.do Enter the model number as hdrfx1 and fill in the other info on the web form. I know this doesn't help you guys, but for anyone considering the purchase of a camera, the level of service and support is higher for the Z1 because it comes from Sony's professional division. From what I've read (happily no personal experience yet :-) the turnaround time for repairs is much shorter from the pro division than the consumer division. Just another thing to keep in mind as you ponder the price difference between the Z1 and FX1. The pro cameras are serviced here: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...eCenters.shtml

July 16th, 2006, 12:06 PM	#37
Betsy Moore Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 444	That's a good point. My Sony rep says it'll be about 3 weeks to a month from the time I send it to the time it gets to their nearest repair shop (in Texas!) to the time they get around to looking at it once recieving it, and finally return it and I won't be able to do without my camera for that period of time for--yeesh.

July 17th, 2006, 10:48 AM	#38
Jon Omiatek Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 755	Sony FX1 service can be great. One of our guys slipped and fell and dropped his FX1 and completely smashed it. I thought the repair would be as much as a new camera. Sony repair charged him for parts only and it was just shy of $500 in parts. Lucky for him they didn't charge him any labor and he had it back in two weeks. I prefer the pro service, I had a guest at a wedding dump a drink on my camera and shorted it out. I had it back in 7 days. Luckly for me, the guest paid for the service :) Jon