URK! Error C31:30

[Ralph Roberts]

Originally Posted by Piotr Wozniacki

Ralph, while I appreciate your frustration having to wait for the camera to be sent back repaired, I'd really not jump on conclusions like this. To me, the quality of the V1 is superb. It feels so solid and confident in your hands... I spent quite a lot of time trying to make up my mind between the V1 and Canon A1; and you know what? The Canon simply felt cheap by comparison! Just take a look on the Canon forum; how many people are reporting incidents of:

- iris ring stopping working
- focus ring stopping working
- camera refusing loading tape
- mic holder falling off
- picture adopting the Van Gough style of colours

etc,etc...

Well, when I was testing the Canon, it just broke down as well. Compared to that, the V1 (and most of Sony products in general) is very high quality indeed!

thanks, Piotr ... yes, I'm just frustrated without the V1, but I dusted off my XL2 today and the video for a quite good 30-minute show, so the old stuff is still there for backup. ;-)

[Ralph Roberts]

Originally Posted by Douglas Spotted Eagle

Yes, just like people, cameras bounce when dropped from a height. Unlike people, my camera survived, but my lens has a grind, the mic clip is gone, and some damage to the tape door. it's not a warranty repair. :-)

ALL camcorders from any manufacturer may have problems from time to time. Canon, Sony, Grass Valley, Panasonic, JVC...all have challenges on occasion. The V1 is an exceptional camera in its class, and is used in one of the most difficult environments in the world on a fairly consistent basis (on a crab-ship for Discovery).

I agree, Douglas, and thanks ... once the V1 is back in my hands (or at least mounted on my tripod) I shall once again be happy.

[Heath McKnight]

Spot,

Were you skydiving when the V1u dropped?

heath

[Douglas Spotted Eagle]

Yup. I was trying to turn in the harness to shoot someone coming in alongside me, and it wasn't quite secure in my hands. I was being dumb and aggressive.

[Heath McKnight]

How high up were you?

heath

[Ralph Roberts]

This week's report: "...still on the bench, the engineer's looking at it..."

Me: "How long will it take."

"...about a week, we're really far behind..."

yeah.... these long slow looks are killing my shooting schedules.

sigh

to recap, camera received in NJ on Sept 6th.

--Ralph

[Chris Medico]

Sorry to hear that Ralph,

If you want to come shoot here in Durham I'll help ya out with some equipment! :)

Chris

[Leslie Wand]

still no further info on what the original error signified?

leslie

[Ralph Roberts]

Originally Posted by Chris Medico

Sorry to hear that Ralph,

If you want to come shoot here in Durham I'll help ya out with some equipment! :)

Chris

thanks for the offer, Chris... nothing in that end of the state at the moment, lots on hold up here in the mountains, alas. ... and the HC1 continues to do yeoman's work in keeping us getting footage.

--Ralph

[Ralph Roberts]

Originally Posted by Leslie Wand

still no further info on what the original error signified?

leslie

nope, can't get any info out of Sony's repair people... just "... we're really running behind..."

I did ask if they were having more V1s in than normal... essentially got a 'no comment' in reply.

[Douglas Spotted Eagle]

Originally Posted by Ralph Roberts

nope, can't get any info out of Sony's repair people... just "... we're really running behind..."

I did ask if they were having more V1s in than normal... essentially got a 'no comment' in reply.

Strange. I just this second got off the phone with Dominick Esoldo at Sony Repair (don't know him from Adam, but he manages the Jersey facility) and he told me that they aren't getting any more or less V1's than any other broadcast product. In other words, it's normal volume for any product they produce.
They've been pretty quick with mine on turn around.

[Ralph Roberts]

Originally Posted by Douglas Spotted Eagle

Strange. I just this second got off the phone with Dominick Esoldo at Sony Repair (don't know him from Adam, but he manages the Jersey facility) and he told me that they aren't getting any more or less V1's than any other broadcast product. In other words, it's normal volume for any product they produce.
They've been pretty quick with mine on turn around.

That's good to know, Douglas (and thanks for the name, I may need it)... but they still claim to be running behind and, since they've had my camera for two weeks, I tend to agree with them, alas.

Ah well... getting caught up on editing at least.

--Ralph

[Ralph Roberts]

In the continuing epic:

Just checked on the V1... they tell me the part they needed has come in (didn't even know they'd ordered one) ... and that the camera might be ready Tuesday.

keeping fingers, toes, and eyes crossed.

What an adventure,eh?

--Ralph

[Ralph Roberts]

Originally Posted by Ralph Roberts

In the continuing epic:

Just checked on the V1... they tell me the part they needed has come in (didn't even know they'd ordered one) ... and that the camera might be ready Tuesday.

keeping fingers, toes, and eyes crossed.

What an adventure,eh?

--Ralph

Well, the parts that came in did not fix it... the parts the technician thinks he needs are on backorder. "Call again Friday."

This is not good. Sony has had the camera 19 days now for in-warranty repair.

[Seth Bloombaum]

Why do I keep on reading this thread? There's something about it that makes me read every word... even as I think I won't...

Good luck Ralph. Sorry about the pain.