Backfocus service @ Sony at DVinfo.net

Greg Laves · September 3rd, 2008, 03:02 PM

Has anyone on here had Sony Service fix a backfocus issue on a V1U or any similar camcorder that was out of warranty? I would like to have an idea what I am getting into before I send it in. I talked to the Sony service center in LA and they said they have done this service numerous times but wouldn't give me an estimate over the phone. Their estimate charge is $135.00, but they only charge that if you don't repair the unit. Which is understandable I suppose. But I would like to have some idea if I might be looking at $500, $1000 or $3000. Personally, I think this should be a factory recall situation. But that doesn't seem to be likely.

Hugh Mobley · September 4th, 2008, 12:20 AM

you didn't get an extended warranty when you purchased?

Greg Laves · September 4th, 2008, 07:31 AM

No sir. I was not the original owner.

David Issko · September 10th, 2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Laves

Has anyone on here had Sony Service fix a backfocus issue on a V1U

Mine started to lose back focus after about 10 months of use since I bought it new. It was fixed by Sony under warranty.

David Issko

Monday Isa · September 11th, 2008, 05:18 PM

Greg it was Two hundred and change under parts warranty. I paid for the labor. Your looking at about five hundred. Good luck

Greg Laves · September 11th, 2008, 06:57 PM

Ouch. It has to be done. Unless I want to shoot everything in autofocus which doesn't appeal to me at all. Thanks for the info, Monday. One attaboy for you.

Monday Isa · September 11th, 2008, 07:11 PM

Or you can shoot at 3.2 -9 iris to get around the backfocus problem till you get enough to fix it.

Lee Berger · September 12th, 2008, 09:40 AM

You could use auto focus to get the initial focus and then toggle to manual to lock it in. By the way I had this back focus problem twice under warranty. The last time seemed to do the trick, but I connect the camera to my edit bay monitor and double check before each shoot.

Monday Isa · September 12th, 2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Berger

You could use auto focus to get the initial focus and then toggle to manual to lock it in.

Interesting that worked for you Lee. For me nothing worked but stopping down on the f stop. I wish I had learned about it earlier as it messed up 3 jobs last year. To my benefit it was not the main camera though.

Greg Laves · September 15th, 2008, 12:50 PM

In your experience what has been the door to door turn around time on having this service done? Thanks in advance.

Monday Isa · September 15th, 2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Laves

In your experience what has been the door to door turn around time on having this service done? Thanks in advance.

It took 1 week

September 3rd, 2008, 03:02 PM	#1
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	Backfocus service @ Sony Has anyone on here had Sony Service fix a backfocus issue on a V1U or any similar camcorder that was out of warranty? I would like to have an idea what I am getting into before I send it in. I talked to the Sony service center in LA and they said they have done this service numerous times but wouldn't give me an estimate over the phone. Their estimate charge is $135.00, but they only charge that if you don't repair the unit. Which is understandable I suppose. But I would like to have some idea if I might be looking at $500, $1000 or $3000. Personally, I think this should be a factory recall situation. But that doesn't seem to be likely.

September 4th, 2008, 12:20 AM	#2
Hugh Mobley Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Placentia, Calif Posts: 549	you didn't get an extended warranty when you purchased? __________________ Hugh Mobley www.petplanetvideos.com http://exposureroom.com/members/hmobley.aspx/

September 12th, 2008, 09:40 AM	#8
Lee Berger Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 326	You could use auto focus to get the initial focus and then toggle to manual to lock it in. By the way I had this back focus problem twice under warranty. The last time seemed to do the trick, but I connect the camera to my edit bay monitor and double check before each shoot. __________________ www.leebergermedia.com

September 4th, 2008, 07:31 AM	#3
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	No sir. I was not the original owner.

September 11th, 2008, 05:18 PM	#5
Monday Isa Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 913	Greg it was Two hundred and change under parts warranty. I paid for the labor. Your looking at about five hundred. Good luck

September 11th, 2008, 06:57 PM	#6
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	Ouch. It has to be done. Unless I want to shoot everything in autofocus which doesn't appeal to me at all. Thanks for the info, Monday. One attaboy for you.

September 11th, 2008, 07:11 PM	#7
Monday Isa Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 913	Or you can shoot at 3.2 -9 iris to get around the backfocus problem till you get enough to fix it.

September 15th, 2008, 12:50 PM	#10
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	In your experience what has been the door to door turn around time on having this service done? Thanks in advance.