My FX1 stopped working. :(

Bryan McCullough · June 14th, 2005, 10:01 AM

Well my camera is scheduled to be returned today!

I could hardly sleep last night. Sony was pretty good, they took about 10 working days to make the repair and it came in $60 less than they originally quoted me.

Can't wait to plug this baby into FCP5!!!

Gary Smith · June 14th, 2005, 10:09 AM

Hi all;
Mine is still in the shop for the same reason after 5 weeks. I went through Mack though. They say it could be another week. Darn third party warranty.

Gary

Bryan McCullough · June 14th, 2005, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Smith

Hi all;
Mine is still in the shop for the same reason after 5 weeks. I went through Mack though. They say it could be another week. Darn third party warranty.

Gary

I guess that's the trade off. If it makes you feel any better I paid about twice for this one repair that you paid for your entire warrenty.

Jeff Baker · June 15th, 2005, 10:36 AM

Any idea what is causing this?
I never had any of my other sony camera's just stop like that. I hope this is not a recall issue.

Boyd Ostroff · June 15th, 2005, 10:44 AM

I've never had problems like this with my Sony's, but have read about something similar with (IIRC) the GL-2 where an internal fuse could blow.

Gary Smith · June 15th, 2005, 11:58 AM

I think that it might have been a power surge when the camera is plugged into house power. I bought a remote charger and will never power the camera or charge the battery or use generic batteries again. Learned my lesson the hard way.

Carlos E. Martinez · June 15th, 2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Smith

I think that it might have been a power surge when the camera is plugged into house power. I bought a remote charger and will never power the camera or charge the battery or use generic batteries again. Learned my lesson the hard way.

Generic batteries, as long as the voltage is OK, can't cause any damage. If in doubt about the voltage, do check it before putting it in. No mystery about that.

Using an external charger is certainly a must, and I can't understand how that did not develop into a general demand for one as standard AC supply when Sony stopped offering it.

But not using the AC supply when you can because of a power surge danger is not such a practical policy.

Carlos

Heath McKnight · June 15th, 2005, 02:36 PM

FYI, generic, name brand batteries or AC adaptors, do NOT have the camera turned on when putting on fresh batteries. Leave it off, or you can potentially blow out the camera.

heath

Jay Handleson · June 15th, 2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heath McKnight

FYI, generic, name brand batteries or AC adaptors, do NOT have the camera turned on when putting on fresh batteries. Leave it off, or you can potentially blow out the camera.

heath

Good advice for anything that has any type of electrons (AC or DC) flowing through it!

Jay

Gary Smith · July 15th, 2005, 09:57 AM

Hi everyone; Just a note to let you know that it took two months to the day to have my FX-1 serviced through Mack warranty service for the "dead camera syndrome". Had I known this, I would have gone without the warranty and paid the $200.00 to Sony to have it back in two weeks. Good old 20-20 hind sight. Gary

Jeremy Rochefort · July 15th, 2005, 11:13 AM

I' like to bet here that they replaced the VCR/Camera switch?

Cheers

Boyd Ostroff · July 15th, 2005, 11:44 AM

2 months is pretty unacceptable. That would make me think twice about buying a Mack warranty (I never have anyway).

These stories have spooked me about my Z-1 though. I've resolved to always run on battery power - which I generally do with my other camcorders anyway. It's a good way to bring the batteries to full discharge, which I also think isn't such a bad idea. So my Z-1 has never tasted anything but battery juice thus far in its life, and with two NPF-970's and one 960 it should never have to :-)

Gary Smith · July 15th, 2005, 11:46 AM

Unfortunately there was no info about details of the repair from Mack or Sony. Just curious; what makes you think that the VCR/video switch was at fault. Do other Sony cams have the same problem. This is my first Sony. My beef is how blasted long the repair took.

Jeremy Rochefort · July 15th, 2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Smith

Unfortunately there was no info about details of the repair from Mack or Sony. Just curious; what makes you think that the VCR/video switch was at fault. Do other Sony cams have the same problem. This is my first Sony. My beef is how blasted long the repair took.

This is exactly what happened to my camera. I must have kicked up too much steam because they gave me a new camera - I must also admit the camera was only 6 days old! The feedback I got was after I insisted on a full report from Sony regarding the failure.

As for the time it took to repair yours - UNACCEPTABLE. Many of us rely on these camera for our livelihood and I will not stand for shoddy service levels - we are far too forgiving of bad service these days - hence my signature

Cheers

Heath McKnight · July 15th, 2005, 03:40 PM

I have a Mack Warranty, two since 1999, and always just sent cameras to the dealer. With my XL-1, I had it back within 5 days, per the XL-1 Club. Mack says an "authorized dealer," so Canon and JVC are...

heath

June 14th, 2005, 10:09 AM	#17
Gary Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Berryville, Va. 22611 Posts: 28	Mine is still in the shop Hi all; Mine is still in the shop for the same reason after 5 weeks. I went through Mack though. They say it could be another week. Darn third party warranty. Gary __________________ Gary Smith

June 15th, 2005, 10:36 AM	#19
Jeff Baker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 184	Any idea what is causing this? I never had any of my other sony camera's just stop like that. I hope this is not a recall issue. __________________ Canon C100, 5D3

June 15th, 2005, 11:58 AM	#21
Gary Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Berryville, Va. 22611 Posts: 28	Possible cause??? I think that it might have been a power surge when the camera is plugged into house power. I bought a remote charger and will never power the camera or charge the battery or use generic batteries again. Learned my lesson the hard way. __________________ Gary Smith

June 15th, 2005, 02:36 PM	#23
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	FYI, generic, name brand batteries or AC adaptors, do NOT have the camera turned on when putting on fresh batteries. Leave it off, or you can potentially blow out the camera. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

July 15th, 2005, 09:57 AM	#25
Gary Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Berryville, Va. 22611 Posts: 28	Finally got my FX-1 back from Mack Hi everyone; Just a note to let you know that it took two months to the day to have my FX-1 serviced through Mack warranty service for the "dead camera syndrome". Had I known this, I would have gone without the warranty and paid the $200.00 to Sony to have it back in two weeks. Good old 20-20 hind sight. Gary __________________ Gary Smith

June 14th, 2005, 10:01 AM	#16
Bryan McCullough Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 842	Well my camera is scheduled to be returned today! I could hardly sleep last night. Sony was pretty good, they took about 10 working days to make the repair and it came in $60 less than they originally quoted me. Can't wait to plug this baby into FCP5!!!

June 15th, 2005, 10:44 AM	#20
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I've never had problems like this with my Sony's, but have read about something similar with (IIRC) the GL-2 where an internal fuse could blow.

July 15th, 2005, 11:13 AM	#26
Jeremy Rochefort Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Town, SA Posts: 159	At least its nestling in your loving arms again I' like to bet here that they replaced the VCR/Camera switch? Cheers __________________ MJ Productions Never let the need for money outweigh the need for Quality, Friendly and Professional Service

July 15th, 2005, 11:44 AM	#27
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	2 months is pretty unacceptable. That would make me think twice about buying a Mack warranty (I never have anyway). These stories have spooked me about my Z-1 though. I've resolved to always run on battery power - which I generally do with my other camcorders anyway. It's a good way to bring the batteries to full discharge, which I also think isn't such a bad idea. So my Z-1 has never tasted anything but battery juice thus far in its life, and with two NPF-970's and one 960 it should never have to :-)

July 15th, 2005, 11:46 AM	#28
Gary Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Berryville, Va. 22611 Posts: 28	No info about repair Unfortunately there was no info about details of the repair from Mack or Sony. Just curious; what makes you think that the VCR/video switch was at fault. Do other Sony cams have the same problem. This is my first Sony. My beef is how blasted long the repair took. __________________ Gary Smith

July 15th, 2005, 03:40 PM	#30
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I have a Mack Warranty, two since 1999, and always just sent cameras to the dealer. With my XL-1, I had it back within 5 days, per the XL-1 Club. Mack says an "authorized dealer," so Canon and JVC are... heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog