Help! VX1000 needs fixing.. at DVinfo.net

Sean Vincent · March 12th, 2008, 04:35 PM

Hi there.

My old VX1000 has started putting horizontal green stripes over everything i try to film....also there's some nasty digital break up and sound drop out.

I'm guessing i finally need new heads...tried cleaning but no joy.

Where can i get this done in the UK and how much is it likely to cost me?

Any help is much appreciated.

Ta

Sean V

Don Bloom · March 12th, 2008, 09:01 PM

I hate to say it as I still have my original VX1000 (purchased in 95 or 96) and used it as a 3rd camera until 2006 when it finally gave up the ghost. As for fixing it, it really isn't worth it. For a bit more than what it would cost you to get it fixed you could get much newer technology. OK maybe a lot more but the benefit is technology that is at least 5 to 6 years newer such as a preowned PD150 or even a 170.
Just something to think about.

Don

Bob Hart · March 13th, 2008, 03:37 AM

You may be talking a GBP 300 to 600 cost to fix if you have done nothing but put head cleaners through it and not had it serviced professionally.

There may likely be all kinds of crappenstance all over the guides by now that a cleaning tape will not budge. An lube on the load/unload system will be tight and dired and maybe not forming a complete loop around the drum.

Maybe all it needs is a proper clean, lube and back tension corrected which is what about GBP 300 to 600 may get you.

Then again I might be totally wrong and your camera may be fit only as an exhibit.

Sean Vincent · March 13th, 2008, 07:55 PM

Thanks for the advice guys...

But...i bought it cheap..(really really cheap) only about 7 months ago as a second camera for getting moving car shots for a movie i'm working on...also for other shots where i wouldn't dare put my main camera.

...so, if it costs a few hundred to fix...it's still worth it. I really don't want to buy another SD camera as i'll hardly use it.. i just need this working for another few months.

So...if anyone knows of a good service centre / repair shop in the south east of the UK...let me know.

I've had it apart today..(i used to service digital audio tape machines so i know my way around the transport system etc).. i reckon i might clean the head and guides with some isopropyl alcohol. This is standard practice for DAT heads and DA88 heads etc. Any reason why i shouldn't do the same on a video head?

Any help appreciated as always...

Chris Coulson · March 14th, 2008, 01:12 AM

here's some very detailed pages on cleaning a trv900 which should be relevant.

http://bealecorner.com/trv900/trouble/capclean.html

http://bealecorner.com/trv900/trouble/index.html

note the bit (I think it's in that one) about the importance of cleaning the drum in the correct direction...

good luck!

Sean Vincent · March 16th, 2008, 03:04 PM

Thanks for that Chris...very helpful. Am going to clean it thoroughly tomorrow and hope for the best.

If the problem persists, it'll have to have new heads. Sony reckon it's a minimum of £176 to fix anything on the VX1000...so adding parts to that...could be pricey. Anyone got a dead VX1000 they want to sell for spares?

Thanks again..

Sean

Sean Vincent · March 18th, 2008, 05:09 PM

Well, i took the VX1000 apart...carefully and went to town with the isopropyl alcohol.

I cleaned the head, the guides and the rollers.. i ended up with some very black q-tips.

I blasted the transport system with an air blower can and then put it all back together..

And....it works! I recorded some footage and it played back 100% ok.

Fingers crossed it stays that way.

March 12th, 2008, 04:35 PM	#1
Sean Vincent Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hitchin UK Posts: 66	Help! VX1000 needs fixing.. Hi there. My old VX1000 has started putting horizontal green stripes over everything i try to film....also there's some nasty digital break up and sound drop out. I'm guessing i finally need new heads...tried cleaning but no joy. Where can i get this done in the UK and how much is it likely to cost me? Any help is much appreciated. Ta Sean V

March 13th, 2008, 07:55 PM	#4
Sean Vincent Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hitchin UK Posts: 66	Thanks.. Thanks for the advice guys... But...i bought it cheap..(really really cheap) only about 7 months ago as a second camera for getting moving car shots for a movie i'm working on...also for other shots where i wouldn't dare put my main camera. ...so, if it costs a few hundred to fix...it's still worth it. I really don't want to buy another SD camera as i'll hardly use it.. i just need this working for another few months. So...if anyone knows of a good service centre / repair shop in the south east of the UK...let me know. I've had it apart today..(i used to service digital audio tape machines so i know my way around the transport system etc).. i reckon i might clean the head and guides with some isopropyl alcohol. This is standard practice for DAT heads and DA88 heads etc. Any reason why i shouldn't do the same on a video head? Any help appreciated as always... Last edited by Sean Vincent; March 13th, 2008 at 07:56 PM. Reason: spelling...

March 16th, 2008, 03:04 PM	#6
Sean Vincent Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hitchin UK Posts: 66	Thanks.. Thanks for that Chris...very helpful. Am going to clean it thoroughly tomorrow and hope for the best. If the problem persists, it'll have to have new heads. Sony reckon it's a minimum of £176 to fix anything on the VX1000...so adding parts to that...could be pricey. Anyone got a dead VX1000 they want to sell for spares? Thanks again.. Sean

March 18th, 2008, 05:09 PM	#7
Sean Vincent Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hitchin UK Posts: 66	The results.. Well, i took the VX1000 apart...carefully and went to town with the isopropyl alcohol. I cleaned the head, the guides and the rollers.. i ended up with some very black q-tips. I blasted the transport system with an air blower can and then put it all back together.. And....it works! I recorded some footage and it played back 100% ok. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

March 12th, 2008, 09:01 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I hate to say it as I still have my original VX1000 (purchased in 95 or 96) and used it as a 3rd camera until 2006 when it finally gave up the ghost. As for fixing it, it really isn't worth it. For a bit more than what it would cost you to get it fixed you could get much newer technology. OK maybe a lot more but the benefit is technology that is at least 5 to 6 years newer such as a preowned PD150 or even a 170. Just something to think about. Don

March 13th, 2008, 03:37 AM	#3
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	You may be talking a GBP 300 to 600 cost to fix if you have done nothing but put head cleaners through it and not had it serviced professionally. There may likely be all kinds of crappenstance all over the guides by now that a cleaning tape will not budge. An lube on the load/unload system will be tight and dired and maybe not forming a complete loop around the drum. Maybe all it needs is a proper clean, lube and back tension corrected which is what about GBP 300 to 600 may get you. Then again I might be totally wrong and your camera may be fit only as an exhibit.

March 14th, 2008, 01:12 AM	#5
Chris Coulson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 101	here's some very detailed pages on cleaning a trv900 which should be relevant. http://bealecorner.com/trv900/trouble/capclean.html http://bealecorner.com/trv900/trouble/index.html note the bit (I think it's in that one) about the importance of cleaning the drum in the correct direction... good luck!