EX1 LCD Screen

Jonathan Bland · June 17th, 2009, 05:01 AM

Hello Folks,

I'm having a crazy issue with my LCD screen on the EX1.

It has started intermittently flipping/ flopping the image upside down (as seen when the screen is pivoted).

This happens when the camera is shooting or in standby and seems to happen when the camera is handled and goes away if parked.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I'm a long way from a reputable service center!

I can not believe just how many bugs are in the EX cameras! I really miss my battle tank PD150.

Andy Shipsides · June 17th, 2009, 07:35 AM

I've seen this happen.. actually I caused it to happen once by mistake. There are several cables that run from the circuit board at the top of the handle down into the LCD. If you pinch a certain cable the screen will flip. So when you are handing it off by the handle the cable is probably being pinched, or possibly being pulled from the board.

I repair cameras and one time I put the EX1 back together with the cable pinch... and the image was flipped all the time. Anyway, if you remove the top handle cover you should be able to tape back these cables so they aren't pinched or pulled back in the future. Sounds more scary then it really is. Just get a small screw driver and go to work, otherwise I'd be happy to help you fix it.

Jonathan Bland · June 17th, 2009, 09:04 AM

Hi Andy thanks for your help.

The thing is it never did this before (had the camera for 9 months now).

I've never opened the camera so i can't imagine it being put back together with the cables getting pinched. Also I don't how normal use of the camera would cause this malfunction as I am not squeezing the handle so tightly and this was happening while on the tripod. So yeah..... what to say?

I turned it on today (connected to AC) and it seemed to be fine. But last night it was fluttering all over the place for several hours..... very disconcerting.

Thanks for the offer to fix it but that would mean you'd probably have to go through a series of vaccinations and get on a plane for the developing world.

Any other with similar issue?

Serena Steuart · June 20th, 2009, 07:59 PM

Andy's advice is to have a look yourself. I suggest that the problem isn't squeezing the cable (as "pinching" might suggest) but rather that the cable is pulling on a connector and perhaps making partial contact. So you check the connector. In the situation Andy described the cable was caught (pinched) and being stretched. That you find the image flipping erratically indicates a bad connection. Can be a damaged cable, dirty contacts, loose contacts, dry solder joint. Sounds like an easy thing for you to check.

Jonathan Bland · June 23rd, 2009, 12:30 AM

Thanks Serena,

The 'issue' seems to have fixed itself.... for now. maybe the high humidity, pollution or other world cosmic forces ;)

I'm pretty handy with a screwdriver so if this flipping comes back i'll consider voiding my warranty and diving in.

Serena Steuart · June 23rd, 2009, 04:17 AM

I think you'll only void the warranty if you do damage or make it obvious.

Jonathan Bland · July 31st, 2009, 01:12 AM

The screen started flipping again..... so I opened the camera handle and screen pivot point.

I tapped a few flexi-cable connection points and checked to see if any wires/ cables were getting pinched...... but was not able to identify the problem.

It's weird..... it's almost as if the camera can sense that it gets touched and then it flips the image..... kind of like it's being shorted.

I can also get it to flip the image by mounting it to a tripod and tilting the camera up and down.

Anyone have a decent idea of what could be causing this issue? I'm a long way from a service center.

June 17th, 2009, 05:01 AM	#1
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	EX1 LCD Screen - Flipping Problem! Hello Folks, I'm having a crazy issue with my LCD screen on the EX1. It has started intermittently flipping/ flopping the image upside down (as seen when the screen is pivoted). This happens when the camera is shooting or in standby and seems to happen when the camera is handled and goes away if parked. Has anyone had a similar experience? I'm a long way from a reputable service center! I can not believe just how many bugs are in the EX cameras! I really miss my battle tank PD150.

June 17th, 2009, 07:35 AM	#2
Andy Shipsides Sponsor: Abel CineTech Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York, NY Posts: 361	I've seen this happen.. actually I caused it to happen once by mistake. There are several cables that run from the circuit board at the top of the handle down into the LCD. If you pinch a certain cable the screen will flip. So when you are handing it off by the handle the cable is probably being pinched, or possibly being pulled from the board. I repair cameras and one time I put the EX1 back together with the cable pinch... and the image was flipped all the time. Anyway, if you remove the top handle cover you should be able to tape back these cables so they aren't pinched or pulled back in the future. Sounds more scary then it really is. Just get a small screw driver and go to work, otherwise I'd be happy to help you fix it. __________________ Andy Shipsides -Camera Technology Specialist AbelCineTech, New York - Visit our Blog - http://blog.abelcine.com

June 17th, 2009, 09:04 AM	#3
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	Hi Andy thanks for your help. The thing is it never did this before (had the camera for 9 months now). I've never opened the camera so i can't imagine it being put back together with the cables getting pinched. Also I don't how normal use of the camera would cause this malfunction as I am not squeezing the handle so tightly and this was happening while on the tripod. So yeah..... what to say? I turned it on today (connected to AC) and it seemed to be fine. But last night it was fluttering all over the place for several hours..... very disconcerting. Thanks for the offer to fix it but that would mean you'd probably have to go through a series of vaccinations and get on a plane for the developing world. Any other with similar issue?

June 20th, 2009, 07:59 PM	#4
Serena Steuart Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Studio Alnitak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 640 Images: 3	Andy's advice is to have a look yourself. I suggest that the problem isn't squeezing the cable (as "pinching" might suggest) but rather that the cable is pulling on a connector and perhaps making partial contact. So you check the connector. In the situation Andy described the cable was caught (pinched) and being stretched. That you find the image flipping erratically indicates a bad connection. Can be a damaged cable, dirty contacts, loose contacts, dry solder joint. Sounds like an easy thing for you to check.

June 23rd, 2009, 12:30 AM	#5
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	Thanks Serena, The 'issue' seems to have fixed itself.... for now. maybe the high humidity, pollution or other world cosmic forces ;) I'm pretty handy with a screwdriver so if this flipping comes back i'll consider voiding my warranty and diving in.

June 23rd, 2009, 04:17 AM	#6
Serena Steuart Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Studio Alnitak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 640 Images: 3	I think you'll only void the warranty if you do damage or make it obvious.

July 31st, 2009, 01:12 AM	#7
Jonathan Bland Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Way Far Away Posts: 230	The screen started flipping again..... so I opened the camera handle and screen pivot point. I tapped a few flexi-cable connection points and checked to see if any wires/ cables were getting pinched...... but was not able to identify the problem. It's weird..... it's almost as if the camera can sense that it gets touched and then it flips the image..... kind of like it's being shorted. I can also get it to flip the image by mounting it to a tripod and tilting the camera up and down. Anyone have a decent idea of what could be causing this issue? I'm a long way from a service center.