Sony HDR-SR7 recorded video jumping around...

[zoobie]

about 2.5 weeks...sounds like you should rent one while having yours serviced

[Gitch]

I've had mine fixed twice by best buy from the "heat wave" filming, if it happens one more time I get a new one. Just a matter of time before it does it again I assume.

[enric]

I have the same problem on a HDR-SR7E from 2007, so yes mine is as old as they get, but still I've handled it like a baby and honestly haven't been using it that much. It's extremely wrong that a product that costs this much can have this kind of internal component/construction error without the manufacturer acknowledging the problem. And I feel really bad because I've influenced many more people, friends and family, to also buy Sony camcorders like mine, which from all I can gather will all suffer the same fate sooner or later..

I'm going to call Sony support in Sweden today and see what their view is on all this, but I doubt I will get a very positive respons.

[enric]

So I just talked to Sony support, they connected me directly to a service/repair firm here in Sweden where they said the know about the problem and that they solve it via a firmware upgrade!? Sounds strange to me, that they can solve a mechanical error via firmware, has anyone else received the same info?

Anyway, from what they told me it's not possible for the end user to upgrade the firmware themselves, it can only be done via a service firm that has the correct windows app and hardware dongle/key etc.. Does anyone know if there are any hacks out there to be able to upgrade the firmware or a Sony camcorder on your own?

[Vanstolsing]

Thanks for the thread. I knew there were others with the same problem, this stinks of a manufacturer defect. My unit is 2.5 years old and has been acting up with this autofocus issue for over 6 months.
The problem is intermittent and appears to act up when the unit overheats. I called Sony a few months ago and was very unimpressed with their lack of concern and insistence that there is no problem. They recommended I send the camera to them with a credit card number and a tube of astroglide to prolong the experience. Fat chance Sony. I hate that they are destroying what once was a very fine reputation, it really makes me sick. Especially over something so easy to solve. Does anyone stand behind their product anymore, Mercedes? No, Samsung? No, Microsoft? Definitely No.
The best course of action is to find the email and contact number of a high level exec, post his info on this thread and inform him of the problem and the scope of loyal customers affected by this issue. This will put some teeth on the issue and bypass the folks in the trenches who really couldn't care less about our problems. If there is still no resolution then the foundation has been forged for a very strong class action lawsuit. No need to call the bottom feeders in too soon.

[ChrisCross]

Well,,, looks like i'm just another victim (maybe joking about it all might help! since nothing else seemd to really work)
my HDR SR7 is a 2007 Model,,, it started to act this way about a year ago,,, (Barely use it) shaking it doesn't change much "tried that in a moment of frustration",,, but today i was so mad, that i started hitting it and shaking it (I'm an I.T Engineer by the way, not some kind of a stone age cave man - at least usually I'm not)
anyway,,, since i had taken my Stilshot cam apart earlier to clean the lens, i thought why not try the same,,, so i took it apart looked at the components and figured,,, maybe blowing coud help?! ,,, so well i did so,,,
for now it's back to normal (my guess is till i take it out to use it again,,, actually let me try it now again... hold on... ummm well, no it's actually holding,,, slammed the LCD a couple of times (this usually used to freak the cam out and lead to that blury image,,, manual focus failed, zooming in and out doesn't change a thing,,, not even restating, removing the battery,,, let me think did i try anything else?! i think i might have begged it a couple of times to work (that didn't help either)

well, i knew i always hated sony for a Reason,,, NOW I REMEMBER WHY!!!
worst customer support ever, and disposal kind of electronics (my next cam is certainlly a canon or a Panasonic)... my Panasonic FZ50 is even older,,, with about 90,000 images (tough as a rock,,,)

any idea how they came up with the name SONY anyway?! they were actually just trying to say SORRY
cheers guys,,,
thx for youe comments,,,

[heinhhv]

So here's another one from Germany found this thread while searching a solution for the described malfunction of the HDR-SR7. So it's a small consolation that I'm not alone with this Sony-Cam problem, too. It is particularly unfortunate that this is the cause for many unusable clips taken during wonderful holidays in Florida.
Here's a short example

[zoobie]

well, i knew i always hated sony for a reason,,, now i remember why!!!

rotflmao

heinhhv, that's a shame. I had my HC-5 refuse to focus even manually. Fortunately, I had bought an extended warranty.

[cfxcorp]

I have two HDR-CX7 camcorders start doing this in January 2012. One was purchased new in 2008 and the other 2nd hand in early 2011. I wish I had read this thread before I purchased camera #2. It is certainly the Image Stabilization. I set mine on the dash of the car while in record mode and after about 10 minutes in the sun the stabilization cut loose and the display bounced around like kids on a trampoline.

When I chatted with the Sony tech he played stupid, but I found it odd that he asked me if it happened around 45 minutes -- I asked him if it was a known problem and he answered NO. I never told him that it was happening to me at 49-50 minutes. Memory card recording area feels very warm and then BAM - spring is in the air!

For $311 USD they will evaluate it and maybe fix it - or send me a quote for actual repairs. If a firmware update will fix it - which I did ask him about and he denied - then they should fix these for free.

I told him I would never buy another Sony camcorder and sent him a link to a PDF from Canon's website to get his opinion on which camcorder I should purchase next. He said I needed to re-phrase my question!

Class Action - I'm in.