Sony PD-170 LCD Screen Malfunction

[rainrainrain]

Hi,

I work as a videographer, shooting both Ceremonies & Sporting events.

Last night during a football game, the LCD screen started to act strange.

The camera was on a tripod, with no zoom or movement. Very Steady.
Recording could be on or off. However, the LCD screen picture was very shaky and moves from side to side.

Is this a malfunction of the camera, or can this be turned off?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Michael

[edDV]

Not in warranty?

If the input was from the camera then we feel your pain Sony's flat fee repair policy will set you back the equivalent of a couple of normal camcorders.

I'm still angry at Sony for forcing* me to pay $175 to remove a stuck rental laserdisc from their MDP-333 laser disc player. I will remember this and hold Sony in contempt for the rest of my years.


* This was the Sony Factory Service Center, San Jose, California, USA.

Thanks for allowing me to vent this.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Read this:

http://esupport.sony.com/perl/news-item.pl?template=EN&news_id=118

and this:

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/markets/10018/prodNotice.shtml

Your unit may fall under this free repair option.

If not, then - as edDV states - you could be looking at $$$ for repair.

If it is the LCD unit (i.e., you can confirm that recordings made after the fault developed playback correctly via Firewire and/or analog TV output) then you may be able to do what I did...

My PDX-10 developed an LCD problem. I bought an electronic version of the service manual and took the camera apart. I was able to confirm that there was a corroded track on one of the flexible circuit boards in the LCD assembly. A replacement LCD unit costs $400+ from Sony. Since I knew the part number, I found that exactly the same unit is used on a different Sony (the TRV50). I managed to get a TRV50 off eBay for $200. I only wanted it for salvage but it turned out to be in great working order. Well, now I have a PDX10 with a functioning LCD unit and a TRV50 that works just fine but without the LCD unit!

John.