Drum life question at DVinfo.net

Sean Seah · August 7th, 2008, 06:02 AM

I'm considering to purchase a used Z1 and the running hours are as below. Anyone knows the typical drum life? Is this considered high usuage? I was thinking of doing some maintenance should I buy it but I'm not sure what are the recommended operating hours between servicing.

Operation: 290 Hrs
Drum Run: 170 Hrs
Tape Run: 130 Hrs
Threading: 340 Hrs

Adam Gold · August 7th, 2008, 06:32 PM

I thought I read somewhere that the recommended service interval for drums is 500 hours, while the recommended replacement life was 1500 hours.

Note that threading is operations, not hours. So 340 threading operations.

Sean Seah · August 7th, 2008, 09:09 PM

Thks. So it seems like it is more than half through its service life.

Ervin Farkas · August 8th, 2008, 05:22 AM

No, drum run is 170 hours, that's only 34% of 500.

Adam Gold · August 8th, 2008, 12:07 PM

You could look at it even more charitably by using the tape run number into the lifespan, which is 1500 hours or so, so only about 12% of its total life on that basis. I think the 500 hours figure is for service, not replacement.

Vito DeFilippo · August 19th, 2008, 08:06 AM

This is a question I've often asked myself as well. I can't find any official figures from Sony. Does anyone actually know the maintenance schedule/recommendations for cleaning or servicing the camera, and for drum life?

Ivan Snoeckx · August 19th, 2008, 12:10 PM

Here is a official technical bulletin from Sony for the complete DSR-3xx and DSR-5xx DVCAM camcorder series. It's a user manual correction that says the video heads need to be replaced after 2000 hours instead of 1500 hours. I guess this also will apply for other DV, DVCAM, HDV equipment.

http://supportdocs.sonybiz.net/index...6/00041984.pdf

It's good to service the heads after 500 hours. I always did.

Hope this helps!

Adam Gold · August 19th, 2008, 12:11 PM

If I recall correctly, the numbers I cited above were from a Sony Maintenance manual for one of their DV tape decks, I think the DSR-11.

Ivan Snoeckx · August 19th, 2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Seah

I'm considering to purchase a used Z1 and the running hours are as below. Anyone knows the typical drum life? Is this considered high usuage? I was thinking of doing some maintenance should I buy it but I'm not sure what are the recommended operating hours between servicing.

Operation: 290 Hrs
Drum Run: 170 Hrs
Tape Run: 130 Hrs
Threading: 340 Hrs

These are very low hours. The camera has still a whole life to go when you handle it with care.

K.C. Luke · August 19th, 2008, 05:54 PM

500 hrs I have know is on those SONY VTR Deck. Cam not sure. But now I know when the NOs hit the target, will need for servicing Thanks

John Woo · August 21st, 2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Seah

I'm considering to purchase a used Z1 and the running hours are as below. Anyone knows the typical drum life? Is this considered high usuage? I was thinking of doing some maintenance should I buy it but I'm not sure what are the recommended operating hours between servicing.

Operation: 290 Hrs
Drum Run: 170 Hrs
Tape Run: 130 Hrs
Threading: 340 Hrs

Sean you just got a new EX1 and looking for a Z1 so soon? Is this your B cam or you do not like your EX1?

Chris Coulson · August 22nd, 2008, 01:02 AM

These stats are only availabe from the Z1 -

Is it possible for a say, a sony engineer to discover these stats on an FX1 or are they just unavailable??

Robert Bec · August 26th, 2008, 06:23 PM

Does this sound ok or has this camera been abused

FOR SALE
Sony Z1 HDV handycam $3,000. ono (GST inc) Includes battery (NPF570) and AC adaptor/charger (AC-V700).
Operation 450H, Drum Run 320H, Tape Run 160H, Threading 480.
Only used for filming. Digitised footage using dedicated player.
In good condition. All offers considered

what are your thoughts on this one

Rob

Ben Hogan · August 31st, 2008, 08:18 PM

I would think you could get it for less than $3000. For that many hours on it at 320 drum run. A new Z1 goes for about $4000 from B&H. Always talk to the people in voice and get a feel from them about the cam use and go with your vibes/gut feeling. But $3000 sounds to much to me. I'd pay maybe $2500 or less.

August 7th, 2008, 06:02 AM	#1
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Drum life question I'm considering to purchase a used Z1 and the running hours are as below. Anyone knows the typical drum life? Is this considered high usuage? I was thinking of doing some maintenance should I buy it but I'm not sure what are the recommended operating hours between servicing. Operation: 290 Hrs Drum Run: 170 Hrs Tape Run: 130 Hrs Threading: 340 Hrs

August 8th, 2008, 05:22 AM	#4
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	No, drum run is 170 hours, that's only 34% of 500. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

August 19th, 2008, 08:06 AM	#6
Vito DeFilippo Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 1,585	This is a question I've often asked myself as well. I can't find any official figures from Sony. Does anyone actually know the maintenance schedule/recommendations for cleaning or servicing the camera, and for drum life? __________________ . http://www.nosmallroles.com

August 19th, 2008, 05:54 PM	#10
K.C. Luke Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 173	500 hrs I have know is on those SONY VTR Deck. Cam not sure. But now I know when the NOs hit the target, will need for servicing Thanks __________________ Edit on Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium CS5 Mac 64BIT

August 7th, 2008, 06:32 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	I thought I read somewhere that the recommended service interval for drums is 500 hours, while the recommended replacement life was 1500 hours. Note that threading is operations, not hours. So 340 threading operations.

August 7th, 2008, 09:09 PM	#3
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Thks. So it seems like it is more than half through its service life.

August 8th, 2008, 12:07 PM	#5
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	You could look at it even more charitably by using the tape run number into the lifespan, which is 1500 hours or so, so only about 12% of its total life on that basis. I think the 500 hours figure is for service, not replacement.

August 19th, 2008, 12:10 PM	#7
Ivan Snoeckx Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium \| Europe Posts: 441	Here is a official technical bulletin from Sony for the complete DSR-3xx and DSR-5xx DVCAM camcorder series. It's a user manual correction that says the video heads need to be replaced after 2000 hours instead of 1500 hours. I guess this also will apply for other DV, DVCAM, HDV equipment. http://supportdocs.sonybiz.net/index...6/00041984.pdf It's good to service the heads after 500 hours. I always did. Hope this helps!

August 19th, 2008, 12:11 PM	#8
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	If I recall correctly, the numbers I cited above were from a Sony Maintenance manual for one of their DV tape decks, I think the DSR-11.

August 22nd, 2008, 01:02 AM	#12
Chris Coulson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 101	These stats are only availabe from the Z1 - Is it possible for a say, a sony engineer to discover these stats on an FX1 or are they just unavailable??

August 26th, 2008, 06:23 PM	#13
Robert Bec Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 358	Does this sound ok or has this camera been abused FOR SALE Sony Z1 HDV handycam $3,000. ono (GST inc) Includes battery (NPF570) and AC adaptor/charger (AC-V700). Operation 450H, Drum Run 320H, Tape Run 160H, Threading 480. Only used for filming. Digitised footage using dedicated player. In good condition. All offers considered what are your thoughts on this one Rob

August 31st, 2008, 08:18 PM	#14
Ben Hogan Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grapevine Texas Posts: 27	I would think you could get it for less than $3000. For that many hours on it at 320 drum run. A new Z1 goes for about $4000 from B&H. Always talk to the people in voice and get a feel from them about the cam use and go with your vibes/gut feeling. But $3000 sounds to much to me. I'd pay maybe $2500 or less.