PD170 'red flaring' problem.. at DVinfo.net

Anthony Milic · February 19th, 2007, 12:55 AM

Hi Folks.
I was inside filming yesterday and suddenly found some pretty serious red flaring occurring on screen. Mostly things like lights and highly reflective objects were flaring right up. It looked very wrong. It was not a 'standard flare' you might see in filming intense lights or similar.. it was more of a flat 'unnatural' bright red. (if that makes sense).. It was very 'alien'. The type of thing that makes your stomach clench and that little voice tells you.. "..that is not good..."..
Edges of clothing, face edges also flaring.
In some ways similar to maxing the colour setting right up on a tv.
Flaring was visible on eye-viewfinder and view screen. Yet unknown if flaring was visible on recording or on monitors.
I film in this controlled area regularly. Same lighting same setup. The only difference today was that I was splitting the video output to two monitors through a simple Y splitter.. though I can't see how this would be related.
What seemed to cause it was this: As I was looking through the viewfinder, I was ever so gently feeling my way to the red record button (incorporated into the power switch) and accidentally tapped the little power switch tab. At that moment, the red flaring appeared, seemingly as direct consequence of this gentle little tap!! Weird.

Have tried altering all manual settings.
Have switched on off. no change.

Any ideas?

Craig Seeman · February 19th, 2007, 09:09 AM

Try the reset button and hope it's just a software issue.

Anthony Milic · February 22nd, 2007, 04:38 PM

Thanks Craig!
I've tried (reset), and I've hoped. But no result.
Still getting this red distortion on screen.
Lot's of red vertical striping.

Has anyone out there seen or heard of this before?!

Thanks

Anthony

ps. (comes up on playback)

Don Bloom · February 22nd, 2007, 06:05 PM

There was a recall on PD170s that fell into certain serial number sequences for bad CCDs which were replaced at no charge by Sony. I THINK somewhere in the Sony forum here there was a notice posted about this and had the contact information. You might look thru or search this part of the forum for that info.

Here's some info regarding this problem.
HTHs
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=53549
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=73461

Don

Anthony Milic · February 23rd, 2007, 05:53 PM

A place to start.
Thankyou!..

Graham Risdon · February 24th, 2007, 03:06 AM

I had the same problem with a DSR-250. My service guy rang Sony and they sent a courier with a special packing case, shipped the whole lot to Belgium, replaced the CCD block and I had the camera back within 10 days. I've posted a grab of the fault. The camera was about 3 years old, I had no extended warranty and paid nothing.

Hope this helps

Anthony Milic · February 26th, 2007, 12:02 AM

That's it Graham!.. but in red.

Sony have referred me one to their service centres..
I've spoken with two of them.
Unfortunately both indicate that I'll be up for cost of delivering the unit, quotes, parts, labor and return of camera.

Doesn't sound as good a deal does it..

Any suggestions?

(Camera is 4 years old, I suspect the extended warranty has expired.)

February 19th, 2007, 12:55 AM	#1
Anthony Milic Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 103	PD170 'red flaring' problem.. Hi Folks. I was inside filming yesterday and suddenly found some pretty serious red flaring occurring on screen. Mostly things like lights and highly reflective objects were flaring right up. It looked very wrong. It was not a 'standard flare' you might see in filming intense lights or similar.. it was more of a flat 'unnatural' bright red. (if that makes sense).. It was very 'alien'. The type of thing that makes your stomach clench and that little voice tells you.. "..that is not good...".. Edges of clothing, face edges also flaring. In some ways similar to maxing the colour setting right up on a tv. Flaring was visible on eye-viewfinder and view screen. Yet unknown if flaring was visible on recording or on monitors. I film in this controlled area regularly. Same lighting same setup. The only difference today was that I was splitting the video output to two monitors through a simple Y splitter.. though I can't see how this would be related. What seemed to cause it was this: As I was looking through the viewfinder, I was ever so gently feeling my way to the red record button (incorporated into the power switch) and accidentally tapped the little power switch tab. At that moment, the red flaring appeared, seemingly as direct consequence of this gentle little tap!! Weird. Have tried altering all manual settings. Have switched on off. no change. Any ideas?

February 24th, 2007, 03:06 AM	#6
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	I had the same problem with a DSR-250. My service guy rang Sony and they sent a courier with a special packing case, shipped the whole lot to Belgium, replaced the CCD block and I had the camera back within 10 days. I've posted a grab of the fault. The camera was about 3 years old, I had no extended warranty and paid nothing. Hope this helps Attached Thumbnails

February 19th, 2007, 09:09 AM	#2
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Try the reset button and hope it's just a software issue.

February 22nd, 2007, 04:38 PM	#3
Anthony Milic Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 103	Thanks Craig! I've tried (reset), and I've hoped. But no result. Still getting this red distortion on screen. Lot's of red vertical striping. Has anyone out there seen or heard of this before?! Thanks Anthony ps. (comes up on playback)

February 22nd, 2007, 06:05 PM	#4
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	There was a recall on PD170s that fell into certain serial number sequences for bad CCDs which were replaced at no charge by Sony. I THINK somewhere in the Sony forum here there was a notice posted about this and had the contact information. You might look thru or search this part of the forum for that info. Here's some info regarding this problem. HTHs http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=53549 http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=73461 Don

February 23rd, 2007, 05:53 PM	#5
Anthony Milic Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 103	A place to start. Thankyou!..

February 26th, 2007, 12:02 AM	#7
Anthony Milic Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 103	That's it Graham!.. but in red. Sony have referred me one to their service centres.. I've spoken with two of them. Unfortunately both indicate that I'll be up for cost of delivering the unit, quotes, parts, labor and return of camera. Doesn't sound as good a deal does it.. Any suggestions? (Camera is 4 years old, I suspect the extended warranty has expired.)