LCD gone white at DVinfo.net

Pietro Jona · March 5th, 2011, 10:12 AM

Title says it.
Shooting under the rain, thank god not with my own EX1, two cameras out of two got this problem. It happened to me once but after drying the camera the LCD started working again. This time the LCD never got back to normal except for a few seconds two days later. We have another week of shooting and I HATE to use the EX1's EVF for framing and focusing.
Anyone ever had this same problem? How did he fix it?
(Please don't tell me that I shouldn't shoot under the rain without a rain cover, I know. I had to, but that's another story.)

Alister Chapman · March 5th, 2011, 12:13 PM

Leave it in a warm place, wrapped in a plastic bag with lots of silica gel sachets for anything upto a week. Pray lots and keep your fingers crossed.

The LCD is connected to the circuit board with a conductive rubber strip. If water gets underneath it will short it out. As it's rubber the water may remain trapped and never dry out unless the LCD is stripped down.

Pietro Jona · March 5th, 2011, 01:29 PM

Thanks Alister,
I'll pray and keep my finger crossed, too bad I can't just wait for a week since we shoot every day. Not raining tomorrow but clowdy and a bit moisty so not the best conditions for healing!
I might try to find a screwdriver and open the LCD case to help drying during the nights in the hotel.

Philip Howells · March 5th, 2011, 10:20 PM

Alister's advice and Pietro's experience make the cost of a rain cover seem so cheap. A lesson to every event recorder in my view.

Pietro Jona · March 6th, 2011, 01:46 AM

Philip: absolutely!
Anyway, more than prayers could my Leatherman and a hair dryer.
I took the three tiny screws out, disassembled the LCD and umplugged it. Scary thing to do without the proper tools. After 30 minutes of warm and dry air the thing started working again. I'll try to leave a small pack of Silica gel inside the cap before closing it.

Marcus Durham · March 6th, 2011, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip Howells

Alister's advice and Pietro's experience make the cost of a rain cover seem so cheap. A lesson to every event recorder in my view.

It doesn't even have to be a proper rain cover. A few years back I saw a Beta operator who'd wrapped his camera in supermarket carrier bags and gaffer tape. Presumably he'd been caught without his proper cover. Certainly didn't look pretty but just proves you can rig something up in most situations to keep the camera dry.

Alister Chapman · March 6th, 2011, 07:03 AM

I always carry a load of black bin bags in the car or camera kit. They are soooo useful as camera or equipment covers. They also work well for all the trash at the end of the shoot.

March 5th, 2011, 10:12 AM	#1
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	LCD gone white Title says it. Shooting under the rain, thank god not with my own EX1, two cameras out of two got this problem. It happened to me once but after drying the camera the LCD started working again. This time the LCD never got back to normal except for a few seconds two days later. We have another week of shooting and I HATE to use the EX1's EVF for framing and focusing. Anyone ever had this same problem? How did he fix it? (Please don't tell me that I shouldn't shoot under the rain without a rain cover, I know. I had to, but that's another story.)

March 5th, 2011, 12:13 PM	#2
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: LCD gone white Leave it in a warm place, wrapped in a plastic bag with lots of silica gel sachets for anything upto a week. Pray lots and keep your fingers crossed. The LCD is connected to the circuit board with a conductive rubber strip. If water gets underneath it will short it out. As it's rubber the water may remain trapped and never dry out unless the LCD is stripped down. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 5th, 2011, 01:29 PM	#3
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	Re: LCD gone white Thanks Alister, I'll pray and keep my finger crossed, too bad I can't just wait for a week since we shoot every day. Not raining tomorrow but clowdy and a bit moisty so not the best conditions for healing! I might try to find a screwdriver and open the LCD case to help drying during the nights in the hotel.

March 5th, 2011, 10:20 PM	#4
Philip Howells Trustee Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,212	Re: LCD gone white Alister's advice and Pietro's experience make the cost of a rain cover seem so cheap. A lesson to every event recorder in my view.

March 6th, 2011, 01:46 AM	#5
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	Re: LCD gone white Philip: absolutely! Anyway, more than prayers could my Leatherman and a hair dryer. I took the three tiny screws out, disassembled the LCD and umplugged it. Scary thing to do without the proper tools. After 30 minutes of warm and dry air the thing started working again. I'll try to leave a small pack of Silica gel inside the cap before closing it.

March 6th, 2011, 07:03 AM	#7
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: LCD gone white I always carry a load of black bin bags in the car or camera kit. They are soooo useful as camera or equipment covers. They also work well for all the trash at the end of the shoot. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com