Need Tech Help with SONY dcr-vx1000

[darrendman]

I just bought this camera at an estate sale last week. When charged, all I get is a grey screen. What is the problem? no one in my nearby camera stores has an idea.

[Anonymous]

So we need to figure out if the problem just which part of the camcorder is not operating.

You didn’t mention it, but I’m assuming that you get the same image, or lack thereof, in the viewfinder. Even when you attempt to turn on menu screens. But you didn’t mention anything about testing the recording and playback functions. I’m not sure if the gray screen applies to the video line-out signal, can you see any sort of image on an external monitor? Can you connect it to a computer via the iLink (Firewire) port and try to operate the camcorder using the video capture software’s controls? Does it even take a miniDV tape then transport it at all, you know FF, REW, PLAY and etc.?

I mean if the only thing it will do when you turn the unit on either play or camera is output a gray signal, I would tend to think there is some sort of power supply problem. Now the camcorder would just flash on & off very quickly if the battery was low. There would be no sort of video being output. But getting a steady output to all the possible display devices would logically mean the camcorder is getting sufficient power. It just isn’t able to utilize it.

So if you can get back to me with the troubleshooting results, I can tell you if you have any hope for the camcorder.

Good luck! Unfortunately I’m afraid you may need it.

[darrendman]

well i dont have any cords to test it out. I turn on the camera, and I get a grey screen. I have charged the battery full. THe display also just blinks the date.

[Anonymous]

What about all the other tests? I still don’t know if the door opens, if a tape can be FF or REW, what happens when the menu button is pushed or anything else. If you don’t report what it does when you actually try to test it, I can do nothing to help you.

From the info you’ve given me, there’s no way to tell if there’s hope for the camcorder or not. And by the way, I already told you the battery was working so we ruled it out as a possible problem. But the fact that the date display is flashing is a good sign, but it contradicts your statement that you get nothing but a gray screen. Do the tests and try to be accurate in reporting the results.

[Author]

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