Hi everyone,

Big problems with my videocamera Sony HC40, that I use quite much since 1 year and a half:

-The LCD screen, which is tactile, is not working anymore. I think it's a connection problem, as in the beginning it only happened sometimes, when i touched the screen in a specific way.
So before I take it to the repair shop, Has anyone ever had the same issue, and can repair it myself or is it difficult?

-The head are going really bad. 2 weeks after I bought it, it started displaying "head dirty use head cleaner" so i bought it and it got good. after a while (6 months), the cleaning were increasing, and the tapes sometime became stripped with previous recording. And then lately I have to clean it at almost every use, and sometimes when I normally film something, it appears that it wasn't recorded when I watch it. I had a look at other threads and I reckon it is a head problem, so is it possible to do anything before repairing it, and do you know a good repair shop in France ?

I can do without the LCD, but I think that without heads I'll have to stop my carreer...

Cheers!

Camcorder heads do occasionally need a clean and they do eventually wear out. However in most cases the heads will last as long as the camcorder, a few thousand hours of use is typical so unless you shoot every day i would say you are unlucky that the haeds are worn out so soon.

Did you buy it new? It may be worth contacting Sony if it has been little used. A repair is likely to cost as much as 150 to 200 pounds in english money - near the value of the camera...

When my vx9000 went wrong (f wire port) the repair bill was 500 so I just purchased another camera off e bay.

__________________
Lowering the tone of video since 2004.

www.zaskarfilms.com You tube channel 'zaskarfilms'
JVC DV5001e (big cam), Sony PC6E (tiny cam), Vinten pro5, PAG light, SM58, Sony ECM50, Sony C-76, 0.5x convertors for sony, Rode video mic, Vegas 7.

I've been to a repair shop yesterday and they told me that the tapes should be used once or twice and that's it. What do you think of it ?

When did you purchase your camcorder and how much experience do you have using equipment like this? Did purchase it new in a shop or is it an already used camcorder? You should only use a cleaning tape every couple of months as over use can probably be just as bad on the heads as under use.

__________________
Better than a poke in the eye with a pointy stick any day...

My camcorder was bought new 18 months ago. I didn't know I needed "experience" using this, as it's my first one. But I was as careful as possible with it, considering how much I paid it. The thing is I often film kitesurf, which involves sand water and wind...

The thing is that when my camera displays "head dirty use cleaning tape" I have no choice but do it....

Do you thing MiniDV tapes can be used several times or just once ? Do I have to buy a new cleaning tape when mine has reached the end ? Thanks !!!

The tapes can be used many times.

__________________
Lowering the tone of video since 2004.

www.zaskarfilms.com You tube channel 'zaskarfilms'
JVC DV5001e (big cam), Sony PC6E (tiny cam), Vinten pro5, PAG light, SM58, Sony ECM50, Sony C-76, 0.5x convertors for sony, Rode video mic, Vegas 7.