Trashed my new Z1

Well here's a sorry little tale. Dean old chap, this will make you feel better...

Thought I'd squeeze in a crafty Lembeh mucky-macro trip with my new Z1P / Bluefin combo before the season here in Thailand/Burma really hots up. Did 3 days in Bunaken first to hook up with Two Fish and get a few different shots.

The housing and camera worked like a dream, but then on my last morning before moving to Lembeh someone ^up there^ got busy with his thunderbolt... I thought I'd have the camera out of the housing and grab a few topside shots. Got a clip of a rather robust Swiss gentleman rolling in and then lined up for a shot of Manado Tua towering in the background when I noticed with mild horror a drop of water on the Z1's transition buttons and one on the handle screw.

Over the years I've had quite a few salt-water splashes on my various cameras and I've always just shaken/sucked the water off and carried on. But this time I briefly got a "CLEANING CASSETTE" warning (although there was no water near the cassette mechanism) and then 5 seconds later the whole camera died. Couldn't even eject the cassette.

Back at the resort the hairdryer treatment failed so I very carefully took the camera to bits to investigate/dry and at least try and clean things up so I might wangle a repair under warranty. Sadly a little water had run down from the handle screw and straight onto the main PCB whereupon it had fried one of the chips

So I then spent a week swimming around, sulking, arms folded, watching everyone else happily photographing Rhinopias, frogfish and, on my last dive at Jahir, a pair of ornate ghost pipefish mating... an amazing sight and something the guides (10,000 dives each) and I have never seen before and probably never will again. :(

I told another customer that I was trying hard to think of the positives. He told me "Dude, there are no positives. It's just a total nightmare." That actually made me feel better.

Well one positive is that Sony service in Thailand is very good. Unfortunately they're a bit too good. The rep just phoned and said that their engineer had found water damage in the camera and so no repair under warranty. New main board and power supply needed. Quotation 44,000 baht (USD 1,221)

All donations/sympathy/other horror stories gladly received

Nick

Modified by Moderator for inappropriate content

DUDE THAT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no insurance?

Sadly not Mike. Checked out insuring my stuff as all risks on a household policy but my business is registered at my apartment so no can do. And pro insurance for underwater video gear is just so expensive.

Sadly not Mike. Checked out insuring my stuff as all risks on a household policy but my business is registered at my apartment so no can do. And pro insurance for underwater video gear is just so expensive.

That really sucks (havong just paid off the credit card bill with my FX1 on it, I can definitely sympathize!)

I briefly had the H2O insurance from DAN for my HID light and SD setup but it was running me $400 per year and I didnt think worth it.

For now, I dont take the FX1 out of the housing on a boat due to risk of getting water on it, even if it means I dont take it on the last dive due to the tape running out.

Nick (Bubblevision),

very sorry to hear about your cam. Holy F!

Real bummer...

Then again.. I know I'm gonna sound like a jerk and Mr Preachy (and one day I'll be the one on the receiving end of your reminders... hehe), but, we all need to remember that the camera LIVES in the housing. Big battery in, full blank tape in, and the housing doesnt get open until we're back on dry land (or a very dry liveaboard / day boat table).

Even if there's some hot sexy-looking scantily-clad blonde an inch from my nose on the boat, I won't risk frying the cam to take a good shot of her (which is a bummer of course, but such is life).

The only exception may be when you've been filming two whale sharks mating or 18 mantas doing acrobatics for 45 mins, in which case you may want to change tape afterwards to be ready for the next dive. And even then I'd be super cautious and pray that some absent-minded customer won't bump into me just when I'm about to close the rear plate of the housing...

The other thing is, insurance. I know the insurance companies are a bunch of thieves and will come up with all kinds of BS and lame excuses and lies when it's their turn to put the money down, but still, we do need them (unfortunately). Dan's H2O is not cheap, but it's one of the best out there.

last, Nick, hope you have a backup system in the meantime, while they're fixing your cam...

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

We're all praying for ya'...

Nick

Nick what a bummer dude... sorry to hear about that.

I once fried a VX1000, a bead of water ran from my hat into the rocker zoom thingy and into the main PC board and zap. It was dead. I sent it to Camteck in Perth West Aus.

The tech guy after telling me it needed a new board, decided as a last resort to clean the corrosion that is instanly cause by saltwater and electrons on the copper tracks and presto, he got it fired up again . So maybe you could try the same.

Another guy here that fixes mobile phones told me that most that have fallen into the water he can get going again.

So what do you want for Xmas now???

Nick, that does suck but hopefully Sony Thailand will cover it. Chok Deem Khrap.

I always do suggest that video cameras should have a jacket or something to cover up. Too many things that leak. If you must have topside, get a HVR-A1 or Canon HV10. Doubles as a playdeck and acts as a topside camera too.

Hey thanks for all the support everyone. Much appreciated.

Nick, that's certainly one approach, although for years I've had my cams in and out of housings 4 times a day, mostly on liveaboards but in dinghies too. For liveaboard DVDs the topside experience is an important part of the video and I've had customers tell me they bought one for that as much as the underwater stuff. I guess my luck ran out. And what's worse, I left my nice new Kata rain cover at home for this trip. Doh!

Wagsy, interesting about your VX1000 story. To be honest the chip in question looked in a bit of a state. Like one or two of it's legs had vapourised. I gave Sony the go-ahead this morning so I think I'll leave them at it and work like a madman to earn it back when they return it.

Still got my VX2000/Gates so I'm glad of that with a couple of full liveaboards coming up, and my colleague Nang is now self-sufficient doing liveaboard DVDs (she's in Burma now) so it's not all bad

As for insurance... I checked out that DAN policy a few months ago and they had changed some very important clause in it that made it next to useless. Something like no coverage on boats or something, or no coverage if you lose gear on a dive trip. I should hunt out the insurance thread. I also looked into a couple of other policies but they were dead ends. I seem to remember the premium for a custom policy for my gear from the likes of AIG or Sun Alliance was more than what this repair is going to cost. Theft is still the biggest risk.

Yes Drew, I think I'll get a 2nd smaller HDV camera, but might wait a bit first as cams are coming out thick and fast now. For SD I used my Panasonic DX100 for lots of the topside stuff while the VX2000 stayed in the housing, mostly so the cam was there and ready quickly.

Hey Nick ,

what kind of unfeeling, low life, selfish, pig headed, creepazoid monster do you think I am...

That's a real shitter my friend. I had a L&M monitor flood on me before so I know the feeling. It would have cost me £5-600 to repair but my lovely girlfriend said that it was on the house insurance. After some arguing over the phone they decided to pay up and it cost me fifty quid..Lucky she works in the financial secter and is the bollocks at sorting this stuff out..I have now got cover for all my camera gear with 'Divemaster' insurance, o.k its around £400 a year but you cannot be to careful as you found out..

The only thing is you might get a bit blase and throw it around

As my dad always said.."When in doubt, keep the little one covered" Keep your chin up, you will be back on track a.s.a.p..

Dive safe

DeanB

i am using my 950 for topside stuff for dailies. it all gets output at DV anyway so i stick it on th 16:9 function as well as the Z on download....

i use DEPP for insurance, i give em over $1000 annually.. yikes...

Tough luck Nick. Ity always seems to ahppen at the most inconvenient time.

Good luck with the repair.

What a nightmare! That is my huge fear. Really sorry to hear it. I head to sorong in a week and will be doubly careful upon hearing this. and yes, the cam lives in the housing ALWAYS:(

I suck up the charge on the DAN H20 insurance. Very expensive but when you need it...suddenly it is a steal. I was planning on leaving my A1 for this trip but upon openign this discussion, i think i will find a way to bring it with.

Nick, good luck with the Z1 and let us know if they can fix it.

-Shawn

Hey thanks for all the support everyone. Much appreciated.

 

Nick, that's certainly one approach, although for years I've had my cams in and out of housings 4 times a day, mostly on liveaboards but in dinghies too. For liveaboard DVDs the topside experience is an important part of the video and I've had customers tell me they bought one for that as much as the underwater stuff. I guess my luck ran out. And what's worse, I left my nice new Kata rain cover at home for this trip. Doh!

 

Wagsy, interesting about your VX1000 story. To be honest the chip in question looked in a bit of a state. Like one or two of it's legs had vapourised. I gave Sony the go-ahead this morning so I think I'll leave them at it and work like a madman to earn it back when they return it.

 

Still got my VX2000/Gates so I'm glad of that with a couple of full liveaboards coming up, and my colleague Nang is now self-sufficient doing liveaboard DVDs (she's in Burma now) so it's not all bad

 

As for insurance... I checked out that DAN policy a few months ago and they had changed some very important clause in it that made it next to useless. Something like no coverage on boats or something, or no coverage if you lose gear on a dive trip. I should hunt out the insurance thread. I also looked into a couple of other policies but they were dead ends. I seem to remember the premium for a custom policy for my gear from the likes of AIG or Sun Alliance was more than what this repair is going to cost. Theft is still the biggest risk.

Yes, my understanding with the H2O insurance is that it is for damage only (flood or physical damage etc.) I do not believe loss/theft is covered. So you would need separate (homeowners?) insurance to cover loss, theft etc. (a major pain)

I also would love to take the cam out for topside work but have been reluctant to do so as a lot of droplets seem to stay on the housing. Scary that just a drop can do that (to say nothing of the exposed electronics on the housing)

Nick(BBvision),

good to hear that you've got a backup system, that's cool.

When doing dailies I typically use a small land-dedicated videocam, and like Mike suggested, perhaps you could use a TRV900 or something like that for topside, and than grab that footage plus the uw from your VX2000 or (soon) Z1 and output everything to regular 4:3 or 16:9 miniDV.

The average customer really doesn't care abut super-top notch quality for the footage, and won't even notice any difference between the top and uw footage, shot with two different cameras.

I just saw used (but in very good condtions ) HC1's on eBay for about US$8-900, so that may be a way to go for a "B" / Land camera.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Nick

Nick,

There's not much anyone can say that will take away the pain of a flood. I never thought it would happen to me until it really did on the 2nd day of a trip to Tahiti. It hurts. Once you get it fixed or replaced it will all go back to normal for you. Do it quick and get back on the horse.

Hang in there guy,

Steve B)

Dean I was just thinking of your A1 / Amphibico woes. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Am i right in thinking the PD10X does native 16:9 (unlike TRV950 etc.). Seems to me a used one of those might make great topside cam for "dailies".

Cheers all

get the Canon HV10 instead.... then you have HDV

Too bad Nick, but luckily it is fixable. I had a couple of drops of water leak into my Gates monitor (when I had my pd-150 setup), and it took away the anodization inside right away. Fortunately it did not affect the integrity, or function of the monitor, since it otherwise would have costed me $ 500 to fix it...

I am also thinking about purchasing a less expensive and smaller HD camera for top-side footage, and keep the Z1 in the housing as much as possible.

One more lesson learned, and in one year or so you may even already have forgotten about this "incident"... <_<

Best

Anders

My Gates 2.5" monitor has been incredible. I've never even removed the o-ring in 3 or 4 years as it looks like that might damage it. Do you know why yours leaked Anders?

Mike, the trouble with shelling out for another HDV cam right away is that I'm wondering how long it might be before someone comes up with a budget progressive scan camera (24p/60p etc.) since Sony have introduced the V1/FX7. I'm not sure about further investment in interlaced gear.