ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXHi there Shooters, I am looking for a camera repair shop in London. My old Sony2000E needs care + attention - any ideas???
7 years, 5 months ago - SP User
This is a 20 year old SONY Digital DCR-VX1000E-Super SteadyShot. I suspect the software operating the viewfinder has
packed-in + I am looking for a trustworthy repair shop that can repair my beloved camera without charging me the earth.
This is a discontinued camera so I can't send it back to SONY for repair. I used to use a brilliant repair shop in Meard Street Soho, but it closed. I would so appreciate any knowledge of repair shops anywhere in London.
Only members can post or respond to topics. LOGIN
Not a member of SP? JOIN or FIND OUT MORE
7 years, 5 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy
The title of your post says VX2000, but your body text says VX1000. If it's 20 years old, I would guess it's a VX1000, as I think the VX2000 didn't come out until around the year 2000, which would make it only 18 years old.
It's probably a ribbon cable that has failed - 20 years of flexing . I would be surprised if Sony still supplied any spares at all for the VX1000. However, some repair shops might have a bucket of old parts in the basement. But even for a basic repair, labour costs are going to come to almost as much as you'd pay for a working used one on ebay, especially if you went to one of the places that cater for the broadcast industry. And I would guess that they wouldn't even take the job on, it being such antiquated equipment. Your best bet might be some small operation somewhere. I once visited a place in West Kensignton that had a basement full of old cameras for kept for spares. It was called the Camera Clinic, but I was last there in 2011 and I wouldn't be surprised if it was now gone.
My advise would be to donate your camera to a museum and use something more up to date. The VX1000 is standard definition only, interlaced, and has only 16-bit audio and no XLR inputs.
7 years, 1 month ago - Zan Barberton
I know of a man called Alan (who used to work for PEC) who is able to fix cameras old-school. He used to have a wonderful cave of spares and bits. PM me if you want his deets. I doubt if it will be cheap though... I think I have that camera too. Is it a prosumer version of a PD100? Good for playing back those old mini-dv tapes.
7 years, 1 month ago - Tony Franks
A long-shot perhaps, but try http://www.fixationuk.com/sony-repair/
7 years, 1 month ago - Alwyne Kennedy
Addendum - I've no idea why I wrote "16-bit audio" in my previous response. I meant to say 32MHz (as opposed to the 48MHz offered by most cameras). Blame my brain hiccup up the affordability of Spice.
Regarding the audio bit size, I don't recall what the VX1000 offers, but I would imagine it is actually 16-bit.
7 years, 1 month ago - Danny Gagatt
I used to own this camera. One of the most common problems which is consistent with what you're describing as a fault is the ribbon cable that runs from the viewfinder. They break due to the constant flexing. I replaced this myself many years ago. I remember it being pretty easy. I got the ribbon cable from Visuals in Teddington who used to service this camera and have their own engineering department. There appears to be a number of you tube how to videos. The part number looks like F2009-4-13003 available on online auction sites for around $20. I can't vouch for the quality of cable from third parties. Good luck.