Pixel Problems

Do you have pixel errors on your camcorder? Then don't worry all is not lost.

Most Broadcast and Professional camcorders have built in pixel correction circuits. These are activated by black balancing the camcorder.

If you want to check your camcorder warm the unit up by leaving it switched on for one hour, close the iris and check the viewfinder. The pixels will show as small white specs, if you can not see any turn the gain up to 18db's if you can now see pixels turn the gain down in stages keeping your eye on the pixels. If the pixels can not be seen at 0db then they are not out of specification. If they can still be seen black balance the unit at least three times but up to thirty times and the pixels will hopefully be corrected.

If the pixels are not corrected then you will need to bring the camcorder into Visual Impact and we can measure the size of the pixels. The specification is as follows: Broadcast cameras 5% (35mVolt) or Professional cameras 7% (50mVolt). If pixels are out of specification the camera would need to go to Sony for attempted correction of the errors in the CCD block. This is charged at £800.

If pixel correction can not be achieved the CCD block will need to be repaired or replaced depending on the model. The repair can only be done by Sony in Japan , new blocks or replacements can be fitted by Visual Impact.

New to the scene in the UK is a service offered by Vocas in the Netherlands. Vocas now have the facilities to access the CCD Chip registers and correct faulty pixels. This can be done in conjunction with the APR memory to give an enhanced correction. Faulty pixels are cleared down from the APR circuits and moved to the CCD circuits freeing up valuable memory for future pixel errors. They can also sometimes clear adjacent pixels by doing one in the CCD register and one in the APR register. The CCD Block will be guaranteed for 12 months from pixel failures, if a block can not be corrected Vocas will not charge. This is an enhanced service to the one offered by Sony UK the turnaround time is much better at about 7 working days including shipping. The cost is £1,600 plus shipping to and from the Netherlands at £120. Shipping will still be charged if a block can not be repaired. We will cook the block prior to dispatch and measure the defects, on the blocks return we will re cook and measure to check the corrections are correct. A copy of before and after print outs will be sent back with the unit and the Vocas warranty document. All prices are excluding VAT. Should you have any more questions please call and ask for Ian Marsden (0208 9771222) or look on the Vocas website on this link. www.vocas.nl/pages/ccd.htm Visual Impact are the authorised dealer for Vocas in the UK. This service is not available for all Camcorders please check the Vocas link for an up to date list.

CCD PROTECTION PLAN

Warranty on CCD blocks is one year on Broadcast and Professional cameras. On some units this warranty can be extended to THREE or FIVE years from the original date of purchase, please see a price guide below. To obtain this warranty the camera has to be tested by Sony at a fee of £160 pounds prior to taking out the extended warranty unless the unit is less than 3 months old. The CCD Protection Plan is an optional warranty extension for new Broadcast Cameras and Camcorders.

This provides an extended warranty on the CCD block only up to a total of 5 years from the original date of sale of the camera/camcorder.

UK PRICING
Applicable Camera	CCD Block Name	Warranty Extension to 3 Years	Warranty Extension to 5 Years
BVP-900/950WSP	BKP-C730WP	£741	£1,482
BVP-900/950WSAP	BKP-C750WAP	£1,274	£2,548
BVP-9500WSP	BKP-9500WSP	£757	£1,514
DVW-700WSP	BKDW-C700WP	£1,341	£2,682
DVW-709WP	BKDW-C709WP	£667	£1,333
DVW-790WSP	BKDW-C790WP	£1,287	£2,574
DVW-970	0	£661	£1221
HDW-730P	N/A	£877	£1,754
HDW-750P	N/A	£1,214	£2,429
HDW-F900	HKDW-C900R	£1,706	£3,412
HDC-900/950	HKC-C900R	£2,088	£4,177
HDC-1500	N/A	£1,451	£2,903
Please note warranty on CCD Blocks is as follows: CCD Blocks purchased in new product will have a 1 year warranty from date of purchase CCD Blocks purchased separately as spare parts will have a 6 months warranty period from the date of purchase.
Notes:
Cover excludes failure or problem caused by damage, misuse or modification Cover must be taken out within 90 days of product purchase, beyond this period an inspection will be required – N-B. this inspection must be carried out at Sony Business Europe Basingstoke repair centre; inspection fee = £160 Cover only extends up to either 3 or 5 years from the camera date of sale (from new) depending on model or warranty extension option taken. Irrespective of the date of cover purchased.

Sony UK Repair Centre - CCD BLOCK PRICING TABLE

Repair / Re-use process

1. The purchase of a new CCD Block can be ordered directly from Visual Impact. Please note that we do not offer a refund for the old CCD block.
2. When requesting a repair/re-use, Sony will supply you with a re-used block from our stock holding. If the stock is unavailable then the block can be shipped to Japan for repair with an approximate turn around time of 8 weeks.
3. This service offers a re-chipping of all 3 CCD sensors on the block. No other parts on the block are changed. The service is carried out in Japan and therefore has a turnaround time of 8 to 16 weeks. For some models, Sony will hold a small stock of re-chipped blocks, these can be supplied (where available) as an alternative for the same price. In this case the original block will not be returned to the customer after it is repaired.

UK Zone Repair Centre - CCD BLOCK PRICING TABLE
Applicable Camera	CCD Block Name	UK NEW price	Repair/re-use price
BVP-900/950WSP	BKP-C730WP	£10,173	£2,692
BVP-900/950WSAP	BKP-C750WAP	£19,930	£6,020
BVP-9500WSP	BKP-9500WSP	£11,935	£3,674
BVW-D600P	BKW-C600P	£13,489	£3,744
DVW-700WSP	BKDW-C700WP	No Longer Sold	£4,592
DVW-709WP	BKDW-C709WP	£7,185	£2,690
DVW-790WSP	BKDW-C790WP	No Longer Sold	£5,214
DNW-90WSP	BKNW-C90WP	No Longer Sold	Not available
HDW-730P	N/A	£12,822	Not listed
HDW-750P	N/A	£23,051	£6,940
HDW-F900	HKDW-C900R	£34,668	£9,406
HDC-900/950	HKC-C900R	£33,854	£9,398

Please Note:

• Repair re use price is only available if the block is capable of being repaired (eg chip failure). There must be no mechanical damage present.
• Warranty on CCD blocks is: New blocks; 6 months ordered as a spare part Repaired & Exchanged blocks; 6 months.

As prices change all the time, please confirm on application.

Visuals Group Technical Department.