HVX200 help! can't get out of record mode

[Katherine]

When I turned on my camera today it was in record mode and I can't get it out of this mode. Have turned it off and on, switched batteries. It also won't let me get into menu. Camera was working perfectly one month ago. Has been sitting in a place where no one can touch it. What is going on with it?

[Dick Campbell]

Rare, but not an uncommon occurrence if you search the threads. Unfortunately, this condition is usually a loose connector or ribbon cable and the camera needs to go to the shop.

[Katherine]

Thank you for the response.

[Ted Spencer]

Yes this issue has come up from time to time, although I have yet to see it reported on the 200a model. Most people find it goes away after removing and reinstalling the battery, but if it persists after that it seems you may be looking at trip to the 'doctor'.

[DJDecay]

When I turned on my camera today it was in record mode and I can't get it out of this mode. Have turned it off and on, switched batteries. It also won't let me get into menu. Camera was working perfectly one month ago. Has been sitting in a place where no one can touch it. What is going on with it?

I just spoke to the Panasonic Service Center in my area.

Apparently two problems that are most frequent with HVX-200PJu series cameras and also "re-occuring" after the first repair are. Most problems occur with in a year of cameras purchase. HVX-200A seems to be exempt from these problems.

1) Flex/Flat cable problem -

Symptoms for which include an in-ability to enter into the MCR or Menu from the time the camera is turned on

2) Top Servo PCB probelm, where the camera starts zooming-out rapidly. The flex/flat cable problem is mostly connected to the PCB problem.

Flex/Flat Cables: $50-70 parts - $200-300 labor average.
Top Servo PCB: $120+ parts - $500-$700 labor average.

It seems both are advised by Panasonic to do at once, when you get the camera open.

I am starting to think its a design flaw/manufacturing error in a certain batch of cameras. As the problem does not manifest in the earyly HVX-200s nor in HVX-200A.

I am not able to obtain a Panasonic Service Manual for the HVX-200PJu to acertain if these were put in as advisories/bulletins by Pana with a range of serial numbers involved.

I am wondering if anyone knows if anything the end-user does with the camera triggers this problem. Including heat, humidity, tripod mount stress. If its a design problem/mfg problem why doesnt Pana do a "recall" style nominal cost repair.

Everyone who had this problem is lucky if it did not occur during filming or occured inside the 1 year waranty.


-- UPDATE --

Looks the the TOP OP C.B.A. that has the menu button/ next to the arrows etc.., is interconnected to the BACK PANEL C.B.A. that has the Mode button (for MCR/Firewire Device/Camera) via a 12 pin cable. Though I doubt this one would earn the FPC/Flex name. The more likely suspect for this would be the FPC connecting the TOP OP C.B.A. and the CAMERA C.B.A (which to replace requires one to unbuild the entire camera).

Quickly checking the Panasonic HVX-200 parts - yelded a result that most of these cables are around $17.00
So the repairs for this may include surface mount connectors as well. (Just a Guess).

No specific bulletins about this "FPC/Flex" cable going wacky in the HVX-200P/AN/202EN SM. :-(.