Scratched LCD screen on Z1u

[sportsfan919]

I was doing some shooting with my Z1u and scratched part of it. It is a small scratch, but will not rub off. Does anybody know about replacing this? I'm hoping there is a protective screen in front which is all I need to replace.

This is the link for the Sony Parts Guide for the LCD section.

Hopefully, the part I need to replace is #312, and not LCD901. 312 is $13.00 to replace and LCD901 is over $300.

Please respond if you have any info about this.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Proteus]

From the diagram it shows clearly that you only need to replace the #312 -except the scratch is deep and has damaged the LCD surface too.

By the way, this link was a surprise for me! Is there a main link where you can find and download other diagrams from the Z1's service manual too?

 

[sportsfan919]

Proteus-- Thanks for the reply. The scratch is not deep-- but it's scratched enough that it will not "rub" off. Luckily, there are no "rainbow" marks around the scratch, which would show damage all the way inside of the actual LCD screen. Do you think part #312 has a protective "screen" on it, or is it totally transparent? It's hard to tell by the diagram.

I would like to fix this myself with sending the camera away to Sony and spending $300.

Here's the main link to Sony's Parts site:

https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-parts.aspx

You can download diagrams from every part on the Z1U-- it's a nice hidden little website.

 

[Proteus]

Do you think part #312 has a protective "screen" on it, or is it totally transparent? It's hard to tell by the diagram.

I would like to fix this myself with sending the camera away to Sony and spending $300.

Unfortunately the protective plastic has an antireflection layer on top. If you manage to replace the plastic with something else you might miss this layer. Also,the plastic sheet itself and/or the layer is probably dark too, to increase contrast in direct sunlight. Maybe you could replace it with some neutral dark filter sheet for photography, like Lee's filters. Or you could try asking your local Sony's service department for this part, you might be luky to be given just the part.

If for any reason after dissasembling the lcd you decide to send it to Sony, I'd suggest you to re-assemble it like you never opened it and never tell them about it because if you do, chances are you'll be charged more! (This is a universal underground policy -not specific to Sony).

Here's the main link to Sony's Parts site:

https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-parts.aspx

You can download diagrams from every part on the Z1U-- it's a nice hidden little website.

Wow! Thanks for the link! It sure is a nice and very interesting "hidden" website!


.

 

[sportsfan919]

Proteus-- I'm a little confused. If there is an antirflection layer-- maybe that's all that needs to be replaced since it's a light scratch. Now do you know that the protective plastic is part "312" as listed in the parts guide?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Proteus]

The antireflection layer I mentioned is just a chemical layer, "painted" on the surface of the plastic cover, like those on good glass filters and lenses.
Now I don't have any other sources, it's just a guess, but I'm almost 100% sure because if you look at the LCD sideways when it's off, any reflection you'll manage to see will be very weak, blurred and will have a slight *purple* tint, just like any other common anti-reflection layer.
So my guess is that the #312 part on the diagram is a plastic cover painted with this layer.

PS: These layers are sensitive to humidity, water drops and fingerprints and their color change might make them look like scratched when they are not. A cleaning microfibre cloth (like 3M's ) with a few drops of a quality appropriate liquid (on the cloth NOT on the screen) will wipe them in most cases but since I haven't tried it yet on the Z1's screen i can't guarantee it.