Best Repair Facility (Hopefully near Cali)

J

Jackson Miller

Well-known member
Hi guys. So I have a DVX100b thats less than two years old. Purchased from B and H. A couple of months ago, the tape deck began having some problems. I treated it fairly well and only ever used professional panny tapes. Now, I get error messages and during playback I get blue lines coming across. It sometimes ruins my tapes. It has caused me to not use my DVX for months.

So, I never got the heads cleaned or anything. Now I need a full cleaning/repair. Sammy's camera told me that very few "panasonic repair" places do a good job. They send cameras to some guy in canada who is the best they have found and this and that. He will go over the entire camera and replace wiring etc. so that when it comes back it is "like new". The problem is, I can't get an estimate until I send it obviously, and apparently it could range between 200 and 450 ish bucks. So can anyone recommend a great repair place that is perhaps closer or cheaper? If not, I want the best job done so I will send it to this guy.

Thanks,

Jackson Miller
 
Entity said:
Sammy's camera told me that very few "panasonic repair" places do a good job. They send cameras to some guy in canada who is the best they have found and this and that. He will go over the entire camera and replace wiring etc. so that when it comes back it is "like new". The problem is, I can't get an estimate until I send it obviously, and apparently it could range between 200 and 450 ish bucks.
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sounds odd...
were not talking about fixing a super high-end camera or repairing a vitage so why would there only be one guy in Canada that does that???
it's not sounding right.....
try going to another place and get an estimate.
it's just a clean up and why wouldn't there be no one in the US that does that? why would the guy replace wireing when you don't need to?
it just seems like they are trying to charge as much as they can.

just like the problem I had with my car, I would turn it into the dealer not knowing what was wrong and they will replace everything and charge me as much as they can.:violent5:
 
Last edited:
ryvac said:
sounds odd...
were not talking about fixing a super high-end camera or repairing a vitage so why would there only be one guy in Canada that does that???
it's not sounding right.....
try going to another place and get an estimate.
it's just a clean up and why wouldn't there be no one in the US that does that? why would the guy replace wireing when you don't need to?
it just seems like they are trying to charge as much as they can.

just like the problem I had with my car, I would turn it into the dealer not knowing what was wrong and they will replace everything and charge me as much as they can.:violent5:
Click to expand...

Hmmm. I guess you are right. Well he was saying that the guys will kinda take it apart, clean it all and see if there are any other problems. And I guess they may charge me for bogus stuff. I wouldn't know the difference. Normal head cleanings cost about 100 bucks though I think. Maybe I should just go through panasonic directly and have them recommend me someone.

Here is the thing. I need this thing to have no further problems because I am going to sell it and I don't want the buyer to have any problems aside from needing routine head cleanings I guess. Some say you don't even need to do that.

So I guess I am going to call the panasonic line tomorrow. Anyone else have any input?
 
Digitron in LA is the best authorized repair facility in So. Calif.
They have the right stuff to do a "software alignment" and proper cleaning.
I'd call them first before trusting your camera to anyone else.
Just my .02.
Ken
 
kplo said:
Digitron in LA is the best authorized repair facility in So. Calif.
They have the right stuff to do a "software alignment" and proper cleaning.
I'd call them first before trusting your camera to anyone else.
Just my .02.
Ken
Click to expand...

That's a pretty big claim. What experience/authority do you have? Don't take that the wrong way. If this is true then I can't thank you enough for pointing me in the correct direction. But I need to be sure. Have you heard this from people who know their stuff? Have you tried a bunch of places? Because the best you have found isn't necessarily the best around... but it might be. In any case, I will probably look these guys up.
 
I had a similar issue a few months ago (camera needed cleaning, calibration, etc). I searched the archives here and Digitron and Robb's Repair both came up as recommended.

For one reason or another, I got turned off by Digitron. I don't remember if it was something someone said here or on another forum, or something from a phone conversation with them. But I called the folks at Robb's Repair, liked how they sounded, and sent my camera in.

I asked for a price for a general cleaning/calibration and they said typically about 3 hours at $80/hour. When it was all finished, it was, I think, $225 including shipping, so a bit less than they quoted. I was totally happy with them.

But then again, Digitron seems to have a lot of fans also :)
 
Entity,
Not taken the wrong way at all (I'm far too old to be offended) :).
Personal experience with Digitron and the other "authorized" local L.A. repair station at the time.
Digitron was straight up, communicates with the customer and took care of the issue.
I recall reading here a while back that EVS used them exclusively for their DVX repairs.
Robb's repair in Washington is also excellent if you're in that area (I've spoken to them on the phone as well, and their knowledge does, indeed, inspire confidence in their service).
Hope this helps.
Ken
the Screen Skins guy
 
If it is out of off warranty take to tekmg.com 1 to 3 day turnaround and Samys refers their out of warranty customers to us. If you want a quote please give me a call 818-244-4440 ext102
 
I am having the exact same problem! Can anyone recommend any places in Nothern Cali? SF Bay Area?
Thanks
 
I'm *in* the bay area (sac, actually, but was willing to go to SF) and I couldn't find anyone that really inspired confidence when I spoke with them... which is why I ended up with Robb's... but if you find anyone please post, I've got another camera that will be going in for cleaning/PM soon.
 
andythefilmer said:
Never been to Digitron? It sounds better than Computer Works so maybe head over to Digitron or Robb's.
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Hey, AndytheFilmer, why does Digitron or Robbs sound better than Computer Works? I just called Computer Works, and spoke to a tech there named Andy who says just last month he fixed 37 DVX100's and over the years has gotten very few maybe 1% sent back for re-do's...so if this doesn't give me confidence I don't know what does. Any more of a reason you can give for why avoid ComputerWorks? I have to send my Panny someplace first thing tomorrow morning...and I better choose the right one, cause I have no time to waste.

Happy to hear from anyone on recommendations for repairs...

Thnx!
 
They are overpriced based on others and I have had 5 repairs there on my DVX or my VX2000 and 3 needed re-does and they charged me for it!!!
 
oh wow. Well I got a different impression on the phone. Check this one out: my shake detector mechanism in my dvx100a just went out today. I've had the flashing red "PSD NG" warning for some time now but it shot fine (just disabled OIS). Well, today it's done. Shots shake, grinding sound inside cam when it's on.

Andy at ComputerWorks said he'll look into what my cost estimates might be...from adjusting a part if need be to replacing the shake detector mechanism, and he'll call me tomorrow; he guessed average repair costs from $300-700 or so. Eric, at Digitron, when I began to explain the symptoms immediately said he knew exactly what it is based on the grinding sound and the fact the PSD NG error had already been flashing its warning: it's the gears and motor finally gave out, and will need to be replaced........since it's all one piece, the front lens assembly, yep...about a grand ($600 part, $360 labor 4 hrs) because the whole front lens assembly will be replaced. Wow.

Before I send it in tomorrow, I'm curious if anyone else has had a) this experience, or b) basis to trust or not trust one of these repair places' expertise etc. Sounds like Digitron knows this problem well. I haven't reached Robb's yet or Panasonic...hoping they'll call back in the morning, and I'll hear a little more input to corroborate on what I've aleady learned. I don't wanna spend a grand unless i have to, but I also don't want to waste time sending it to the wrong repair place either.
 
Hey if anyone's still reading this thread and looking for dependable and trustworthy repair, I just wanted to add, now that I've had some experience dealing with some repairs for my dvx100a....I would endorse Robb's Repair in Washington with flying colors. He strikes me as someone who not only knows the DVX inside out, but takes his time to diagnose the problem and best of all, is trustworthy. He had an opportunity to replace an entire lens assembly on my camera, about 4hrs of labor (a bill totalling about $1000) because it's what Eric of Digitron told me he would probably do, and I was ready for it. Instead, Robb FIXED the problem inside my camera and charged me about 200 bucks. AND is shipping it back to me in ONE DAY so I'll have it for my shoot next week !! (As opposed to Eric who estimated a 10 DAY turn around -yikes.)

No offense to Eric, I'm sure he knows the dvx well as he clearly works on a lot of them, but his being so busy might have been a detraction in my case...I'm glad I avoided a $1000 charge and renting cameras while waiting if I didn't have to....BIG difference. I appreciated Robb's personal touch very much.

Maybe though I shouldn't speak too soon....I shouldn't post this until I actually receive the camera and see it working...HA. But, hey, at least here's the initial post for ya. :)

I am so relieved and excited to get my 'baby' back this week...in better shape...

Lucinda
 
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