DVX100a PSD-NG Error FIXED!

Derkoi

Well-known member
Today I opened my DVX100a because it had the dreaded PSD-NG error.

I've taken pictures of it too, i'll upload them later if anyone's interested.

And.... I MANAGED TO FIX THE PSD-NG FAULT

Time will tell though if it's a permanent fix or not.

Basically i took apart the camera and removed the whole lens assembly. Put it all back together & thought i'd ruined the camera as i only got a white lcd screen, i then took it apart again and made sure all the ribbon connectors were connected & put it all back together.

After that i got the white LCD screen EVEN WHEN THE CAMERA WAS SWITCHED OFF!!

I thought i'd killed it for sure, but i re-opened it and took the lens back out, then slowly put it all back together and triple checked all the ribbon connectors again.

This time it all worked even the OIS now works instead of flickering like it used to, also the Vignetting at the bottom of the frame has gone & the red flashing error message has gone.

So basically, the error seems (in my case) to be cased by a loose ribbon connector.
 
Derkoi,

I'm VERY interested in hearing your experience with this, because I haven't managed to find many threads about the PSD NG problem. I had the same thing. Image was fine even with the error message, so I disabled OIS and shot anyway. Now, months later it went bad...image shakes and grinding noise inside camera when I turn it on.

Wow, I'm not as brave as you to open up my camera, so in the end I've just shipped it off to Robb's in WA. Hoping that all it needs is a little of what you did to fix the problem. Worst case scenario, replace entire lens assembly, which is what Eric of Digitron said he'd most likely need to do based on the symptoms I described to him.

Will keep you posted on Robb's findings and what we do to fix the problem. I'd like to know what might have CAUSED this error message in the first place. I've never dropped the camera....but it has experienced a knock or two. Is that enough?

Anyway, thanks for posting your happy news about removing that error message. I got so used to that red error flashing on my LCD I pretty much just visually tuned it out while shooting.

Lucinda
 
I'll tell you what i know.

The error on my camera had been fixed before (apparently) & it came back on with a knock. I don't know how hard the knock was because i didn't do it.

I got the camera off a friend (swapped it for a standard DVX100 with burnt out firewire port).

I read around and decided to open it up to find out what the noises were and what was causing the lens to shake, i figured i could somehow disable the OIS.

25May2009_0001.jpg


^^^^ As you can see i removed the whole side panel & unplugged the ribbon cables holding the casing together.

This wasn't enough though, i was following the "little clunk" noise you get from the OIS.

25May2009_0004.jpg


^^^^ Close up of the lens area, all fully enclosed. :huh:

25May2009_0005.jpg


^^^^ I removed the lens assembly from the camera, removing screws and ribbon cables. The "little clunk" sound was indeed coming from the lens assembly (picture left).

This is far as my nerves would take me, i wasn't going to open a sealed lens assembly, i figured it was nicely sealed for a REASON. lol

So i put everything back together (some ribbon cables were a nightmare) and tested the camera.

I just got a white lcd screen. :(

Thinking i'd fooked it up, i reopened it all and took everything apart & tried again.

As soon as i attached a battery i got the white LCD, with the power switch OFF!!!

Even more convinced i'd fooked it up, i took a little break & went back to it.

I once again removed everything i had done before & reinserted all the ribbon cables as far as they could go (further than i had them) I re-assembled everything & it worked.

The camera works perfectly now, no error, no wobbles, no vignetting & no shake on OIS.

So basically i beleive the problem with mine was a loose ribbon cable. They really do have to be right in, otherwise you get problems, just like i got with the white LCD screens.

Anyways, i hope this helps you, you're having the exact same problem as mine & mine was just the ribbon cable.

:thumbup:
 
That's truly amazing man. I've had the same problems with my DVX100A for over two years now. The grinding noise, the "jumping" image, the black line across the bottom as though the sensor was out of alignment. I was wondering what the heck I should do. Now I think opening it up and trying all of those ribbon connectors might be worth a shot. Thanks for giving me some inspiration. I'll try to post some pictures of my own adventures when I get around to trying this. Thanks for the pictures you posted!!
 
Well, I opened mine up tonight, but I only went so far as to take off the LCD-panel side of the casing. I checked all of the ribbon connections and made sure they were good. I put the battery on with the casing off and turned it on and all seemed fine. I put the casing back on and fired her up and she's working like the day I bought her now. No PSD NG error, no shaking image, no grinding noise from the lens assembly. Everything is working fine right now, but I'm rather uncertain at the moment. There have been times where the camera has acted like it's going to be ok, but there's usually some underlying noise from the lens assembly (not always the grinding noise, just some general "white" noise). This time she's quiet and acting like a champ. So, we'll see what happens over the next several weeks. If it comes back I'll post about it. If not, I'll try to update this thread in a month or so and see if it's all working good still. Hope this helps someone who is facing the same problems. I know the DVX is getting on in years now, but it's still a fabulous camera with a great image and I'm glad mine is working well, at least for tonight. Thanks again to all those who had the guts to take their own DVX's apart before this. It's been very inspirational.
 
IT WORKED !!!
I had to do it twice to get it to play nice. {white screens while off as mentioned the 1st time}. But the error went away, and has stayed away for a week in the field.

Couple hints:
~ use the back/sticky side of post-it notes to keep the little screws from trying escape, and make notes of which ones come from where in each step of the way.
~ get an under-stuffed small pillow, or something like it, to *nest* the camera on its side while you are working to keep it from wiggling around on you
~ have the cradle & camera on something like a newspaper that you can rotate everything while working without having to disturb the patient.
~ take a pencil & make a line across the ribbon @ the connector before you remove it so you know you have gotten it back in all the way
~ take your time & do not try to rush getting the ribbons out or back into the connectors. They can be tricky to get to release, and a true pain in the butt to lock down while still holding the ribbon in place.
~ get a pair of hemostats, or clamping tweezers to help guide & hold the ribbon into the socket. {it make life oh so much easier. see above}
~ if ANYTHING feels like it needs force to remove, disconnect, or work on, STOP. Screws will strip & the fine wires inside will break. I cannot stress enough how delicate the innards can be, & all that.

When you are done, it may look like you did not change anything. That is good. From my years of working in & on electronics the process of reseating cables fixes 90% of problems. Things will work loose or come apart just from everyday use on everything from laptops, to cameras, to even your tower computer that sits under your desk, {heat/cool = expand/contract}.

Good luck, & Good shooting!
 
"jumping image" from the LCD to the AVI clips

"jumping image" from the LCD to the AVI clips

That's truly amazing man. I've had the same problems with my DVX100A for over two years now. The grinding noise, the "jumping" image, the black line across the bottom as though the sensor was out of alignment. I was wondering what the heck I should do. Now I think opening it up and trying all of those ribbon connectors might be worth a shot. Thanks for giving me some inspiration. I'll try to post some pictures of my own adventures when I get around to trying this. Thanks for the pictures you posted!!



the same problem with you but only "jumping image" in the LCD monitor not the others like "psd-ng" error or else. Unfortunately it isnt only in the LCD but it gets into the avi clips, so its serious. i dont know yet what i m gonna do even though i have to use the camera for a wedding on Sunday...:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Back
Top