FS7: Replacement FS7 Viewfinder

T

thundermonkey

Active member
Hi all, I have done a lot of googling to no avail so I am looking for some help.

My FS7 viewfinder is malfunctioning, going totally block, then coming back with a glitchy image on the viewfinder, coming back to a regular image with lowered contrast that requires me to use the contrast dial to fix.

Needless to say, this does not make for a good experience shooting. It seems I cannot just purchase a replacement viewfinder, so I am looking for advice on what to do.

I have a friend with an FS7 who will help me test his VF to ensure it is not the port on the camera. Given that it seems to be affected more by playing with the cable, I am hoping it's just the VF.


TL;DR
Has anyone dealt with a malfunctioning viewfinder/cable?

Has anyone sent it in or contacted Sony about replacing their viewfinder?

What cost am I looking at for this?

Could this be an issue with the port on the body of the camera?


Any help will be appreciated.
 
You can get a viewfinder off eBay although I would suggest that it is the cable that is at fault. It is a pretty common fault and the failure point is usually just where the cable comes out of the LCD housing. Down here in Oz it's about a $250 for the cable plus whatever labor your friendly tech is going to charge you to replace it. Well worth getting a cable support of some kind I think. Been meaning to cobble one up but just haven't got around to it yet. I was think of something along the lines of this idea but with a more suitable spring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIo8xGTUX0

eBay FS7 viewfinder.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-PXW-F...=item361f081a64:g:M40AAOSwuiNZrvD7:rk:49:pf:0

As backup I have an old Alphatron VF just in case my FS7 one goes down on a job. As shown in this video., Some of the application comments are now out of date with the later FS7 firmware.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycV_4ttPKBc

Chris Young
 
If the contrast dial on your VF were dirty, it would do exactly this. The remedy from times past for a scratchy radio volume knob also works for this (tuner cleaner). Probably now known as spray electronics cleaner. Can't tell you where to buy it now that Radio Shack is gone. Spray it into the dial, turn back and forth a few times, see if it improves.

Edit: the product is CRC Electronics Cleaner, available at Harbor Freight.
 
I join the chorus to wise above post. CRC wont hurt anything blast it in there. blow some air thru it and let us know


If it's still bad I can test the cable and let you know if it can be re-soldered. Something tells me it can.
 
Chris - good point on more suitable spring, the spring he is using will do zero work. it permits the cable to bend. amalgamated tape is good for this. stretch and bend. people also glue up the weak spot, let it harden and it wont flex. be creative every cable is its one adventure but basically amalgamated tape is a good approach. learned this on my sailboat
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top