FS7: Timecode reset?

D

DanielMcMullen

New member
Has anyone ever had total timecode and white balance reset upon powering down and/or changing battery on the FS7? I had this happen 4 times last week, and I am not sure why or how. It did not happen every time, I powered down, but once or twice each day over 4 days, when I either powered down, or changed battery on the camera, when I restarted, my white balances went back to factory defaults, and the timecode, which had been running time of day, came up 00;00;00;00, rec run. It was as if the internal battery had been removed/disconnected. But it wasn't.

I have had this camera for just two months.

Another question I had, when I import the files I shot (1080 MPG 422) into Sony vegas, absolutely none of the camera data on date/time came in correct. It all comes in on every clip as 1/1/14, or whatever is the default date and time. On every clip. I have set the internal clock and date on the camera. Any guess?

I have a couple PMW 200s and an F3, the clips from all of them have the correct data/date/info of time created and recorded.

Daniel McMullen
Blackwater Video Productions
 
I've never had any problems at all and haven't seen that problem reported on the boards before. Sounds like the camera is defective.
I had something like that happen to my EX-1 and it had to go back to Sony repair. Frankly if its just 2 months I would go back to your dealer and get another camera.
As I recall with previous Sony cameras , there is a small coin size battery that holds settings when you power down. Presumably on the FS7 also on the base if its there - It could be as simple as that and those batteries are available everywhere .
I would look into that first - check the manual, post on the Sony Community Forum which Sony checks and get to your dealer & Sony repair.

Don't know anything about Vegas.

lenny
 
The problem i see with sending it back, is how do you document an intermittent problem like that? All they will say is, looks good here...
 
That is a problem , but I wouldn't just hold on to the camera and not do anything - actually I doubt its that battery if its intermittent . Its serious problem and you should go back to dealer. I wouldn't even bother with a repair as its brand new - just get another one. That might be more difficult since its over 30 days though, but it won't get better or go away - its defective.
 
Does it happen only when you switch batteries? I'm suspecting the lithium backup battery could be defective or improperly installed.
 
Lenilenapi said:
That is a problem , but I wouldn't just hold on to the camera and not do anything - actually I doubt its that battery if its intermittent . Its serious problem and you should go back to dealer. I wouldn't even bother with a repair as its brand new - just get another one. That might be more difficult since its over 30 days though, but it won't get better or go away - its defective.
Click to expand...

Agreed. It could be the battery is simply bad. Timecode and the internal date/clock are usually held in voltile memory with the presence of power from the circular battery mentioned in this thread. Odd that it would be dead after only a couple of months. They almost always last 5 years or more in a camera. So yes, take it back. This is a pro camera and it is expected to maintain timecode after you power it off.
 
Today I took time to test a bit, and compare to my other cameras (2x PMW200s, F3 and HPX370) and 664 mixer. I jammed the timecode of all cameras and mixer with a cable, running all at 1080 29.97 NDF and have been checking the time. They all held pretty tight (I know internal clocks are not balls-on sync, but it is not unreasonable to expect them to hold within a second or two for the day) All seem to be holding within a second, except the FS7. I powered all cameras down several times, and twice - but not every time - the FS7 lost 2 seconds. One time I removed the external battery, the other time I did not. No other camera or the mixer drifted.

Occasionally, I shoot with C300s, and I have noticed they are absolutely unreliable and horrible about keeping time code sync, especially when you power down or remove a battery.

So far, I have not had a total reset back to 00;00;00;00 yet... I am going to keep cycling the power tomorrow.

I am also going to try the TC test in 23.98, because I have noticed that a lot of cameras seem to drift from that when I am doing sound, as compared to the mixer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top