Viewfinder Power?

C

CaptainSKA

Active member
I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but before I press the matter - is there anyway to turn off signal and/or power to the VF1/2 ports on the F35? Basically before I open up a complaint on eBay, I want to make sure I'm not missing anything simple.

I bought a used (though listed as working) HDVF-20A on ebay that is nearly completely unresponsive. The only thing it does, on occassion, is to briefly light up all the red indicators around the LCD panel during power on. Other than that, it is 100% dead. Seemingly no power and no picture.
 
To my knowledge, no way to disable power on the viewfinder ports.

I am assuming, before you complain to the seller, you have tried another viewfinder on the camera, or the viewfinder on another camera?

Also, if you would like a cheap Sony VF to solve your viewfinder woes, I might be able to help! PM Me
 
I have tried it on both viewfinder ports with no change. However I do not have another Sony cam or another Sony VF to swap around to troubleshoot the problem. It is possible it's the camera, as I've never tried a viewfinder on it.
 
I would certainly try those before you return a (potentially) good viewfinder.

I believe the viewfinder will work on most higher-end Sony HD models - inc. HDW HDCAM cameras, the larger XDCAM models, f900/f23/f65, etc...
 
In the menus, check Maintenance 09 (Power Save) and Operation 07 (Monitor Output). Those can both affect your VF/Monitor SDI signal.

Also feel free to contact Sony Pro tech support in the US--they were super responsive and very helpful when I had an issue with the F35.
 
Bear in mind hunter he may not be able to get menus up without a VF!

You can get them via the test out port or a monitor out port, IF they've been enabled on those
 
I actually never did that with my F35. Always meant to.

The F5/55/65 iPad app though.... mmmm.... lovely.

Anyway, good luck OP.
 
I've been using an Atomos Samaurai, so I enabled the SDI menus via Ethernet ages ago. None of the settings on either of those menus seemed to change anything.

Anyone know someone in the DFW area that has a Sony cam compatible with this VF?
 
In dealing with the eBay seller, he determined this:

I have contacted the Sony rep for the SE US and found that the viewfinder will require a adapter be purchased or made to enable it to function on the F35 camera. While both the camera and VF use the 20 Pin Sony connector, the pin outs for each are very different. The F35 camera does not supply connections for Power Off CTL, BW/Color, or Peaking while the VF does not accept the Pb/Pr signals from the camera. You can access these pin outs from the Sony USA Broadcast site. Pg 134 of the Camera Manual and Pg 7 of the VF Service Manual. It appears that this is not in fact a VF issue but a compatibility issue with the camera.
Click to expand...

I am now awaiting a call back from Sony's Pro site (since their automated system somehow transferred me to their consumer division who then argued with me over whether or not Sony had ever had a product called the F35) and will update once I have confirmation from Sony.
 
As I suspected, Sony contacted me and sent me the following information:

HDVF-20A is compatible with F35 per attached information, no additional cable adaptor required, please see attached F35 and HDVF-20A pin out information.
Click to expand...
 
Ive had that argument with sony also:

model f35
it should have a pmw or similar before the model
no its just a f35
thats not how sony models work, oh wait there is it, are you sure you have one of these?
 
yachacha said:
Ive had that argument with sony also:

model f35
it should have a pmw or similar before the model
no its just a f35
thats not how sony models work, oh wait there is it, are you sure you have one of these?
Click to expand...


I have seen it called the HDW-F35 on some sites...
 
it *should* just be F35 - nothing around it. But I've seen so many people get so many model names wrong. Eg Sony Hdw-F750, Cannon D7, etc...
 
HDW was Sony's official prefix for HDCAM based products. Eg. HDW-F900

SRW would be a more appropriate prefix for the F35, as with the SRW-9000PL etc...

But the F35 as a camera, has no recording medium, so I guess that might be why the confusion.
 
According to the manual it's simply F35, but who knows. I do assume that if I call the correct department, they'll know what it is. And sure enough, when the guy called me back he said, "I have a note here saying you have a PMW-F35, which of course isn't right. Which camera do you have?" I replied, "I have no idea what the guy who took my information put down, he couldn't even find the camera and told me Sony never made one with that model number. I have an F35." "F35? Oh. Yes sir, I'd be happy to help."
 
It would be nice to have a contact at Sony who knew the F35 existed, did you find anyone worthwhile Captain SKA?
 
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