2008
I recently went on holiday to France and took my Sony DCR-HC19E Handycam along to capture the action. It’s a few years old now but hasn’t had that much use.
It has a fancy touchscreen colour LCD which flips out and rotates. I’ve always wondered how such movement is possible and I’d soon have the opportunity to answer my own question. Only a few days into the holiday and the LCD screen stopped working. Initially it was possible to view the screen when it was folded out to about 30 degrees. Opening it up to 90 degrees and the screen would simply switch off, it just went black. I knew the camera was still functional as the touch screen still worked – just I couldn’t see anything on it. The viewfinder in the camera still works too.
A quick look around the Internet turned up a whole load of people with the same problem. Some people suggested it could be the backlight in the LCD or a CCD Chip problem (Outlined here) but alas my model was not listed.
It was time to get the screwdriver and find the real cause of the problem. Removal of side panel on the camera was straight forward. It’s easy to slip and scratch the case, so I recommend using masking tape to cover the plastic to prevent damage. There are two small screws on the front of screen and one on the hinge. There are two further screws on the rear of the screen/hinge assembly which are only accessible by tilting the screen at an angle, then rotating it slightly. This allows removal of the LCD cover and you can inspect for loose ribbon cables. Mine looked fine so I had to move on to the main camera body.
The main body has about 4 or 5 really obvious screws holding the side on. There is one non obvious screw under the battery. As you remove this, it frees up a small piece of plastic which drops out (and is easily refitted afterwards). Now it’s just a case of carefully levering the side off. I used a small screwdriver, working my way from the bottom to the top of the camera body. It came free quite easily so don’t get too carried away with the levering. You need to be super careful at this point, as the side is still attached to the camera with several ribbon cables.
There should be enough room to look inside and see the back of the LCD hinge. At least two ribbon cables seem to disappear into the back of the hinge. There is a small strip of sticky felt covering two further screws on the back of the LCD hinge. Remove these two and you should be able to lift up the semi-circle wedge of plastic. I then levered out a smaller piece of plastic which had a ribbon cable clipped into it.
This gave me a good view of the ribbon cable from the screen, past the hinge and on into the camera. I inspected this area closely. That’s when I found the problem. There are two ribbon cables back-to-back which cross the hinge and enter the LCD screen. Just inside the camera, one of the cables in the back-to-back arrangement had clearly split – it looked like someone had cleanly cut the cable with a pair of scissors. This ribbon cable must be replaced in order to restore the LCD to a working condition. Unfortunately I have yet to find a source for this cable. So despite finding the problem I have yet to repair it. In theory with the right ribbon cable it would be a very easy repair.
This is clearly a design fault which has been caused by the rotating screen. Overtime the copper/plastic ribbon cable has become weak and split. I must say I am not best pleased with this and feel that Sony should repair the camera free of charge, although I also believe that given another few years the problem would reoccur, unless the quality of the plastic ribbon cable is improved.
Hi i have just completed the full repair on the flexible pcb i was able to get the part from partmaster.co.uk it was afairly tricky job in the end but it has all worked out fine .Link for partmaster is http://www.partmaster.co.uk/cgi-bin/product.pl?PID=1234259
I’ve had the exact same problem with my Sony DCR-SR200, with the LCD display only being usable when it’s open at an angle. I had been thinking to myself, “This can’t be any more than a loose or severed wire” – and Sony wanted to charge me a flat rate repair fee of $320!!! I’ve only had this camera in my possession for a month and that is complete madness.
If anyone finds a good fix (or even a replacement part using the fixes the poster so well described above) please feel free to post here. There has to be SOME way to get this repaired inexpensively…
Thanks ! Great info. Completed repair no problems. Bit fiddly trying to move the board to get the new cable in but otherwise not much of a problem.
Hi, i have the same problem with my camcorder sony dcr-sr72e.
I’m sure the cause of the problem is that “ribbon” cable, but unforunately i do not know where to find a spare. If any one have any ideas please let me know.
Thank You in advance,
Ernest
i have the same problem, have you had an luck sourcing a ribbon supplier ? Do we all bin our handycams and purchase new camcorders
I’m grateful that you have looked into the problem. I have a similar problem with an DCRSR62. After a year of infrequent use. Initially it worked while flashing, and then from 30 to 45 deg and nil at 90 degree. Now theres only a white screen at all angles. Thank you this was helpful. A higher quality cable is needed !
I have the same problem on my DCR-SR200, the screen has gone blank. I have not managed to locate a ribbon cable for the unit. Any suggestions
Has anyone been able to find a suitable fix for the DCR-SR200 black LCD? I have the same problem; the screen of my camera went bad while I was on vacation, my wife was devastated. I am not to happy with Sony especially when they want to charge $320 for a repair that is the result of their poor design.
Really helpful exactly the same problem as original French Holiday maker.
Not used much but the camera screen started to go red then packed up all the features worked when screen closed and thankfully I remembered where the rewind button was on the black screen.
I took it for a quotation which cost me £15 and the quote was £180 for repair and service though how much the service cost was not specified!
I’m going to have a go at your invitation. Thanks for your help
I have the same problem with my DCR-SR200! First the screen went red, but you could still see images. Today the screen is blank. Not black, but blank blue. The touch screen still seems to work so I could transfer recent pictures onto my computer before sending it to be serviced, but I would like to find someone in the US who can fix it or send the ribbon cable necessary for me to fix it myself. Anybody know a US connection? Sony wants almost $300 to fix it! How disappointing! No more Sony for me!
how the hell do you unplug the ribbon cable from the main pcb board ?? i cant see how you take it out
Thanx 4 the info.. I had the same problem too with my video recorder… This type video recorder really doesnt work nicely
part number for sony dcr-sr72 ribbon cable is 1-871-457-11 yes mine has gone too it cost £30 inc postage to me and its a very fidly job to fit as it wraps around the hinge and has a small clip to fit , i am still trying to do the job lol , parts available from http://www.camtronics.co.uk but if you quote the part number try anywhere, lee
@ Wayne B – yeah i know just got to that stage! help! the ribbon cable disappears under the pcb board.
oh jeez its all in pieces an i dont want to break it!
please someone, anyone, anywhere, help! lol
and also where it passes from camera to screen it goes under a little metal rod, and seems too wide to just thread through and underneath it.
bollocks.
A-HA! i have sussed it!
-to get to the connector under the pcb board you must loosen the front of the camera by removing the two screws near the lens cover switch. ( when it is loose you should be careful not to scratch the lens)
it gets quite fiddly and a bit complicated at this point…
before you remove the old ribbon look at the way its routed. take note.
- first i had to work out how to get the old one out of the bloody thing.
you need to take take the grey cover off the screen hinge and inspect closely. you should notice that as you slowly flip the screen there will be a point at which you will be able to slot the ribbon through a gap.
when you have removed the ribbon inspect that closely as well. Notice how it has been folded and compare that to the new ribbon which is unfolded. On the new ribbon there will be little white and clear tabs. The clear tabs are where the folds are meant to be and the white tabs need to be peeled off (sticky underneath) to hold it in place.
[...] removed with a few screws. This picture shows the ribbon connection (the wide brown strip). Sony DCR-HC19E Handycam LCD Repair (black screen) | Insert name here or maybe: My Fix Tips How to replace a broken LCD screen for Sony DCR-H26 camcorder Please be [...]
Greetings from Spain and thanks for sharing this wealth of information! Using your directions I got my HC-19E disassembled to discover that my offending ribbon was the same as yours. I was happy with this camera but so many faulty Sony cameras makes me think if I should move to another brand.
Kind regards
I have the same problem on my Sony DCR-SR200. Hard Disk Drive Camcorder. It still works including the touchscreen, but the backlighting ceased to function some time ago. Sony got sued in a class action case. I had a Cyber Shot and it turns out the CCD or picture chip was embedded in resin (cheaper) rather than ceramic, and so failed. Class actions are basically worthless to the consumer, and mine was returned “uneconomical to repair” Bogus excuse. I should have sent a letter to the Judge in their case. I am not happy with Sony cameras and camcorders after 2 failures of devices.
I have the same problem with the same model… only one more problem… after opening everything, and concluding the same problem as you did, I closed the whole camera and thought: ok, i will use the viewfinder for the rest of the holiday and send the camera for repair, but apparently i did something wrong when putting things back, because the viewfinder is not working anymore now as well
…. i think it has something to do with the small brown piece (about 1 x 0,5 cm in size) next to the LCD-attachment, with a small silver box on it where a black piece sticks out that registers the open-or-closedness of the lcd-panel. But I can not get things working again. anyone any idea? maybe an option to ALWAYS set the viewfinder ON?
Help urgently needed on the repair of SONY Handycam DCR-HC18E please.
I have been following the advice on replacing the ribbon cable between the screen and the camera body. I have got as far as freeing the cable from the camera body and the screen. HOWEVER, it is still secured where it passes through the screen hinge mechanism. The cable disappears into a very tiny hole and appears to be folded within the screen hinge mechanism somehow. Does anyone know how to dismantle the hinge parts sufficiently to allow the new cable to be routed through?
Many thanks,
Scott
The hinge parts have a single black screw at the inner side of the LCD screen… To remove them you have to swing the screen at a quarter turn. Otherwise you will break it.
Mine had the exact same problem. The flex fixed it for 8 euros from ebay including shipping. And the guy sent me an extra flex for the same price, in case it breaks again… Oh well…
DCR HC 19E – excellent info as far as it goes but how do you actually release the cable end that connects just under the PCB
Does anyone know why the screen on this camera would just be white?
my sony dcr-sr200 screen went bad also..i believe its the flex cable…i found a replacement here: http://www.gadgettown.com/LCD-Fle-Cable-Sony-FP-610-DCR-SR200-SR300-D00078.html
anyone knows if the replacement procedure is too complex? can i do it myself?
Excllent advice i didnt have a clue before as to what may have caused the problem but will now have a look myself thank you
People i’ve repaired but now i have a new problem, the image in LCD appears upside down, what can i do to solve it??
Excellent advice very detailed and clear. Unfortunately i have chrcked the cable and it is not broken but does have a very fine line in it, dont know if i should take a chance and change the cable or could it be something else?
Unfortunately i have chrcked the cable and it is not broken but does have a very fine line in it, dont know if i should take a chance and change the cable or could it be something else?
Have the same problem with my DCR-HC22E, failed after two years, bought another identical brand new model at a good price on e-bay – It failed after 18 months. Sony say ‘There is no record of this problem with this model’. I have just ordered a replacement flex for £6-98 on ebay and I am going to follow the steps outlined in this blog…
Will keep you posted…
Flex arrived today 9th Feb , 12 days from Hong Kong. Repair took 3 hours, very fiddly.
Flex was split in two just inside the hinge.
Managed to disconnect cabling from the cover unit giving easier access to the LCD panel and hinge. Took careful note of the flex routing, and found the instructions above very useful. Put everything back together – this was the hardest bit. Reconnecting the cabling is quite tricky. Switched on and LCD burst into life again – big sigh of relief. Only problem is the failure to invert the display when the LCD is rotated – that doesn’t bother me at all, at least it’s the right way up in the normal mode! Firewire, record and replay all working OK, as is the zoom control from the LCD panel edge.
Now to order another for my second camcorder, may be easier next time.
Thanks but where to send camera as I have two concrete hands and cant change a plug? Patrick
Just fixed the second camcorder – wasn’t any easier, but it all works, except that the display is not inverted when the screen is rotated 180 degrees, same as the last one.
Any ideas out there? Let’s see how long these new flexes last.
Fixed 2 of these last year.
Both got the same problem though: the lcd image doesn’t rotate anymore.
The problem is a small switch on the inside of the display, near the bottom.
It’s a small switch with a tiny lever sticking out of it. It breaks most of the time it seems.
The second one has a new problem: the viewfinder stays black. Checked everything.
Any thoughts???
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/301394/200841359-383219510/FREE-SHIPPING-FP-185-LCD-Flex-Cable-for-SONY-DCR-HC21E-HC33E-HC43E-HC19E-Video-Camera.html
found this on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LCD-Flex-Cable-Sony-HC32E-HC33E-HC39E-HC42E-F0012-/380249548946?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraCablesConnectors#ht_1162wt_883
just ordered it…have to wait about a month for delivery but i’m in no rush
Just done mine. Was real tricky but got there in the end.
Two problems now though!
1. When I close the lcd screen it is not turning off and turning on the viewfinder.
2, when I flip the screen the other way around its not flipping the image.
Im sure I put it all back correctly! Took me ages!
Hi there I have Two of these SONY DCR-HC19E Cams and it worked out for me as for the Ribbon Cable they last about 5 years (with non heavy use). The Camera will still work with remote control for all controls on the Remote, except not for the Functions to the camera.
Cam1.Screen stopped working while filming a sunset, changed from Orange to Yellow then went Black, but the recording still works thats the important thing I guess.
Cam2.Screen thats only just started flickering and the depth of colour changes as brightness from normal to dark, thats obviously on its way out.
SONY should just Redesign the Cable as a plastic coated wire IDE cable as a round one is twisterable that won’t ever snap and such would ever fit through the hinge (they need to study articulated joints) that the 350 GBP Handycam is alot of money for many people as home users not like you use it every single day.
When comparing it to a Professional Video Camera like ITV use for the quick n easy runaround as a SONY HDV 3CDD Camera its quiet cheap that also has a similiar 2.7″ LCD Screen that more than likely the cable might not snap so quickly being a few grands worth of Video Equipment, but then again the hindge system is identical on all Sony Cams, but that question is upto the Professional Videographer to answer truthfully, I guess they use such alot less.
If all else fails you could buy a SONY AV-COLLECTOR except you still won’t be able to access the functions on the video camera with one.
Do not pay too much for the ribbon cable! I bought from Tmart USA 1.22€/pcs for my Sony DCR-HC42E Handycam.
I ordered two cables for total costs 1.44€ included postage and arrived in a week from Hong Kong to Europe. This cable suits to many other Handycam and here is the link:
http://www.tmart.com/LCD-Flex-Cable-for-Sony-FP185-HC19-HC21_p111914.html
To repair is not easy work and you must have good mini tools and light. Although I have repaired many other type devices, this job took 3 hours. Specially to connect again all wires was tricky job. Now camera works well without any problems.
My Sony DCR-SR200 is starting to give problems. It shuts down when I open the Lcd to about 90deg. I have to disconnect and reconnect the batt for it to function again. Sometimes it works at a 45 deg angle. It will switch off a few times then function without a problem for quite a while. I suspected the cable but after reading these posts I am positive that it is the problem. Checking on line now for a replacement. I dont want to wait for it to malfunction completely and then try to locate a spare. Thanks for all the info.
My DCR-HC19E LCD does not work at all on batt power but works perfectly when plugged into mains.
I bought a new battery but that made no difference.
Any thoughts would be gratefully received
Hello Michael and any US or Canadians. The ribbon cable for the DCR-SR200 can be purchased from:
http://www.darntoothysam.com/products/Sony-DCR%252dSR200-Camcorder-Hinge-LCD-Cable-Repair-Part.html
for $14.97 US. Cheap fix for a $1000.00 camera
@MF165Multi i really appreciate your help from your recommendations. it goes perfectly and i purchase metal lens shade in addition from: http://www.tmart.com/For-Leica-M-43mm-Metal-Vented-Lens-Hood-Shade_p116561.html
Hola a todos.
Recientemente he cambiado el cable de la pantalla ya que se había cortado, pero despues, al montarla y tratar de encencerla, la camara no enciende. No ha llevado golpes ni nada. ¿Es posible que le halla producido una descarga electroestatica? ¿le ha pasado esto a alguien? ¿cuanto puede costar cambiar toda la placa?
Muchas gracias.
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Hi all.
I recently changed the display cable as it had been cut, but later, and try to burn to mount, the camera will not start. The camera has not been hit or anything. Is it possible that I place the camera is an electrostatic discharge? Has this happened to anyone? How much can change the whole plate cost?
Thank you very much.