I have one of those annoying intermittent faults with my Sony DCR-PC1E - when you pull out the view-finder sometimes it will just show black and nothing else (yes, I have removed the lense cap) and other times it will be a normal view and films OK.
Can anyone recommend a good repair service or am I better to send it to Sony? (I am based in Canterbury, Kent.)
Many thanks for any advice, Pamela
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Dear Pamela,
I have recently had a Sony TRV900e repaired, (Sony Authorised Repair shop).
Fortunately for me i was recommended them by someone i respect whom is also a member of this forum.
I was given an estimate, the repair was carried out to an agreed time.. (as i agreed the estimate).
The work was carried out and i was completely satisfied with every aspect, they even cleaned the Camcorder for me at the same time.
They have two workshops in Kent.
Also... http://www.dvdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Forum8/HTML/001513.html
Kind regards
Regards all.
[This message has been edited by Stuart B-M (edited 07 June 2002).]
Very many thanks for the very helpful response. I will see about checking out DNHphoto in a couple of weeks when I have some time off and can travel from E to W Kent.
Great to get such speedy and spot on help!
regards, Pamela
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hi Pamela
The problem that you describe with your DCR-PC1E -sounds exactly the same as the problem I was having with my Sony VX1000E a couple of months ago. Every now and then when I moved the viewfinder the screen went completely black, especially in the up position.
Apparently this is a very common fault on the VX1000E, it is caused by the ribbon cable that runs from the camera body to the viewfinder………the cable had snapped!!
I bet this is the case with yours, I sent mine off to Sony UK here is the address.
Sony Service Centre
Unit 2
The Heathrow Summit Centre
West Drayton
Middlesex
UB7 0SU
Hope this helps
Cheers
Neo
Just to say that I have got my Sony PC1E back today from DNH Photo and they were every bit as good as the recommendation by Stuart B-M.
I ended up waiting to send off the camera because I ordered a new dual processor system around Edition DV to arrive just when I would have sent the camera off. Not a good decision since it turned out that the firewire socket was faulty and this kept crashing the new system and it took me some time to realise it was the camera not the system!
The original faults with the camera related to a LCD hinge and LCD lock assemby. To this was added the new firewire socket. It all added up to quite a lot of money (parts £95, labour £100 + the dreaded VAT and £10 to send it back) but as all the faults were intermittent it was a tricky repair job. The camera was also cleaned and checked.
I did not visit but sent by special insured post (£6.99) and it came back by courier. Connected to editing system and Edition opened like a dream recognising firewire immediately.
DNH Photo were very helpful to deal with over the telephone and the repair was a week to check/identify/report faults and a week to get spare parts, repair and check and then a couple of days to wait for mail back as they will not take the risk of sending out on a Friday as too many parcels have gone missing in courier/parcelforce over w/e.
Thanks again for the supportive response to my original query.
Pamela
Dear Pamela,
Not a problem 
Glad everything is now up and running,
Good luck for the future.
Regards.