Weird problem with my backup cam, Panasonic AG-EZ1...

They're great cameras - i have four of them although they're in various stages of disrepair.

Can't help with the problem as I'd have suggested a phone call to people over here. It's possible that the iris is stuck.

You may have a problem due to the age of the camera. Spares just don't seeem to exist.

try an email to http://www.digiservice.co.uk/ and forget to tell them wherre you are

Thanks for the idea, unfortunately they told me they don't repair this model. Ugh. I can't believe it's already got an issue, it looks very lightly used.

Unfortunately cosmetic condition is not an accurate indicator of use.
Some of us look after our equipment.

Most electro-mechanical equipment can also suffer from ageing through lack of use.

Electrolytics dry out, causing capacitors to go short circuit or leaky, oils and greases dry out and turn to gunk, seizing lens or deck components, rubbers perish etc.

Even switching a device on, after sometime unused, may be enough to cause a failure of a component.

In some respects a reasonably well used but well looked after device will survive better than a hardly used one.

Unfortunately none of this is easily predictable.

Richard
Wisz Media Services

Exactly - I've got 6 Umatics that are in perfect cosmetic condition - but the drive mechanisms are shot due to lack of use.

dalygrind - why not shop around for a similar service where you are to diiservice. It's worth £60 ($100?) to see if someone can fix it. You just need the righth place.

The EZ1 was a "pro" camera - the DX1 was the domestic code. Try Industrial companies rather than Broadcast engineers. Domestic Camcorder guys may be too scared to look. Industrial engineers may have access to on-line guides

Zoom to telephoto and look down into the lens with a Maglight torch - something like that. You should see the iris blades opening and closing in response to the light, or in manual mode you should be able to open and close them with the iris wheel. What do you see?

tom.

Hey Tom Hardwick, I used a regular flashlight and tried to see down in there, I don't think the flashlight was bright enough. But maybe it jiggled something loose, or I don't know what happened, BUT THE CAMERA WORKS AGAIN!!!!! SO Happy! It means I'll actually be able to use it for the purpose I bought it, I'm shooting a wedding for a friend on the 28th, and decided I could probably use a backup camera. Thanks a million everybody. Hey Dave M, I'd like to chat with you and try and gain some expertise on the camera, maybe about accessories and what not. Would that be possible? Thanks again! Ben

Glad to hear it's woken up Ben, but I'd give it a real workout before the wedding, just to see if the fault happens again. Sounds as if it might be sticky diaphragm blades that - once closed - don't want to open again.

tom.

PS Dave M, your inbox is full, so I couldn't PM ya.
-benny

I have a panasonic ag ez1 as well..unless i use it regularly ,which I try to do ,it seems to fall asleep ..The from time to time loses the ability to use the telephoto feature ,,but after some use it starts to work again..
The manual controls seem to be "dirtied" up as well..all seem to work if i use the camera daily ..I keep the camera for back up ..I think a good service technicisn might be able to get the grit out but im afeerd to give it a try since the cost might be more than the camera is worth in todays market..Suggestions?

Being in Canada you're out of luck with suggestions as to repairers.

The way that the zoom control hinges up to allow access to the tape means that there's a ribbon cable in there and you may have a broken one. I have the same pronlem on one where the lens insists on zooming out.

You need to find a fixed price for a clean and investigation of the fault ( maybe about an hour's work ($100?) and see if they could bodge the zoom somehow. if it's full of grit whare the hell have you kept it!!??

It's pretty old and 4x3 so don't spend too much. cracking pictures though

I dont know that its full of dirt and grit just a guess because its so old ..the ribbon having a crack in it makes sense ..It does takes nice pics but as you suggest the 4x3 limits the amount one can spend oon it..still though i do enjoy that camera ,,after posting here I went ouside and shot some video..I also used my canon optura 50..the ag ez1 had captured a better picture in my opinion..
Thanks for letting me know im outta luck here in Canada..LOL
http://www.domecountry.com

I didn't mean that you're out of luck - more that as this is a uk board we're only familiar with uk repairers.

If you're anywhare near Vancouver I might be able to find somewhere that othres would recomend.

I still use an EZ on some work that's less creative and is more based on recording presentation skills. I also use a pair with W/A lenses in a "Herlls Kitchen " style live feed that requires cameras to be clamped up high to give a general view.

Im new here I didnt realize its a mostly UK membership here ..looks like a fairly active board..I host a film festival .It may interest some of the members..I mostly advertise it at mandy.com..we get quitea few submissions from the UK ..
Thanks for your help Davey!

Y0u're welcome -

as I'm sure is anybody from anywhere. We try to help anybody but most of us will assume that people are talking "PAL" and recomend uk suppliers.

I think the guy who funds this site is in Alaska so it's pretty wide spread