topic Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors in Camcorders

Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 22:29:14 GMT

Bought the PJ620 yesterday, spent yesterday evening setting it up and tried it outdoors today. I have altered the monitor brightness to "bright", as I did with my older CX410.

I noticed the problem when trying to angle the monitor to avoid the reflection from the sky. If I angle it with the top of the monitor towards me then the screen goes so dark that it is difficult to see what I am filming. The brightness of the monitor is excellent if I move the top of the monitor away from me, but then the subject is hard to see because of the brightness from the sky.

I have emailed Sony support today to complain about it. Is it likely to be a faulty monitor or just a design fault?

If you can't understand the way I've explained the problem, just say & I will try and take a photo of the camcorder monitors side by side to show the CX410 monitor was bright at any angle, unlike the 620.

Is it a fault for Sony to deal with, or the shop I bought it from? I obviously want the use of it, not to have to send it off for investigation and be without it for weeks. A prompt reply would be appreciated, as I want to follow correct procedure.

Thanks in anticipation.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 15:48:32 GMT

Had another try at using it today, thinking it might be better on a cloudy day - but it wasn't!

Tried comparing it again with the CX410 and do you know what - it's as if the display unit in the monitor is fitted upside down!!!

If I have the 410 monitor pointing directly at me and angle it forwards, it goes darker, move it the opposite way and it stays bright even though it might be at an angle of 45 degrees. The 620 is the opposite of that, angle it forwards and it stays bright - but of course the screen reflects all the sky.

Looks like it's going back to the shop for replacement or refund.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:14:59 GMT

Well, I got a reply from Sony today, gave me a link that explains how to increase the brightness. Trouble is, I explained I had already done that - and that didn't solve the problem.

Just banging my head against the nearest wall........

Anyway, I'll see what they say in the shop tomorrow.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 10:55:50 GMT

Just got back from a long session in the shop.

After seeing several people I ended up with the manager, as I wasn't happy with their responses. At the moment it is either replacement or refund that is the likely outcome, just waiting for a reply from Sony to my complaint.

One person at the shop said it might be a bad batch or poor quality control by Sony. We did try the 620 that was on display in the store and that was no better.

No other 620 users here? Doesn't anybody from Sony read comments here?

Not a happy chappy at the moment, in fact very disappointed!!

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 18:22:41 GMT

Let's see if this works, 4 images of the monitor screens side by side at identical angles

Top photo taken from behind the camcorders and the monitors are facing what I call "forwards".

Second photo I change my angle by standing up and monitors slightly forward.

Third photo and more or less straight on to monitor.

Fourth photo and monitors "backwards".

Hopefully now you can see why I say the LCDseems to be wrong way up. The 3rd & 4th photos are probably the usual angle I would have the monitor at, perfect on the 410 but becoming useless on the 620.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 10:51:20 GMT

The lack of response is strange, doesn't anybody know what to say, is there a serious problem that nobody wants to admit??

Take a look at the following, I've found a way to get the same brightness on the monitors at all angles:-

So, if you look at the above images you will see that one camcorder is facing forwards & the other backwards. The brightness of the display is about the same BUT to get that the 620 monitor is now upside down.

To me, it proves that compared to the 410 the 620 LCD is upside down. Is it a faulty batch or are they all the same?

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

jumpsuit — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:41:19 GMT

Thanks for all the info.

As I said in your other thread, Sony don't answer on this forum.

From your photos there does look like there is a problem,

but its hard to say if its a batch or an individual item problem.

If I were you I would get the refund and try a different model.

(Unless you wanted that particular one)

Did you try other PJ620s in store?

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 22:13:51 GMT

Thanks Jumpy.

To all who read this, I've provided information and illustrations to show you how the monitor screen appears when you are using, or trying to use the camcorder. Imagine what it is like when you are trying to avoid the bright sky reflections, you angle the screen down but the subject you are trying to film gets too dark to see it clearly.

I took it back to the store I originally bought it from. Gave the demonstrations as per the photos in previous posts and the chap agreed with me that it was not acceptable.

I told him I had tried a demonstration model the previous day in another shop. He suggested we try the demonstration model in his shop - it was just as bad. Final test was to open a new box and try yet another camcorder, still just as bad.

He was perfectly happy to give me a full refund, which I appreciated. The store was Currys, so full marks to them for their customer service!!

As for Sony, I'd better not say what I think about them!!

On a personal note, you save up your money, study form on what you can afford and what should be suitable for you, read various surveys and make a decision. Having had a CX410 for 2 years & been happy with it, I could see no problem with another Sony, especially as it was a newer model and not bottom of the range.

I've no idea if there is a faulty batch, there may be good ones out there, judge for yourself.

Thank you Sony, for all the time I've wasted during this past week travelling to the stores and the disappointment in the quality of your products!

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 12:08:42 GMT

The story continues. Called in at Jessops and asked to see how their Sony camcorders compared with the monitor on my old one. The 405 was OK as was the 810. I said I would order a 620 on the understanding that I would not accept it and get a refund if the monitor had the same problem as the faulty 620s.

Once it arrives, they can open the box and try it for me - I don't need to touch it. That will only take a minute or two.

Will it be a "good" one, or a "faulty" one? I'll let you know in a few days.

So, ordered and 10% deposit paid. NOTE, before the cashback offer ends. Wouldn't surprise me if Sony tried to be awkward and refused to pay the cashback!! The whole world will know about it if they do refuse!!!!!

Still no reply from Sony Europe customer support since Monday.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:41:34 GMT

.....wait for it, the latest update in this sorry Sony saga......

Went to the shop to collect a new PJ620 this morning, obviously asking for the shop to try it first - to make sure it wasn't faulty like the other four I had seen. The same assistant served me and remembered how the monitors functioned on my old 410, the 405 in the shop and the 810. The result was.......

another dud one!!

Yes, another one with an "upside down" LCD display.

He put it straight back in the box and refunded my money.

So that's it. Cashback offer ended, no chance of getting one within my price range. Sony still refuse to reply to my emails. I was going to email the top man in Japan to complain, but their website is all in Japanese.

One final thought on this, are Sony shipping the "dud" ones to other outlets and keeping good ones, if there are any, for their own shops? As a pensioner, I can't afford Sony shop prices.

Anybody with a PJ620 care to comment? Are there any "good" ones out there?

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

jumpsuit — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:49:41 GMT

Sorry to hear about that

Although I usually love conspiracy theories unfortunately I don't think that Sony are deliberately manipulating faulty goods.

I will escalate this for you just to see if we can get a response about any known faults.

It may take a few days to hear anything but I will post any news in this thread.

If you hear anything then let us know.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:06:31 GMT

Thanks Jumpy,

Will watch out for any replies, but from where I'm sat & what I've seen, it doesn't look very good. Unfortunately I didn't get as far as making a note of serial numbers - that might've helped any investigation.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

jumpsuit — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:29:56 GMT

Hi again

I fully understand.

I'd be a little wary of that model too after your experiences.

At least you have the store details etc where you purchased it from in case Sony want to investigate the possiblility

of a bad batch / model fault.

Hopefully someone will be in touch with us soon-ish.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:59:52 GMT

Just in case anybody thinks I have been "nasty" with Sony, read my original email:-

"Bought camcorder yesterday, used it today outdoors and the monitor display is too dull to use in bright weather. The monitor brightness is set to "bright", but that does not help much. The display has to be angled forwards to get adequate brightness, than the sky reflects on it and you can't see what you're filming. Angle it back to avoid the sky and the display get progressively darker. Didn't have this problem on my CX410, that could be angled forward or backwards with constant brightness. Other than that, everything seems good. I've had the CX410 for 2 years, so think I know what I'm doing!!
Is it a fault or poor design? If they're all the same then it's a bit of a disaster!! No pleasure in trying to film with it.
A quick response would be appreciated, I have only had it 24 hours!!"

The following was their reply:-

"Thank you for contacting Support regarding your HDR-PJ620.

We are sorry to learn of the difficulties that you are experiencing when attempting to use the camcorder.

In regards to your query, Kindly try the below on the camera.

http://helpguide.sony.net/cam/1420/v1/en/contents/TP0000557893.html?search=brightness

http://helpguide.sony.net/cam/1420/v1/en/contents/TP0000557903.html

Should you have any further questions, please feel free to reply to this email.

Yours sincerely"

Following the link, it tells me how to increase brightness, which my original email indicates I had already done!

My follow up email to Sony was still very polite, but I have received no replies:-

"Thanks for the reply. I did state originally that the monitor was set to "bright", so we are no further forward to find a fix.

Whilst waiting for a reply I did a comparison between the 620 and my old CX410. It seems as if the monitor screen is upside down - if I place the 2 camcorders side by side and angle the screens up and down, the 410 stays bright when it is angled down but the 620 goes dark. Then if I angle the screen up the 410 goes dark but the 620 stays light, that just doesn't work when trying to film outdoors as you need to stop the reflection from the sky.

I will be taking it back to the shop tomorrow.

Regards,

So, can anybody see a reason why Sony did not reply?

My next email to them, no response of course:-

"Further to my reply yesterday, I spent ages in the store discussing the problem. They didn't seem happy that I wanted a refund or replacement. I had my old CX410 with me and showed the camcorders side by side so they could see what I was complaining about. Seems they accept it could be a bad batch or poor quality control. I said I would await your response before deciding.

Is it possible the LCD display could be mounted upside down with the casing? To me it looks as if reversing it would be the solution.

An immediate response would be appreciated, please!"

And there was no response. Think it was at this point I decided they had a major problem to deal with, and didn't know what to do!

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 20:31:32 GMT

It's the end of the week and still no email from Sony since the only one they sent on 31/08/15.

Anyway, here is the next email I sent them on 01/09/15, still very polite, as you will see:-

"No replies to my last emails to you, so I suggest you look at my post in the Sony community forum. It includes 4 photos which compare the monitors of the 620 and my old 410. Perhaps now you will understand why I find it so difficult to use outdoors. As before, I would appreciate a prompt reply and a prompt resolution to the problem.

(I included a link to this topic for Sony to read)

So, I politely asked for a prompt reply and a prompt resolution - but, they did nothing.

There is one more email I sent them, still very polite, I will add that next week. Maybe Sony will contact me before then, or maybe not!! Time will tell.

Re: Camcorder PJ620. Monitor useless when filming outdoors

movie-man2 — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 14:38:40 GMT

Couldn't log in with my earlier name & password, tried to get the password reset - but no email come through.

So, many weeks on from last posting, nothing heard from Sony - they just don't care???????

Went into another retail outlet today and asked to see the PJ620 they had on display. Explained the problem I had with the one I bought & showed the assistant how the LCD worked on my CX410. His words when he had a play with the display model - "the LCD does seem upside down"!

Then I went to a Sony shop and asked to see the 620 they had in the cabinet, and that LCD was exactly the same!

I've no idea what this all proves, the UK has all the faulty ones or the design is just plain rubbish?? How can the cheaper ones I was shown a month or so ago work what I would call "properly", but the more expensive one work incorrectly?

I now have a problem about what to replace my 2 year old CX410 with, doesn't look like it will be a Sony. I want something with a similar zoom facility that the next model up does not have. That was why the 620 should have been "perfect" for me. The cheaper ones don't have a facility to attach a lens hood or microphone.

Anybody know how to turn an LCD unit upside down?