question for DV people

[Gena]

i have a sony PC9, and i know this is not directly mac related but everyone i know who shoots in dv edits on a mac, so im hoping to find someone here with some knowledge.

the problem im having is my nightshot stopped working. everything is functioning normally, except the fact that the infrared emitter (that small dull red light in the front) has stopped turning on when i turn on night shot.

anyone have any idea what could be causing this, and what size problem it is to have fixed?

thanks

[drastik]

sounds like the bulb could be out, but those things are supposed to last for awhile. Anway, go to 2-pop.com and post in their forums, ou should get an answer there.

[LethalWolfe]

Yer profile says you live in NY. There should be a bunch of camera shops that you could take the camera too and find out what's wrong (might even be able to do i over the phone). Have you tried contacing Sony?

Lethal

[blackpeter]

When did you get the camera? If it was less than 90 days ago, then return it for a new one. If not, then you might be looking at a costly repair. Always buy the extended warranty with MiniDV cams. $150 bought me 3 years extended at Tweeter Etc. Sony service charges $120 just to open the thing, I think.

My Sony PC-5 has been in for one repair. Cost: $300.

[Gena]

thanks -- i called sony, but i waited on hold for about 30 minutes and then hung up. (i mean, literally 30 minutes.)

the 1yr warranty has run out, so youre right, im probably looking at a costly repair. thanks for the advice to always get an extended warranty -- next time i will.

[SPG]

Does the night shot function itself still work? If so, you may not even have to replace that lightbulb. I've always hated the way the light blows out the center of the image on my cameras, so whenever I turn on nightshot I keep a finger over the light to even things out. I've rarely been somewhere that needed the light short of absolute darkness. Your other option and probably the better one would be to use the money on a small camera light. Nightshot always looks crappy and you have to filter it into black and white anyway to use it, so lighting your shot would give you better results (unless you're trying to be sneaky). Nightshot is really just good as a consumer gimmick or a tool for Peeping Toms!

[drastik]

The night shot on my little Elura is bright, man, super bright even in next to no light. To get that way, though, it boosts the gain superhigh, and it makes tracers of any movement, trippy, but not really useful.

[wwworry]

I've heard that the sony nightshot, the older one anyway, can see right through thin white cotton clothing giving you the proverbial x-ray specs. Is this true?

[kishba]

Originally posted by wwworry
I've heard that the sony nightshot, the older one anyway, can see right through thin white cotton clothing giving you the proverbial x-ray specs. Is this true?

yes the original sony nightshot was quite revealing... i personally wish i could get one :eek:

[blackpeter]

Yeah. When used in the daylight the old nightshot could see through cottons. Makes you wonder what kind of spy devices the government has when Sony can produce that for consumers??