Camera problem - Hope you guys can help

5LEEPER · Post by **5LEEPER** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:15 pm

Basically i have a samsung hand held camera. Every time i film with it, when i go to capture or even play back, there is bad pixelation over the right side of the screen/video. its completely random, one time i play the clip it will happen in one spot for maybe 5 seconds then go away, the next time it may be the 5 seconds before the other time, and visa versa. It appears to come and go periodically, but doesn't stay away long enough to capture a good 10 - 15 second clip.

Its a huge hindrance when trying to capture some of my clips, as it ruins the entire shot.

Any ideas guys? today i filmed some priceless stuff that i cannot get on camera again, and need these shots.

Thankyou

Ryan

MrA · Post by **MrA** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:41 pm

Those kinds of problems have to the potential to be anything. The old saying that anything can go wrong and will, has just applied to you. It could be the camera, the computer, the cable that you captured with, and the list goes on.

You are going to have to systematically eliminate every possible cause, one at a time. Let me reiterate that... EVERY possible cause. From the camcorder, the connection slot in the camcorder, the cable that connects to the camcorder to the other end of the cable, to the connection of the PC, etc.. Memory, vid card, power supply in PC, EVERYTHING..

I'd highly suspect the cable, and/or the connection of the cable to the computer/camcoder as the first culprit. But, again, it could be anything.

(hint: anything you plug and unplug, wears out)

Maybe wearing your hat backwards, too, or placement of tongue outside of mouth...

5LEEPER · Post by **5LEEPER** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:46 pm

Well i know for a fact its definitely the camera its self.

As before i even got home to capture the footage, it was doing this randomly on playback.

Just curious if there is anything i can do to eliminate this...

MrA · Post by **MrA** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 2:02 pm

New camera? If you know it's the problem.. Software will NOT fix a hardware problem.. well sort of.. If you want to pay for the software to fix the hardware problem, I CAN send you a bill, and have dreamed about the ultimate client for years..

roy wood · Post by **roy wood** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:37 pm

when i go to capture or even play back, there is bad pixelation over the right side of the screen/video. its completely random,

Hi, is this effect visible on your cameras LCD screen during filming or play back, or is it only when you try to capture to your PC.

5LEEPER · Post by **5LEEPER** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:21 pm

roy wood wrote:
when i go to capture or even play back, there is bad pixelation over the right side of the screen/video. its completely random,
Hi, is this effect visible on your cameras LCD screen during filming or play back, or is it only when you try to capture to your PC.

Hey, Both unfortunately, which indicates its the camera its self... was just hoping with th amount of camera experience around here, someone might know what this could be...

It wouldn't be as simple as head cleaning could it?

roy wood · Post by **roy wood** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:18 pm

It wouldn't be as simple as head cleaning could it?

It would be a good start then check the recording media ie DVtape,mini DVD etc . Also tell us what type and model is the camera - is this a new problem-how long have you used it etc. The more info we have the better.

5LEEPER · Post by **5LEEPER** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:03 am

roy wood wrote:
It wouldn't be as simple as head cleaning could it?
It would be a good start then check the recording media ie DVtape,mini DVD etc . Also tell us what type and model is the camera - is this a new problem-how long have you used it etc. The more info we have the better.

Its a samsung vp-d361i small hand hled camera.

I rarely use it, but i did today because my panasonic camera (NV-DS65) is also playing up (no idea whats wrong either, just wont focus at all, manual or auto focus). Ever since i can remember, the Samsung has done this in random places on the tape, i try to avoid using it, but yesterday i had to.

I know its not the tapes, only happens when i tape with the Samsung, even when i try to play back the tape in the panasonic, its the same, random pixelation.

Thanks for any help on either camera problems guys

Cheers

Ryan

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:20 am

It might be a dirty head, try using a cleaning tape and record some footage after cleaning.

I have that problem every once and a while, using my cleaning tape always clears up the problem.

roy wood · Post by **roy wood** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:45 pm

It might be a dirty head, try using a cleaning tape and record some footage after cleaning.

And:-

I presume you have tried using another tape also if you leave the tape in the camera for any period of time the tape can stick a bit so try fast wind to the end of the tape and rewind see if this helps. If these suggestions don't work it's probably an electronic fault.

5LEEPER · Post by **5LEEPER** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:34 pm

Yeah i have tried head cleaning... fast forwarding and rewinding tapes, brand new tapes etc... all wont work.

When filming, it appears to be fine when looking through the view finder, but as soon as i go to playback and or capture, it is filled with pixels up the right side of the screen in random places in the video (often different places each time)

Thankyou

roy wood · Post by **roy wood** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:33 pm

If you have AV leads try connecting to your VCR/TV select the AV button on your VCR/TV then set your camcorder to camera without pressing the record button you should then see whatever your camcorder is pointed at on your TV.
(If you have DV equiptment then use the DV leads).

If the picture is perfect then the fault lies with the record or playback heads.
If not then it's the CCD (Charge coupled Device) thats defective.

Having this info will help in ascertaining wether it's worth repairing or not.

One last point have you tried using the camcorder to play back your tape through your TV system.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:56 am

You can also connect your camcorder directly to a TV set and use the TV set as the camcorders preview screen so that you can see if it is the camcorder or the tape.

If its the camcorder then its a job for a shop.

For the stuff you've already captured - try the crop filter to shave off the bad edges - remember that you will lose some of the edges anyway when viewed on a TV screen due to the overscan.

5LEEPER · Post by **5LEEPER** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:25 am

Yeah thanks guys, have pretty well determined that it is the camera its self, and head cleaning wont work.

but also realised its still under 12 month warranty, so its a shop job.

As for the stuff already captured, its very unfortunate as it is alot of the right hand side of the screen, so cropping wouldn't leave me with much, but will give it a go anyway.

cheers

Ryan

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:47 am

If you have to crop quite a bit off then why not place two clips onto the screen side by side sort of "24" style. You can save some spoiled stuff by making it appear to be deliberate.