Camera Repair Facility Recommendations?

As sent to camcorderrepair.com 2 minutes ago:

Hello,

I just got back from the post office with the Z5U.

Put a fresh battery in and fired it up.

I heard a weird short "grind" sound. With the camera still on it makes continuous grinding noises.

Then Message: Reattach the power source, and then -

ERROR: C:62:60

This camera is still broken and you have had it for months! Focus doesn't work! The only in-focus image happens if I zoom in about halfway. More or less than that and everything is all blurry. Not just a little soft - TOTALLY blurry.

You should refund me ALL the money I spent with you plus the shipping. I have used the V1U not at all, but keep it as a spare - I have a feeling you messed that up too! I'll find out soon, I suppose.

I am VERY VERY angry. I feel like a lawsuit is in order...this is ridiculous!

Gene

Got my poor Z5U back (again).....after sending it off to two tech places, both supposedly accredited by Sony, the first, Lifetime Service, associated with B&H Photo warranty "Sagemax" turned out to be a real lousy shop, with typical techspeak "I can't see nothing wrong with your camera" of course most techs are not skilled or even capable with the gear they fix - camera comes back every time in full auto mode....and then sent it to Camcorderrepair.com, despite the fact that I never got an intelligible response from them in anything like a full sentence, and surprise, surprise, when I got it back, it was still broken. So I lit a candlefish and introduced it to their ear with great vehemence, and they sent me a label to get it back. I already know I'm screwed, but what can I do? So after another few weeks I get the camera back again, and this time, as far as I can tell, it works, with the minor exception that the ND filter switch now doesn't work - well, it works physically, but the electronic side of it, the microswitch or sensor that tells the camera what position the filters are in doesn't work. It works only in ND3 position - switching it back to ND1, ND2, or OFF makes the "ND" indicator on the screen flash. Not only is this annoying, but it is information I use when shooting. Sure, I can shoot with it there, but it's very distracting.

So I explain this in another annoyed email, and they respond with:

"Hi there.
On SONY HVR-Z5U The Nd filter works automatically and does not change if the camcorder is in Auto mode, unless you put the setting on manual next to the sel/push button
Thank you"

So I lit another two candlefish to probe their ears with, and they asked if I reset the camera. Well of course I tried that! It's physical problem, believe me ---

Anyway, I'm fed up with this! Are all these guys inept? Careless? What? Is it me? Or is it just that camcorders are not meant to be repaired?

If an eagle swoops down and carries it away file an insurance claim.

Hah! Very funny. Like I would trust an insurance company for anything but to take my money and invest in ecologically unsound ventures leading to immediate gains for fat cats who don't know how to wi ... uh, oh, this isn't THAT forum is it?

No, anyway, no response from Camcorderrepair.not. Hmmm...

OK, I guess I'm gonna have to just grin and bear it. After sending the ailing never-to-be-fixed-properly Z5U BACK to Camcorderrepair.com (for the 4th time!!!) it came back to me just in time for my trip in California. All seemed well, and I used it extensively.

Upon arrival back in Alaska, I turned it on to rig up with my Glidecam/PIX220 setup, which is the main reason I keep the camera, and I noticed that the ND filter indicator was flashing again. Same EXACT problem as before. Only in ND3 position did it stop flashing.

So I called them. He told me I was nuts. I told hime I was not nuts, and knew my camera. He picked up another Z5U, and flipped the switch into various positions, and asked me to mirror his actions, reporting what I saw. His operated like I told him I expected mine to, and mine was, well, broken. I finally convinced him that I was not insane, and I did know what my camera was supposed to do, and that it had changed back to the way it was before the last time I sent it in. He said he'd look into it and call me Monday.

Well, it's Thursday, no call (I didn't actually expect one - would you?) so I called in. He told me that they sent it to Sony and they had to update the firmware, and that flashing ND indicator is the result of the new firmware.

I guess, sad and upset, I just have to give up. This horse is so beat, and it's making me sick. At least the camera does work, but I cannot, as I was hoping to, sell it, at least for as much as I'd like, since it is not in perfect working order, indicated by a constant flashing ND.

Anyone want an "almost" perfectly good Z5U for $1800? (Cam and single charger, no batteries)