Camera Repair Facility Recommendations?

Cheap. Gotta be "affordable", as I am talking about repairing a Sony HVR-V1U that I bought used/beat, and also my HVR-Z5U, which is totally fubared after 4 trips to Lifetime Service Center (under the SageMax warranty) which lost me MONTHS of the use of the camera last year and the lens literally fell apart internally after little use over a few months, for no apparent reason.

These are my "B" and "C" cameras, but I'd like to be able to depend on them when needed!

Personal experience with facilities please....I need good, dedicated, and detail oriented techs that don't sneer at complaints...you know the type. But I can't spend a lot, or I might as well just buy a new camera....

Thanks,

Gene

camcorderrepair.com - I have had my A1U cleaned and repaired twice there in the last 3 years. They are fast, easy to work with and cost effective in all respects.

Thanks Andy!

FYI: (will update as results come back)

Camcorderrepair.com says:

Hello There.

HVR-V1u The repair cost is $188.00

HVR-Z5U The repair cost is $312.00

This is their response (estimate!) to the following:

Hello,

I am shopping around for repair estimates. Sending the cameras off for physical estimates without any idea of what the actual might be is expensive and wasteful, as I live in Alaska and shipping is expensive.

These cameras are not worth spending lots of money on, especially the V1U. I would consider selling them as parts stock as well, if that is an option. I don't use them except rarely.

I have already had lots of work done to the Z5, but it is more broken than ever (thanks Lifetime Service Center!)

Here are the details:

V1U:

-Opening the LCD screen causes a short and camera power cycles.
-Lens seems really susceptible to vibration (no error codes)
-Seems to have a larger than acceptable amount of aliasing on diagonal lines/fine detail. I don't know if this is endemic to the camera or if it is out of adjustment.

Z5U:

-lens error E:62:10
-lens unit (replaced by Lifetime) has fallen apart inside, (related to zoom) and now makes whirring sound, no usable image, can see inside of housing through viewfinder!
-Firewire port having physical problems - works, until it is jostled (even slightly)

Please let me know what you think!

Thanks,

Gene

Update:

I shipped the cameras off to CamcorderRepair.com within a couple days after the last post (2 months ago)

They came back to me a week later with more accurate (higher) costs, which I considered, and then approved, sending them a check immediately. (I save a bit using check rather than PayPal or plastic)

Total cost for both cameras is now around $900 (not including shipping)

Last I called (last week) the cameras were supposed to be shipped out Tuesday.....last Tuesday.

Here is the comment sent to me about the Z5U (the one warranted by Sagemax and 3 botched repairs by Lifetime Service Center)

"Hello there
We have received your equipment for evaluation and repair.
Your camcorder has been examined and it was found the Lens unit ass'y, tape deck mechanism assembly and fire wire port need to be replaced.
The final repair cost is $492.00" (was "HVR-Z5U The repair cost is $312.00")

Here is what I got back from them re: the V1U which I bought as battered/used when Lifetime was holding my Z5:

"Hello there
We have received your equipment for evaluation and repair.
Your camcorder has been examined and it was found the main and LCD back panel need to be replaced. moisture damage
The final repair cost is $446.00" (was "HVR-V1u The repair cost is $188.00")

Again: DO NOT buy Sagemax warrantees! Totally worthless!

Sounds like the repair guy spilled his coffee on your LCD back panel while fixing the other problem. I had a broken firewire port on my old Canon HV40. I searched everywhere for a good repair place and finally came to the conclusion that it made more sense to just sell it to someone who needed it for a second camera, who already had a working firewire in his main camera. They were going to charge me $300+ to fix it and the camera cost me $650 brand new. I just sold it, took the money and bought my GH2 with it. I don't trust these guys. Once they have your camera, they have you by the you know what's...good luck with the repair Gene.

Thanks Michael, I'll need it. I think I should have sold the cams for parts and spent the money on a new one. Hindsight.

I wanted the Z5 for my Glidecam rig (it's all set up for the Z5)

I wanted the V1 as a beater, basically. Its LCD was already broken (camera power cycled when it was opened) but it was super duper great on batteries and the lens was sharp.....too sharp, sometimes....

I am hoping to sell them both maybe, at "refurbished" prices if I'm lucky, and entertain notions of a Blackmagic pocket gizmo or a GH3. Not sure which.

I don't trust those guys either. They don't really communicate well.

Update: I've had the V1U back for about a month. Note the date if you're curious. (back in April!) Looks like it works. Haven't really had the chance to test it. I use better cameras now, and hope that this one works for me when I need a fourth or fifth.

The Z5U is another story: After I asked them AGAIN this week about it, in my "every three or four weeks message" they said they finally got the part on backorder. I think they were implying that I would get it back in a week or two, or is it maybe before next year?

I should have sold these cameras for parts.

+1 on selling them. Get the new 4k sony prosumer coming out to replace.

Yep. Just don't put in the ebay description: "I'm selling these so I can buy the new 4K version"

Anyone wanna buy a V1U and a Z5U?

Heh....

Meanwhile I'll go play with my RX100 mk2 which makes me happier than I probably have a right to be.