lincasanova

Video camera disappointment/drama. Just got out the camera after fully charging it for our trip TOMORROW and after opening it to see if there was a cartridge already in it ,it would not close. Not wanting to force it in any way I went directly to a camera store that sent me to the official Sony technical service.

I've been told a sensor is probably the culprit but will have to replace the entire cartridge holder.

Just wondering if anyone thinks it would be logical to TRY to get it fixed during our 6 day stay in BKK?

I did not find a service center in Thailand yet in my google searches. Any thoughts or advice?

kuluk

I don't know if this will be useful info or not, but I sympathize! A few years ago in Bali my digital camera broke and I took it to Chiang Mai to get it serviced at a non-Indonesian service center. It took about 3 weeks to get it back, and a friend mailed it from CM to Bangkok, where I picked it up later. This was at an authorized service center in a mall, so they are obligated to go through official channels, rather than try to do any "blackmarket" repairs.

good luck!

dogster

There's a huge Sony shop in Siam Paragon on, I think, the third floor facing a big atrium. East to find. I'd go there on arrival and let them direct you.

At least you can buy another one there if all else fails.

lincasanova

Thanks Couldn't find the service center online. I will check it out. Are those malls open on Sundays? ( sorry.. too lazy to google. still packing and getting house/animals ready )

Kathie

Yes, Siam Paragon is open on Sundays, and the Sony store there is open on Sundays.

lincasanova

Thanks again everybody.

Hanuman

The Sony at the Siam Paragon is a shop or a Sony showroom and you can probably take it there, assuming your video camera is a sony. They will probably send it to their nearest service center unless it's something minor that the salesman can fix on the spot. Service centers are listed here for Bangkok: http://www.sony.co.th/section/servic...ite=hp_en_TH_i

In my experiences with repairs at Sony and Canon service center you should expect a week or more especially since your machine sound like a model that they no longer produce - a camcorder using video tapes.

I suggest you take it to a repair shop in your country and hope that they can do something about it there before your travel. Otherwise it might be wise to invest in a newer machine that uses memory cards instead of tapes.

lcuy

I agree with the advice to take a different camera, rather than waste time running around and worrying if repairs will done before you leave the country. I noticed a nice little video at costco last week that was super cheap.

Another idea would be to check your other electronics to see if they do video. My tiny little iPod takes nice enough videos that I use it for that more than listening to music.

My Blackberry Bold takes great video as long as there's enough light. I have an extra 8 gb card that will store tons of little movies.

Or does your regular camera do video? It seems even the cheapes ones do now, but again, make sure you have extra memory cards.

rhkkmk

buy a new one

lincasanova

you are all right. probably not worth the hassle. my BB and other camera does take video and our son ( owner of this camera) also has an IPAD so .. will let him do the filming.

THis has the tiny tapes.. I didn't think it was THAT old, but I must be wrong.

I'll be in the states n February and will probably just buy a new one then unless you tell me prices in BKK are comparable.

dogster

By the time you read this - it will be 'welcome to Bangkok'!

crosscheck

I would stick with what you have - no need to purchase a new camcorder in BKK. Here in the states they are also practically extinct. The Flip, a tiny digital video device, would have been fun for your son, but it too has gone out of business. Smart phones are pretty darn good - they have higher res than the old camcorders, and make it easy to instantly screen and share your footage (How many of those little tapes of school plays and sporting events are just sitting on shelves because nobody ever converted them?) If you're craving better quality than an iPhone, check out the Canon F12 Powershot, a high quality point and shoot digital camera (more like an SLR than a compact) that also shoots terrific videos.

shanek

Any camera that takes tapes would be over 5 years old and in the "disposable" society that we live, would be uneconomical to repair.

All the "cheapy" cameras around now are terrible in low light, but will give you satisfactory results in daylight.

There are stores at home clearing the Flip cameras for under $100, I am sure you will find something similar in Bangkok, but if you have a recent smart-phone, they will do a similar job.

If you are really keen on buying something decent, then Pantip Plaza would be my first stop.... http://www.thebangkokshoppingguide.c..._plaza_bangkok

Curt1591

Make that a "G12", a great camera.

It does, indeed, have many of the features of DSLRs, without so much of the the dust issues.

shanek

Without wanting to start a debate on the pros and cons of DSLR camera's, the reason one would buy a DSLR is due to the ability to choose the quality and type of lens to suit the performance and style of photography required.

The G12 is a "nice" upgrade to a point and shoot, but IMHO, should not be compared to a DSLR. With a minimum aperture setting of f2.8 and a maximum telephoto range of 140mm, it is not really a DSLR replacement.

Curt1591

sorry

crosscheck

Oops - it is a G12. And you're right - it's not a DSLR, and I didn't mean to compare it. I just wanted to point out that it takes terrific videos, way better than anything you could shoot with the old camcorders. It is also perfect for the traveler who doesn't want to schlep lenses and is a favorite of professionals - One friend, a top commercial photographer, borrows mine whenever he goes on vacation. (We used to have the previous model, the G11, which he also loved.) Another friend, a cinematographer, took several cameras on a long trip to South America, but only used the G11.

lincasanova

hello everyone, yes.. enjoying BKK and using our Blackberry for some things and our son arrives tonight from his work and has an IPAD, so , we are fine. Thanks for all the suggestions. If we do decide to buy a new camera here or on my upcoming trip back to the uSA, I will keep your suggestions in mind.

lincasanova

actually.. my BB takes very nice videos and I am wondering if I even need anything else at this point in my life and with my lack of photographic skills anyway. The photos and videos I took are just fine.