EX1 firmware upgrade problem

[Don Greening]

Thanks, Craig. I haven’t bothered to download the directions like you have, so I’m just taking other people’s word for it. I still think, though, when troubleshooting the update that one of the first things we should ask is if they’re using the proper USB port.

BTW I downloaded the directions from your provided link.

– Don

[Craig Seeman]

[Don Greening] “I still think, though, when troubleshooting the update that one of the first things we should ask is if they’re using the proper USB port. “

And follow that by asking if they’ve made the sacrifice to the appropriate supreme tech being of their choice.

[Craig Seeman]

I’d thought I’d post this link to a blog to an EX3 owner whose camera was bricked.
He first attempted on a mac and the software wouldn’t start.
He then attempted on Windows and the software crashed on quit.

https://ninofilm.net/blog/2010/03/16/sony_firmware_fail/

[Don Greening]

After reading Nino Leitner’s blog I’m wondering if his EX3 can be fixed even at a regular Sony repair facility. Specifically, can a firmware upgrade be done when the camera won’t even start up? Doesn’t the camera have to be on to do the upgrade? His won’t even turn on now.

For the present, I’m recommending that the D.I.Y. upgrades not be used until Sony either researches if the software is indeed “sketchy” or not and (Sony) also comes up with a plan of action in the camera owner’s favour to deal with existing upgrade failures that leave cameras useless.

People that own this level of camera are not “hobbyists” and cannot afford to have their tools of the trade rendered useless. Until Sony makes some changes just say “no” to the online upgrades. If you must have the upgrade done then take to Sony and have them do it. Then the responsibility is theirs if they render a camera dead.

– Don

[Craig Seeman]

Although I’ve posted this elsewhere on the forum, for those following this thread Sony has told me the following on the phone:

If you have EX1 firmware 1.11 and below please do not do this yourself.
Sony will do it for $135 and 5-8 business day turnaround.

As Don mentions, most of us are not hobbyists and personally even the small risk of thousands of dollars on repair and the accompanying downtime are not worth the risk. As a professional I’m not going to complain about $135 for a service that is then warrantied.

[Thomas Vecsei]

Horrible!

Sony just wrote me, that the repair costs are 2.082 EUR that 2.800 USD!!!!

So everyone out there: Stay away from upgrading your firmware your own, because even when you have done everything correct and you are not to blame you have to pay 2.800 USD!!!!!
I would even dare to say, stay away from Sony !!!

Thomas Vecsei
info@eventfilm.at
https://eventfilm.at
http://www.facebook.com/eventfilm

[Andy Nickless]

[Thomas Vecsei] “Sony just wrote me, that the repair costs are 2.082 EUR that 2.800 USD!!!!”

That’s terrible.
How can they possibly justify that?

[Thomas Vecsei] “I would even dare to say, stay away from Sony !!! “

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. After being a professional product and architecture photographer for years (and, I think knowing how to treat a camera reasonably well) I ventured from Sony to Panasonic when the HVX200 came out.

Bad move.

It cost me a fortune. I sent the camera in for a focus issue and they “found” all sorts of things wrong.

Strangely, everything except the broken battery locating lugs was apparently my fault and I ended up paying an awful lot of money.

[Thomas Vecsei]

Hi Craig,

I’m fully with you, that 135 USD is nothing compared to the costs for the repair (mine is 2.800 USD). But Sony offered the offical DIY-Upgrade after a long time of bring in only-upgrades, so my thought was, that their software must have been thoroughly tested.

But now I know better and event worse I now read about Sony technicans who recommend not to do it yourself for firmware 1.05 or below. Mine was 1.05 …

From the legal point of view of course Sony has clearly put away all risks with having the customer accept the License Agreement of the Upgradetool, but it’s also a matter of fairness – this software has more risks that one could assume.

Thomas Vecsei
info@eventfilm.at
https://eventfilm.at
http://www.facebook.com/eventfilm

[Thomas Vecsei]

update / light on the horizon: Sony Japan is looking for a solution to reset the Firmware on the DPR-board. Now this can be done only in the factory. With a working solution each authorized service center around the globe could then do the reset without exchanging the complete board for 2.800 USD …

[Craig Seeman]

Thomas, any revised estimate on the repair?
Technically there’s no reason Sony couldn’t do the above from the “get go” but it seems they put little thought into a “brick” policy beyond the most expensive route. They really should have had this in place or at least stated that such would be in place in the future.

Thomas thank you very much for reporting this and please do keep us informed. Much appreciation.