Panasonic Lumix FX8 - LCD screen broken

Just read with interest this post and want to add my 3 week old Fuji E900 to the list of

broken LCD's! Went out on friday night with my E900 in my camera case and was using it

fine. Then took it out to take a short film of some friends and to my shock and horror, it

had a white screen with what looked like the markings from the inside of the case (folds

and such)! Nothing can be displayed apart from this burnt on image with reminds me of

the days in photography A'level when i experimented with an enlarger and leaves on

photographic paper to make negative impressions of items to develop. I'm almost

wondering if it could be magnetic damage from being near speakers in a club for a couple

of mins though i didn't see any at the time. I hold a BA Hons degree in photography and

have had a Minolta A1 digital camera before this but wanted a compact to help me start

taking photo's again as i'm currently in a very boring call centre job thats soul destroying

and i've stopped practising in the 3.5 months since i've been in the job. i am so careful

with my cameras so i'm so gutted this has happened when i don't get paid much anyway

and can't even see how i caused it to break. I took it into Jessops yesterday and the first

lady who looked at it said it seemed to have impact damage and wouldn't be covered

under manufacters warranty. The guy manager said it was very strange and i explained i

hadn't dropped it and it had been on my wrist the whole time. He said he'd send it off for

repair under man. warranty if i brought in my receipt ( bought it from web Jessops) and my

serial number, I wasn't in my home city though so now i am back i am going to see what

can be done but i'm worried that it might be held to ransom if i don't agree to pay for what

i don't see as my fault if Fuji just say it is accidental damage not covered for free.

 

Here is a pic of my screen i took with the Minolta A1 ( that has been excellent and hardy

for 3 years now.<div></div>

After trawling the net (yet again) I get the feeling that our problem is not limited to the Lumix range.

This website seems to be down : www.stevesforums.com

But it's cached in google :o)

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:BfRhVIeanPAJ:www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php%3Fid%3D44980%26forum_id%3D15+sd300+cracked+lcd

It lists a similar unexplained LCD failure in the Canon SD300.

 

I am currently considering repairing my camera myself, if I can get hold of a new LCD.

After having a look around, I found this:

http://www.pasc.panasonic.com/Epartr/PartsListChoice.asp

You can order parts direct from Panasonic (US). If they deliver to the UK, I may go for it.. Just hoping I order the right part! LCDs are around $120. (Part # VYK1Q32SVKIT)

Steve--- Have you tried to fix it yourself yet? I am going to try the same approach, and I wished to see if you were successful. I hope that you are, because that will give me more confidence. If you haven't yet tried, I'll keep you posted on my travails.

Hi. I got the fx9 for Christmas, and just yesterday I took it out of it's case (that it's always in) and found that the screen was broken. I was somewhat relieved to hear everyone else's similar stories... but what can be done about it? Will Panasonic recall these models?

 

Frustrated,

 

Rebecca Means

I guess according to this very insightful thread, it now REALLY

PAYS to get a digital camera that includes an optical viewfinder.

Having a viewfinder would not be all that much of a benefit in the case of having a broken LCD. I have no problem in aiming the camera, it's being unable to modify the settings which is the main drawback.

 

I am still looking for a European supplier of a replacement LCD, but have had to luck so far. I could order from the Panasonic US website, but I don't think they deliver internationally. Getting a US friend to forward me an LCD is an option, although there must be a simpler way. I'd probably have trouble at customs anyway, knowing my luck so far!

 

By the way, the part number for 2.5" screen as used in the DMC-FX9 and DMC-LX1 is VYK1Q32SVKIT.

For the 2.0" screen as used in the DMC-FX8 the part number is VYK1N95SVKIT.

 

Any help would be appreciated in locating a source for this part in Europe :o)

Identical stories world wide my wife purchased a new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 from 47th.Digital 1552 Broadway New York 10036 on 1st.December 2005 together with a recommended Digital Concepts camera case and MACK (mackcam.com) international 5 year warranty, my wife has been using the camera without problem up to 17th.January 2006 when it was taken out of it's case the LCD was obviously defective with a horizontal V shaped smudge similar to those defects found by the many other reports on your web site. I have as required by the

5 Year Mack International Warranty reported the fault by e-mail to the company but despite repeatedly sending the e-mail to it's various departments since 17th.January 2006 I have still to receive even the courtesy of a response. Panasonic repair centre in UK say many similar cases reported in UK with Panasonic allegedly refusing to repair/replace the LCD under it's UK 12 Month Warranty, under the UK Sale of Goods Act these Panasonic cameras are obviously not fit for the purpose and should either be repaired/replaced or given a full refund. But what do I do from the UK for a camera purchased in good faith in New York? Answers would be appreciated from all sources particularely from any source in USA with knowledge of sale of goods laws pertaining to this situation.

 

Alan Robb Gibson

Argh!

I was hoping to not find a thread like this, but alas...I have.

Same thing happened to my camera, the FX8 that I have had for about a month. The bad news is that I�m in Argentina only days away from heading into Patagonia, and I don�t think I can afford a new camera. Any suggestions? I filled out one of Panasonic�s forms, but is that going to be of any help?

Has anyone fixed it themselves?

Help help.

Thanks guys.

Jeremy

You can add me to the list of FX-9 owners whose screen mysteriously cracked on the right side near the middle after owning it less than a month! I'm guessing that the screen on these camera's is so large that the body must flex too much for it. Inherent defect if I ever saw one. I'll post a picture when I have a chance. -John

Hello folks!

 

My Name is Isaac and I got my Lumix FX9 in October 2005. The camera has now is

showing the same screen issue that other people is expressing in this forum. A burst at

the lower-right corner of the screen, near the controls of the camera.

This is very disconcerting. Is this a common problem with the LX1 camera from panasonic too? I got this camera over Chrismas and it has been fine, but if the screen goes black like the pictures of the cameras above, it is pretty much useless. It seems that this is something that panasonic has to address if this many people are having problems with their screens, maybe a recall is in order. Anybody else out there with an LX1 that has this problem?

Here's my FX-9. Look familiar?<div></div>

I believe the LX1 has the same LCD as the FX9. I've not seen any case of a broken LX1 screen though, so maybe the problem doesnt exist. Keep us posted.. and maybe just for fun, put the camera in your pocket, then take it outside on a cold day, then back into your pocket. ;o)

Well, if mine does break, I would definately order the lcd part and try and replace it myself, it can't be that hard and if it doesn't work, well I'm not out much anyway.

I just got off the phone with Bigston Digital Service, 1590 Touhy Ave., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, 1-888-439-2676. This was the number I got for an email request to Panasonic's customer support. They advised me by phone that the LCD break is a defect and is covered under warranty. They email I got for Panasonic said the same thing, with the caveat that there is no ther sign of physical damage to the camera. I also believe this may be covered under the buyer protection plan with American Express. I'm not certain who to make the claim to. Has Panasonic fixed or not fixed anyone's LCD after sending it directly to them recently? -John

I just sent my camera off to Bigston Digital Service a few days ago, so I will let you know if they return it in a timely manner.

Hi,

 

I've just had the same problem in Spain. Could you please forward me the Panasonic email recognising this failure to beltransimo @ hotmail.com to show it to my local store?

 

Thanks in advance

John, I would also possibly benefit from a copy of that e-mail. If its not too much trouble, could you send me a copy, as well? (brandondabney@hotmail.com) Many, many thanks, Brandon

 

P.S. This thread has been very enlightening. It has greatly helped my sanity.

I've just contacted Panasonic Spain and they don't have any reported design flaw concerning this model. Nevertheless, they've prompted me to visit my local dealer....let's see....

Just to give everyone an update I found out that my camera is indeed being fixed under warranty. I sent my camera in to

Bigston Digital Service

1590 Touhy Ave.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007

Phone: 888-439-2676

and was told that they are backed up so they actually sent my camera to Panasonic directly to be fixed. I called Panasonic at the number given to me by Bigson at (847) 468-5543 and was told that the parts had been ordered for my camera and that it will be repaired and sent back to me within the next few weeks. Alan, I got your email and to respond I do not have any email addresses for either Panasonic or for Bigston. I used the Panasonic web form to send them emails about this problem. It may be helpful for anyone to reference my case number with Panasonic, case # 22263251. This case should document the problem with the lcd screen as well as direct Panasonic to this thread. A couple of you asked for a copy of an email from Panasonic admitting fault, but I have never recieved such an email and actually when I was on the phone with Panasonic last week to find out when I should be getting my camera back the representative I spoke with said that no design flaw has been reported. However, the warranty clearly states that they will only fix the camera if it is a manufacturers defect so go figure. In the mean time good luck to you all in getting this problem resolved.

Just reading through the posts on here and I owned my brand new Panasonic FX9 for less than 3 weeks and the screen went. I had an FX7 prior to this and didnt have any problems with it at all. Anyway I contacted the authorised repair centres in the UK who deal with Panasonic cameras and none of them would entertain a repair under warranty. I never dropped the camera and it was always in a protective case, so why did the screen break! Same scenario as the other posts on here. So.......... I asked the repair centres to quote me on a repair of the screen. The cost was going to be around �180.00 and a new camera only would cost me about �270 online. My next route was to fix it myself! Literally there are 5 screws to undo on the camera and you unattach 2 ribbon cables from the screen. I sourced a new screen from a company in the UK called SEME and it cost me �72.25 inclusive of VAT and postage. All I had to do was reattach the ribbon cables from the new screen, put the 5 screws back and your away! This was almost half the price of an authorised repair centre fixing my camera. Anyone would like the contact details for SEMS then it is 01664 484000, all you need to do is ask them for a new LCD screen for your Lumix DMC-FX9 camera.

 

I know its not the ideal and Panasonic should really be looking into this more thoroughly, but its the best option I could come up with to get my camera back working.

 

Hope thats helped some of you.

 

All best

 

 

Neil

(An unhappy Panasonic Owner)

That's great news Neil, I will probably follow your example and fix my camera myself, as Panasonic UK are ignoring me.

Hi fellow Lumix owners,

I started this thread a short time ago just to see if I was the only person with this problem on the FX8/7/9 cameras. It would seem to me that this is far from the case and I am glad that now other people can see that this is a real issue with these cameras. As Brandon Dabney so rightly said, "This thread has been very enlightening. It has greatly helped my sanity."

I have recently sent off a three page letter to the MD of Panasonic UK, the MD and manager of my local camera retailer and to BBC TV's Watchdog consumer programme detailing my issues with the camera, and including a 36 page evidence document with this complete thread up to Feb 1st 06 and other threads from other sites relating the same issue (as per links dated Jan 09 & Steve Camber's link on Jan 17th, and also an "FX8 Screen Broken" thread on Clubsnap.com).

I have since had a replacement FX8 sent from my local supplier, and more importantly am currently dealing with Panasonic UK who wish to inspect my camera to get to the bottom of this problem.

 

We have an undeniable weight of evidence on this site and generally across the web and this needs to be utilised properly and directed toward the stores and more importantly Panasonic themselves.

Panasonic have been nothing but very courteous and helpful in the light of this evidence, and my problem with the many updates across the web is that people are not using the information and evidence we have accumulated in the right way.

We have a three tier system going on here: STORES / AUTHORISED REPAIR CENTRES / PANASONIC. The stores deny all liability and send the cameras to the Authorised Repair Centres. These are most likely guys in industrial units and NOT Panasonic themselves, which is why Panasonic are unfortunately unaware of these issues.

We need to be sending letters & emails with this evidence (not just links) to Panasonic directly and our stores so that this issue gains the recognition it deserves.

 

Invalidating our warranties by replacing our own screens is NOT the answer as this bypasses the stores and most importantly Panasonic themselves who need to be made aware of this issue.

Use the information contained here and across other sites on the web - do some research, get the evidence and send it in. Do not take the BS and compromise.

Make your local Panasonic representatives aware of this issue (I am currently dealing with Panasonic in the UK - write to the head of Customer Service, or as I did, get the name of the local Pano MD and direct it to them) so that this can be sorted out properly, not covered up and bodged repairs at our expense.

 

As I say, I have had my camera replaced, but this issue is wider than just my camera - we are all affected or we wouldn't be reading this thread. Get this issue resolved for yourselves AND for the other unfortunates that this is happening to. Maybe if Pano are aware of this issue and public awareness raised, we can do something positive about a trusted brand that we've all invested in. I mean, Panasonic electronics with Leica photographic technology - it's a bit like Lexus and Mercedes joining to make a luxury car.

There is a pedigree and cachet to this range and it is up to us, the consumers, who are effectively road-testing these cameras to provide feedback to Panasonic to protect our investment - both the cameras we have now and in future purchases.

 

Let's be positive about this and get the problem sorted at the source.

Tim I 100% agree with everything you have written, and I too am of the belief that Panasonic to a large extent remain unaware of this issue because they are simply seen by the "authorised repair centres" and not Panasonic themselves.

 

However.......... I was in a position of going on holiday and my choice was purchase a brand new camera (which wouldnt not in hells chance of been another panasonic after this fiasco) or get my camera fixed. The cheapest option for me and by far the quickest was to order a screen myself and carry out what is a very simple repair (2 ribbon cables and 5 screws).

 

If I had the luxury of time on my side or not needing the camera then I guess I would have gone down the same avenue as yourself.

 

I wish you the best of luck with the people at Panasonic and will be checking this thread regularly to see any outcomes.

 

Good luck

 

Neil

I can tell you that two weeks ago, I sent a very detailed letter to Panasonic's customer service here in the states, along with pictures, and have yet to hear back. I also emailed their tech support as previously noted. They are aware of the issue, though perhaps not of the breadth of it.