My camera has a black LCD screen and Lens view. I can play video but I cant record anything but audio. I see I'm not the only one. Maybe we can put together some kind of document and send it to samsung.
I own the same camera, I have had the same problem on and off for years. Here is what the solution is: ON THE TOP OF THE CAMERA THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BUTTONS WHERE THE PLAYBACK IS AND REWIND ETC... YOU WILL ALSO SEE SEE A BUTTON " BLC / MULTI DISP. wHEN YOUR VIEWER IS BLACK PRESS AND HOLD THAT DOWN AND YOUR PICTURE WILL COME BACK UP. I don't know what this feature is for maybe a lousy fade control, but this will bring your picture back in to the viewfinder. Good Luck...
It's your CCD chip. Believe me, I hassled through this whole thing with Samsung. The CCD's in alot of cameras (Sony, Samsung etc.) came from a bad batch a couple years back. The other manufacturers offered free repairs, Samsung denied the problem even existed. I found out about it when my camera went "black" while trying to record. Pre-recorded tapes played fine but when I tried to record only the audio came through - no video. I had to work Samsung over from top to bottom and finally got my unit repaired at no cost. They told me "no" alot of times but I kept asking to speak to higher ranking people and finally talked some sense into an "executive customer service" representative after about a 45 minute discussion. Call 1800-SAMSUNG and don't give up until your camera is fixed at no cost to you!
Class action lawsuit was filed. Go to www.samsungclassaction.com for more info.
OK folks, I think I know what is going on here. I have had an SCD103
sitting on a shelf for a couple of years and decided to use it for a
project. I was very disappointed to find that the LCD and the
viewfinder were black like that of everyone else on this topic. I was
happy to hear that Samsung had agreed to replace it.
I decided to if I could get video through the Firewire connection to
the computer. This is a common feature of camera's with a IEEE1394
connector. So I plugged the cable into the camera and then into the
firewire port on my computer. The computer recognized the camera and
BAM! the video instantly started working on the camera. Both the LCD
and viewfinder and as expected I saw the video on the preview screen
Microsoft Movie Maker.
I think what has happened here is that the main battery went completely
dead while on the shelf and I have no "watch" battery in the camera for
the date and time. Leaving it on the shelf with a dead battery for 2
years has caused a software glitch in the camera. My best guess is that
something occurs when the Firewire is connected to reset the camera and
it starts working. I have been using the camera for over a week with
not a single issue. Nothing was ever wrong with the CCD.
The bad news is Samsung is not going to replace it with a newer model now. :(
If anyone else has success with this please let me know, dabeckham at yahoo.
Folks, This a firmware problem, NOT a hardware problem. If you let the main battery die on the unit it does something to the firmware... Try connecting the USB cable or the firewire cable. It does something to reset the firmware and the LCD starts working again!
I also used my FireWire and it reset. Works fine now. My camera sat for 5 years. This was the best advice. Thanks for saving me the money to get it fixed or replaced. I really don't use it that often. But your advice was right on. Thanks again.
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The class action lawsuit regarding this problem was recently settled. By calling Samsung you can either get a free exchange, repair, or refund. If you choose the exchange you will recieve a free camcorder, model number SC-D382. Not a bad deal!!
Actually It is your CCD chip. 100% correct. And actually it is quite an easy fix if you are confident in yourself and can take electronics apart. I am by no means An electronic repair person.
I bought A scd-103 and A scd-107 off of E-Bay and the 103 actually turned on but there was A black screen and when I recorded I could only get audio as well. I then took both cameras apart and swapped the SCD-107 CCD chip into the SCD-103 camera. VOILA it works like new. I don't know where you can buy the CCD chip or even how much it costs. Wish I knew then I would have people send them into me and put the new chip in for them for A cost of $50 dollars + the chip cost. I think A $150 is rediculous to have them just look at it for that price. As I am sure the inflated cost they would charge for the chip itself. If I get enough people interested I will look into how much they do cost and see if it is worth the cost of the camera.
[email protected]
Take care everyone.
Steve
I tried solution 6 and it worked. I have a Samsung SCD86 though, had the same problem. I plugged in the firewire and the USB but it didn't seem to fix it. So I downloaded the device manager and tried using it via Crossover because I have a mac, and it didn't capture anything there. So I wanted to try it on a pc and when I moved upstairs and turned my camera on I could see ****! Somewhere in all that it got fixed! Thanks!!!
OK, years old but my camera has been sitting on the shelf for years, too. The main battery is dead but the backup still powering the right date.
I did similar to Solution #10, but instead of the firewire, I just used the regular USB. I plugged it in, turned it to player mode. My computer didn't recognize it, and didn't install the hardware, but once I unplugged it, the video starting working.
No wonder Samsung denied it was a problem with the CCD. Replacing the CCD probably just rebooted the software. What a screw job those lawyers did to Samsung, with the help of know-it-all technicians and "engineers."
Thanks, dabeckham!
Today is 1/30/2010 and I did not know others were having the same problem until I called Samsung today and was told to pay $160 up front and they would send me a prepaid shipment label to ship the camcorder at no cost. I thought it was strange and went to google to see if I could find a better price and I put in the issues. I located information on the suit filed and called Samsung back with a serious attitude because I felt it was not right to try and continue to rip people off after your lawsuit. So I am to call back Monday to the customer relations department. What a joke!
Same problem here, called samsung and they said for 160 bucks they will look at it, It is the same model, same problem so it has to be the same fix, after getting no where with them i went too
http://www.samsungclassaction.com/index.html
see how i make out there
I have the SAME issue.
I bought my camera in 2004.
I still have the original receipt. Do you think it's optimistic to think I might get any help from Samsung or even a replacement?
The camera worked well for about one year.
The camera modual where it attaches to the printed circuit bord in side has a bad connecion. Take the camera apart and remove the camera modual and reinstall it than it will start working again.
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Usually answered in minutes!
Black screen when you go to standby or record. It will record the sound only and screen stays black. Camcorder is only 3 years old and hasn't had a lot of use.
Exactly the same issue for the same camera. I've found the service manual online so I know how to take the camera apart, but I'm not looking forward to it
i can playback the tape, but when i go to record the LCD screen alonwith the viewfinder are black and show no picture.
I have a three-year old SAMSUNG Mini DV Digital-cam SC-D103. It shows black screen in stand-by and record modes. No picture can be recorded.
Camera works intermittently. Can play old tapes in Player mode. Can record sound, but usually have a blank screen when in Camera mode. Problem for most of last year. Went away for 48 hours, then reappeared, then immediately went away again. Changed tapes, tapped camera housing, experimented with different shutter and camera settings/options, but nothing fixes it ... it just works when it wants to.
I'm experienced problem with camcorder not being able to see what im looking at.I can see the old stuff I record in the summer and haven't used it since.
Black screen when in record or standby mode. Can replay previously recorded video but no new stuff. I get audio only. Camera is only 2 years old, and hasn't had much use. Very disappointing.
I have that exact same problem. And its semi-intermittent.
my screen shows black and my eye view is also black ...how do i take this thing apart and fix it??
I have the same problem as everyone else. Has anyone tried what has been suggested?
I am also having a problem with my camcorder - the lcd and viewfinder are blank when i try to record anything, but i can play an existing tape in it... how am i supposed to try and take this thing apart?
Same problem... black LCD and viewfinder in camera mode... horizontal stripes and a buzzing noice in player mode... like all of you, my camera is not old and not much use... this is so irritating!
Same problem - I can view existing tapes, but can only record audio. Both screen and viewfinder are black. I have no idea how to take this thing apart...
I have samsung SCD -103 camcorder. On camara mode black LCD screen appears and I can not see or record the object. Any help to solve this problem ? Or else camcorder uselees.
NO visual with an open LCD screen, just black, records audio only, can view prerecorded footage.
Samsung says that they will charge me to fix it even though it is a common problem with this camera... I'm sure that there is or will be a criminal suit in the future if not already.
can view tapes, but theres no hope for recording any video. Just blackness....totaL blackness
Same problem with mine....
same here .... I haven't done any steps at this time to resolve, and it seems that we have a faulty chip ... Not sure what to do!
I have the same problem. I tried to record an anniversary party yesterday. The screen was black, and only audio came through. I thought it was the tape, and got another, but the same thing happend....
Mine hasn't worked for about a month after the manufacture warranty wore off. Gonna try to take this apart...UHHH!!!!
My camera has a black LCD screen and Lens view. I can play video but I cant record anything but audio. I see I'm not the only one. Maybe we can put together some kind of document and send it to samsung.
same exact problem everyone is explaining. The solution the guy gives about holding the BLC button did NOT work for me. I do not know if it worked for anyone..but NOT for me.
Anyone had any luck getting replacement from Samsung?
I tried calling Samsung for an exchange or repair and they said no, but would repair it for a mere $160.50....I mentioned the lawsuit, but they said my serial number was not involved for this case - is this ****, or should I continue to pursue the matter?? I find it strange that my SCD103 has the exact same problem, but they fail to recognize it..
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