Why Is My Camcorder Not Working? Troubleshooting And Fixing

INTRODUCTION

Are you having a problem with your camcorder? Are you trying to figure out what is wrong with the camcorder? You may be asking yourself - did I do something wrong, or can I fix it myself?

Well, you will get questions answered in this article.

Here, you’ll get the scoop of some of the most common camcorder malfunctioning issues; that will help you understand whether you need a technician or not to fix it.

CAMCORDER SCREEN IS BLACK WHEN TURNED ON?

Here I’m trying to give you the best possible solution to such a display problem. Before moving forward, keep in mind that each of the following steps could fix the problem; don’t forget to check the LCD status and viewfinder after completing each move.

Moreover, how to perform the entire task totally depends on your camcorder model; check the model-specific operating instructions before you go ahead. Now, coming back to the solutions -

Press the Play or View Images button.
Check whether the pictures or videos appear on the screen or not?
If no picture appears, it seems like an LCD malfunction.
Proceed with the following to troubleshoot LCD and viewfinder:

1. Make sure that the lens cover is open; you’ve removed the lens cap.

2. Ensure the camera is in STANDBY mode.

3. Make sure you’ve inserted a fully-charged battery.

4. Now, turn on the camcorder and enable CAMERA mode.

5. Check if the images are displayed on LCD, or check whether you can see the frame in front of your camcorder lens through the viewfinder or not?

6. If still there is no picture on the LCD or a black screen appears in the viewfinder, your camcorder needs service.

I. The viewfinder and LCD of some camcorders will not display at the same time. If your camcorder has such a power saver function, check the viewfinder by keeping the LCD closed and vice-versa.

II. If the file format is in 4K resolution and 4K Output Sel is in the HDMI option, the images will display only on the external monitors. However, if you want to see it on the camcorder display screen, when the camera is connected via HDMI, you have to set the 4K Output Sel. in the Memory Card + HDMI.

power problem?

CAMCORDER TURNING ON / TURNING OFF ISSUE

If it’s a minor power supply problem, you could fix this problem on your own following this procedure:

Firstly, detach the battery and connect the AC power adapter to your camcorder.
Then, plug it into the nearby electric outlet.
Next, Power on the camcorder.
If your camcorder still does not turn on, then look for technical service and repair.
On the other hand, if you succeed in turning on the camcorder using external power, the problem may be in the battery or its’ charging system. Proceed by troubleshooting the battery.

BATTERY ISSUE

The power problem may come with either the battery or the connection; that the battery has with the camcorder; even the problem could be the battery charger itself. Check where the problem is going on following these simple steps -

Remove the battery AC power adapter to stop the external power supply.
Come back to the battery; make sure you're going to insert a full-charged battery.
Place the battery back on the camcorder.
Try again to turn the camcorder.
Reset your camcorder back to its’ original factory settings.
If the problem persists with your old battery, follow the same using a different battery. If the camcorder still does not power on, technical service is required for battery enabled power unit.

CAMCORDER IS NOT PLAYING TAPES?

If your camcorder is facing issues during playing tapes, maybe the problem is either in the tape or playback unit. Follow the steps below to figure out what’s the matter.

Make sure you have enabled the VTR or PLAYBACK mode.
The tapes need to be rewound from the beginning of the recording.
Now, try to play the tape.
If that fails, try with another tape. If the camcorder can play another cassette, then your problem is solved.
If the issue still exists, that means the problem is in the camcorder; try to fix it following these steps:

1. Remove the tape from the cassette compartment.

2. Turn off the camcorder.

3. Disconnect the power supply for 30 seconds; remove the battery and disconnect the AC adapter from the camcorder.

4. Reconnect the power supply after 30 seconds.

5. Reinsert the tape and attempt to play it again.

6. If it still does not playback, your camcorder needs technical service.

If you see any warning indicator, research about the particular online or go through the instruction manual for specific information. Maybe you’ll get the solution in the manual guide.

CONCLUSION

In the end, I must say these troubleshooting tips specifically work for Sony camcorders. Different brands have different options. The basic procedure will be the same; just you have to find out the right options; that your camera brand has assigned for the particular functions.

One more thing, most people often get frustrated whenever their camcorders are in crisis. They start panicking by thinking that the problem could affect their recorded videos to be corrupted or deleted permanently.

Relax! Several applications are there; that will help recover the files. However, we suggest transferring the files to a storage device or computer as soon as your shooting season is over. You’ll find more regarding this matter in my next blog, how to add a camcorder to the computer and transfer videos.

Evangeline

Evangeline is one of our expert authors based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. she is recognized as one of the leading educators in the photography industry, conducting workshops and teaches many aspects of photography; hence she started to produce educational content about photography and frequently writes content for Filmosphere.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 0 comments