Blackmagic Forum

I was in the middle of filming a commercial when the SDI signal from the BMCC just shut off. Non of the other accessories including the viewfinder and the director's monitor where picking up signal from the camera. I tried everything possible but nothing worked.

Has anybody experienced this before, if so how did you troubleshoot?

What might likely be the cause or is my camera just defective?

Trust me, this screwed up my entire shoot !

emdy wrote:... I tried everything possible but nothing worked. ...

Is there a source/converter/display video format mismatch? Are you running firmware 1.3? It outputs interlaced/progressive depending on camera settings. (Firmware 1.2 & earlier output progressive only.) From the 1.3 ReadMe: "SDI outputs interlaced video when frame rate is set to 1080p25 or 1080p29.97 and overlays are turned off".

Did you try at least 2 or 3 different BNC cables? Although BNC cables are fairly durable, they can fail. HDMI cables are much less reliable.

Are you using a device to convert the HD-SDI to HDMI? If so, have you double-checked converter settings or tried another converter?

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That's scary... Keep us posted on what ends up happening.

By the sounds of it, it was all working fine... and then suddenly stopped?

Chris Hocking wrote:That's scary... Keep us posted on what ends up happening.

By the sounds of it, it was all working fine... and then suddenly stopped?

Yes it was working all well, I had used it for a shoot about 5 days before and everything was fine. Now this is just the second time I'm using this baby. I was really disappointed and embarrassed.

Peter J. DeCrescenzo wrote:

emdy wrote:... I tried everything possible but nothing worked. ...

Is there a source/converter/display video format mismatch? Are you running firmware 1.3? It outputs interlaced/progressive depending on camera settings. (Firmware 1.2 & earlier output progressive only.) From the 1.3 ReadMe: "SDI outputs interlaced video when frame rate is set to 1080p25 or 1080p29.97 and overlays are turned off".

Did you try at least 2 or 3 different BNC cables? Although BNC cables are fairly durable, they can fail. HDMI cables are much less reliable.

Are you using a device to convert the HD-SDI to HDMI? If so, have you double-checked converter settings or tried another converter?

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Hi Peter and thanks a lot for all the suggestions which I had tried. In fact I had upgraded my firmware already. I have a converter but my monitors all use BNC HD/SD-SDI which I prefer.

I tried switching cables, using converters, using HDMI, switching monitors but non of that helped.

I would suggest contacting technical support directly.. in the meantime.. try downgrading to firmware 1.2 to see if that brings things back up.

Which converter?

Kholi wrote:Which converter?

I was using the SWIT SDI distributor. I tried using the SWIT HD-SDI to HDMI converter and use an IKAN monitor instead of a FLANDERS SCIENTIFIC and it still wouldn't work.

I think I may be experiencing this exact problem... but I can't be fully sure yet.

I was filming, the monitor working fine. Powered the camera down then back on and the monitor stopped working.

I'm using a cheap SDI to HDMI converter. (Cheap but it had been working fine up till now) plugged into a lilliput 5d MK II monitor.

On the SDI converter there is an SDI lock light which now no longer lights up.

I've ordered a different SDI to HDMI converter as I assumed this was the problem.. well i'm hoping anyway, rather than the camera being at fault.

I have tried downgrading the firmware as someone here earlier mentioned but that hasn't changed anything.I had recently upgraded to the newest firmware previous to this.

I may be able to try a blackmagic sdi to hdmi converter tomorrow so will report back if I get the chance.

Austin.

Update:

I managed to test my camera on a Blackmagic SDI to HDMI converted and it does work! So it was just a broken converter that I had.

I hope you get the issue with your sorted!

Austin.

Austin Spinks wrote:Update:

I managed to test my camera on a Blackmagic SDI to HDMI converted and it does work! So it was just a broken converter that I had.

I hope you get the issue with your sorted!

Austin.

Thanks for the follow-up, Austin. Glad to hear your issue was external to the camera. Cheers!

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Insert sigh of relief here.

Austin Spinks wrote:Update:

I managed to test my camera on a Blackmagic SDI to HDMI converted and it does work! So it was just a broken converter that I had.

I hope you get the issue with your sorted!

Austin.

Hi Austin, It is a Swit converter which I have tried with another camera and it worked just fine. I think my camera is having mental issues already.

All I would say is get straight on the phone / email BMD support and i'm sure they'll get this sorted out for you.

This is my second camera because my first was broken... so i'm naturally wary of anything that could be an issue, luckily its not the camera thats the problem for me!

It sounds like it is definitely your camera that is at fault, so I would chase that up with BMD ASAP.


Austin.

Austin Spinks wrote:Update:

I managed to test my camera on a Blackmagic SDI to HDMI converted and it does work! So it was just a broken converter that I had.

I hope you get the issue with your sorted!

Austin.

SIr. Can I ask you what specific Blackmagic SDI to HDMI converter you are using? And what is the broken converter u used? Cause I am experiencing the same problem.
THanks in advance.

Uh-oh this is not good... I was going to get the blackmagic Sdi-hdmi I converter to...