My HS51 has developed what I can only describe as a "blue corner". The lower right corner is more intensely blue than the rest of the image, which still looks fine. This started about 2 weeks ago as a small spot on the left edge in the middle (top to bottom) of the image. It has evolved and changed and now covers a triangular section of the lower right corner. I thought it was probably the bulb, which has about 1.5K hours on it. I ordered a new bulb and I just installed it. The blue corner is still there.

I know projectors used to get "dust blobs". Is it possible that a dust-blob is causing this problem? If so, how do I clean it out? I replaced the filter at the same time I replaced the bulb. The old filter didn't look too bad and it only had about 600 hours on it. I've replaced the filter every 1K hours as recommended.

My projector has a total of about 3.8K hours on it. Is it possible that an LCD panel is bad?

Any thoughts? TIA.

Craig

I could be your polarizer plate.
One question- at 1500 hrs did the lamp look dim compared to the new one?

Not really. The old lamp still looked fairly bright. Can I clean the polarizer plate?

Thanks.

Craig

My undersatnding is that they (if more than one of them) need to be replaced and it has to be done by tech level skills. If you like your PJ and like to keep it call Sony and find out how much in order to decide what to do about it. I am assuming it is no longer under warranty.

How likely is it that this is the problem? Are there other possibilities?

Craig

My understanding is that once there is color cast Sony with replace the whole panel/prism assembly. I hope someone with such experience would elaborate. Good luck.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Does my description of the problem sound like the polarizer plate is bad? Does anyone know the cost of repairs and the turnaround time?

Craig

Definitely blue polarizer problem. Open it up to confirm if out of warranty. If in warranty get it fixed.

Definitely blue polarizer problem. Open it up to confirm if out of warranty. If in warranty get it fixed.
It's out of warranty. If I open the unit, what would I look for to "confirm" the blue polarizer problem? Also, any idea on cost of repair? Thanks.

Craig

Anyone know the cost of this repair? I've e-mailed Sony, but no response yet.

Thanks,

Craig

I have the unit down and ready to open. Does anyone know what to look for to confirm the blue polarizer problem? Are there any tricks I should know about opening (and re-closing) the unit?

Craig

Just look at the panels and look for heat damage which is discoloration.
Also you are better off to call Sony rather than email.

Do you have their phone #. I couldn't find it on the website.

Craig

Have you tried 800-222-sony?
Do a search on hs50 here. I believe I read a direct no and person name but can't recall.

That # is their Tech Support #. I didn't call it because I figured they would just refer me to the Service and Repair folks.

I have received a confirmation e-mail from Sony. It says they'll send an estimate. I think I'll wait for that before I try opening the unit myself. Thanks for all your help.

Craig

When I called last year regarding my pre amp I got their tech person and we spolke about the issue. Then he gave me # to reach a higher level tech and consequently a tech center.
But wait & see what the email will say.

From the Sony Service e-mail:
Based upon the information you entered, your unit appears to be out-of warranty. A parts and labor quote will be provided to you once we receive your unit. A diagnostic fee of $26.00 will be charged. If you accept the repair quote, the diagnostic fee of $26.00 will be applied to your final repair charge.
Hmmm.... so I guess I need to send the unit in to them before I get an estimate. I would really like to have some idea how much this is gonna cost *before* I send it in to them. I'll ask again, :) has anyone encountered this blue polarizer problem and does anyone have any idea what it takes ($$$) to repair it? If it is prohibitively expensive to repair, (and anything over about 35% of the cost of a new unit, I would find prohibitively expensive), I would consider replacing/upgrading it. If it's only $100 to $200, I would repair it and wait for even better, less expensive technology down the road.

Any insights are greatly appreciated.

Craig

If I recall correctly reading somewhere it is going to be about $600. But better wait for some one who knows for sure. But we don't know if it is the plates for sure either. Tough situation.

Well, I sent the pj in to Laredo. It cost me $86 to ship it UPS Ground and that was with a "Sony" discount on the packaging. It won't get there until next Tuesday, but I'll let everyone know what transpires. Thanks for your help.

Craig

$86 for ground is insaine for a box that is about $15lbs. I shipped a screen about 40 lbs to DC for about the same via FedEx.

I too have this problem on my HS10 now. After about 4-5 years, and my second bulb at 300 hours, I have a blue X mark. I really would have liked to wait another year before replacing it with a 1080P projector.

Well, I sent the pj in to Laredo. It cost me $86 to ship it UPS Ground and that was with a "Sony" discount on the packaging. It won't get there until next Tuesday, but I'll let everyone know what transpires. Thanks for your help.

Craig
Did you take it into one of those "we ship it" type places? they really hammer you!

My HS51 developed a bright blue blob near the top center. It slowly expanded to nearly 50% of the center of the screen, and seems to shift or expand and contract. There is now also a bright blue spot in the lower right corner. Like you, I tried installing a new bulb (and filter). No change.

Since I now have several HS51/51a/60 bulbs and filters, so I'm looking for a new HS51a/HS60 on ebay and other sources. I'm curious to know if I could replace the HS51 blue polarizer panel myself, or if there is any other option for service and repair of these units. I'd like to repair it and keep it as a spare or sell it or give it to family or friend.

I'm on my second bulb and 2.5 years on my HS20 and I'm seeing what I think is the same issue. There's a dark blue blob in the corner of the screen that seems to change size and shape, and another near the center.

I thought I read that a blue polarizer problem would result in yellow discoloration not blue, but I'm not sure now?

I was hoping it would last another 6 months or so, when I could upgrade to one of the new 1080p projectors...

vpl-hs51 blue blur or all blue

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ok i have read through so many people with this problem. Got mine from ebay and had no warranty. Called and talked with sony parts and service. They estimated cost to fix mine at $125 for the two blue polarizer to $1800 for the optical block, and that was parts only. I was not happy, got the idea to poke a plastic zip tie in the case and over 10 min the center of the screen cleared up some. It was only the center, not sure what i poked while pj was on but the center of the screen cleared up some, and now have a cleared up circle in the very center. I think i had bumped the blue polarizer. I ended up taking the optical block out and checked it out, could see the same pattern on the blue lcd/polarizer assembly. Still could not get it to clear up and the polarizers on mine are glued in. I did not take the polarizers off to see what exactly had the pattern. But found a cheap way to cut down how much blur was showing. I got some white tissue paper, cut it into a strip and basicly made a filler to block the blue some, slide it down between the clear block and the blue lcd panel and tape it in place, works good for me but hurts the image just a little, but if you can live with that then, there is my fix, I will keep trying to fix it and poste the better fix if can fix it

Has any one found anything else about this problem. I know sony extened there warenty on some of there rear projection tv`s wega model due to the same problem,but have not been able to find any info on the projectors.

I had this problem, a blue blob, that was not a dust blob which I thought it was originally. Then later other blobs appeared in different areas.

I was forced to send it back to Sony under warranty, they had to replace the polarizer elements and optical block. They had gotten damaged through heat, during a particularly hot summer.

Unfortunately this polarizer problem happens a lot with lcd's. Not sure if the newer machines are any better.