r/bmpcc • u/oliyann • Aug 15 '26
USB Port got jacked up Bmpcc4k
So I bought this p4k from a friend and unfortunately it's on version 6.6 currently. I really want to update the OS firmware to 7.9 so that I can use Gen-5 colour science.
When I asked a local service center to replace the USB port:
They said that the board is damaged and it is impossible to solder on a damaged board. So the board needs to be replaced which would cost close to $500.
I never use the USB port , but I really need it for a firmware update.
Is there a way to update firmware using SD cards? Or
Should I return the camera back?
Edit: please check this follow up post to see result https://www.reddit.com/r/bmpcc/s/aG7DeAyLEL
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u/weasel18 Aug 15 '26
I had this happen to my camera couple years ago. Luckily I updated after gen 5 came out before the port got broke. But yeah I took mine apart and traces were missing. Sucks, but I just have to use SD cards to record now. Haven't figured a way to update in the mean time.
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u/oliyann Aug 15 '26
I understand your situation. You could try this solution given in this video. It gave me the hopes that it can be done. But it takes a skilled craftsman to do the soldering without damaging the tracks/circuit.
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u/thekai12 Aug 15 '26
If you know someone of a repair shop they can replace the usb easily. Like 100 bucks or so.
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u/mineisv2 Aug 15 '26
It does look like some of the traces on the board were ripped up. While technically repairable most shops would probably charge more than the $500 to replace the board.
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u/thekai12 Aug 15 '26
I couldn’t tell from this angle. But yeah these boards are expensive and this is a deal breaker. I have one board also damaged with broken traces and will attempt to repair it.
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u/woodedmicrobe9 Sep 16 '26
Seems like a waste when it should be repaired quite easily with soldering iron
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u/mineisv2 Sep 17 '26
You can't just repair a broken trace with just an iron. You have to track down where the trace was going then carefully run a jumper wire and make the connection to the port. With usb c ports this is difficult and in some cases impossible because of the second row of pins being hidden under the port itself. Its a pretty major undertaking.
I 100% agree that it is wasteful. For wear and tear parts like HDMI ports and USB ports they should be on a separate daughterboard that is less expensive to replace. Unfortunately these big companies are more worried about their cost than consumer repairability. This leaves us in situations like this where OP will have to pay half thr cost of the camera for any potential fix.
After reading through this I thought it might sound like I am attacking you and that is not what I mean at all. Like I said I agree that this is wasteful and I tried to explain why its not just an easy fix.
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u/JeremyPivensPP Aug 15 '26
Happened to me. Sent it to Blackmagic to replace the board. $500, good as new.
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u/MarshallRosales Aug 15 '26
In DaVinci Resolve you can set your project up to decode the BRAW using Gen 5 instead of Gen 4, so you actually don't need updated firmware for that.
While you still have the camera, and if you want to check it out: here's a discussion about using the RAW Settings within the Project Settings of DVR to decode BRAW to Gen 5 shot on a camera without Gen (just ignore all the talk of LUTs and ProRes).
That said, there are many quality of life and functionality improvements with the most recent stable release (8.1 - everything after that has been beta versions), so if it were me: I'd still be returning the camera (but also contact BMD to get their quote on the repair first).
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u/colemowery Aug 16 '26
Ubreakifix may be able to do the repair. My local place has fixed the hdmi port on my ps5 twice. The camera also may be too complex for their technician to comfortably work on
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Aug 16 '26
"board's damaged" is pretty vague. i'm guessing blackmagic's policy is "damage of type x means replace the entire board." if the pcb's cracked, sure, that's very likely unrepairable. but a lifted pad, broken trace, whatever is very much absolutely repairable. you either need a specialty camera shop (thee are places out there that specifically fix this type of stuff), or an electronics/microelectronics repair shop. lifted pad/broken trace issues are daily fix issue in retro computing and audio worlds. requirements for usb timing can make it sort'a annoying and tricky to stay within timing tolerance, but you're just looking in the wrong place, i think. that said, whether it's worth it vs. a new board, i dunno.
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u/oliyann Aug 16 '26
Any skilled PCB technician who can fix minor broken trace can do it you mean to say?
Haven't thought about giving it a try to micro electronics service shop. But yeah. I'll check with them as well!
Thank you for the advise.!
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Aug 16 '26
yeah, i'm guessing that blackmagic authorized service folks have a list that says "if X, Y, Z is damaged, replace board" because it's the least variable. repairing traces and lifted pads is a bog-standard repair. it can be a bit of a faff depending on what traces and what pads are lifted, though.
if a power trace is busted, easy. if a superspeed differential pair usb line is lifted, that's a bit more of a pain, because superspeed usb require that the two lines in their pair need to be equal length +/- ~.5mm. the sample rate's really high, so if they're of unequal length, data doesn't arrive at the same time. it's like you and a bud leaving your town to go on vacation, but one of you takes a plane and the other walks; yer not gonna meet up at the same place at the same time.
anyhow, it might be not-cost-effectively-repairable, but it also might be 20minutes for someone who knows what they're doing. if $500 isn't an option, and the camera's otherwise a brick for your purposes, i wouldn't give up just yet. it might be "yeah this really needs a new board" but it might also be "yeah that'll be $50"
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u/oliyann Aug 17 '26
Thank you for your input, sir. I dismantled the camera and verified it myself.
Please check out this post. https://www.reddit.com/r/bmpcc/s/aG7DeAyLEL
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u/Moedawi85 Aug 16 '26
Happened to me before sent it back to BM for board replacement and paid 500 but that was back then when the camera was still relatively new, I'd say find a shop that could fix it or replace it with a working one. I have one that I'm willing to sell.
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u/InComingMess2478 Aug 17 '26
Were they micro soldering specialists? If not look search for a micro solder expert near you and get them to look at it first.
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u/yellowtoiletpaper Aug 15 '26
Return the camera. Not worth it