Got Battery/Book offer. AB Elipse woes

[MagicCat]

HI all

I just got my Rebate from Panny today. It was the Book, Battery and software.

After using broadcast cameras and gear my entire carreer, I was shocked to pull out this Anton Bauer Elipse Battery package. IMHO, what was AB thinking when they chose plastic to make a quick release lever and Camera shoe for a ten pound camera? This has serious danger signs. I see snapped cameras falling off these batteries.

I know this was designed to be universal and will mount to many others less in weight. However, with all the things I see people strap on these camcorders, It would not surprise me some HVX's weigh close to 18 lbs by the time they are perched atop a set of stix. I would proceed using the Elipse Battery system with a lot of common sense. I'm sure they were trying to cut down on weight, (and Im not a design engineer), but I dont think it takes a rocket scientist to see this mounting system has broken cameras written all over it. Many times I keep my HVX mounted to my stix and carry the whole lot at once. I'm certain this mount would not take that kind of abuse.


The good side, is that it is not heavy and is nice to have a lot of power available. The little lights on the side telling you how much juice you have left is in line with the Tradition of making life easy for shooters, like AB is known for.

Just add a little Aluminum to this mount AB, plastic is not cool and will scare millions from purchases if they see it before buying.

Magic Cat

[RE1000]

How long did it take you to get the rebate, btw? I've been waiting since like mid May.
I'm not sure if i'm going to even use my Elipse battery when i get it...

[MagicCat]

I think I got my camera right after the P2 card Rebate expired, like, by days if my memory serves me correctly. I remember being really frustrated because I did not qualify.

I wrote Jan on the forum here and asked if she could look into it for me. I dont know if that had anything to do with it. She responded about two weeks back and said that I was on the list.

Two weeks later, here it is.

Dave

[RE1000]

I actually just got mine package in today.

[jcani]

I also received today my Anton Bauer Elipse Battery package. This plastic battery mount is to flimsy for the HVX. Tried to use it with a lightweight Cavision matte box between the matte box bracket and the tripod release plate and this made the camera very unstable. This plastic battery thing could break at any moment.

The mount is to weak even with the battery and camera alone on a tripod. Certainly the P2 card offer was a better deal. Also the battery mini plate release mechanism is very poorly engineered and wiggles inside its slot.

On a side note, the Colorista/ Instant HD CD, came damaged and unreadable.

From my package the only usable item was the book, but by the time it took to be delivered, I have already figured out the inner workings with the HVX manual. Shame on you Anton Bauer…

[brokenjack]

I just got my rebate stuff yesterday. I agree with all of the above. Will probably try to mount the battery some other way. I will have to say, that the book is quite exceptional. I also know my way around the camera pretty well, and I understand frame rates and shutter angles, etc. etc. This book is still an enjoyable read, and the way it is written really cuts straight through to answering alot of questions right of the bat. I'm only a few pages into it, but if the first chapters are any indication of what the rest of the book has to say, it's going to be a pretty educational trip. I suggest to every single person who owns this camera, to get this book.

[jcani]

Cudos to John Kerr from RED GIANT, talk to him yesterday 5:00pm about a replacement CD for the bad one received with the promotion. FedEx left it on my door this morning. : )

José

[Coloartist]

I got mine also. I'm thinking I'll use the battery to power my audio gear. I already have 3 batteries for my HVX already anyway.

[godamgo]

good timing with the topic, I just got mine yesterday and I bought my cam. about 3 weeks ago. Good thing some of you brought up the topic about the camera being too heavy for the batt. Does anybody have any actual testing of it and does it hold up alright? It seems like an awesome batt and one that lasts many hours but it does look somewhat flimsy.

Also, this might sound like a stupid question but what is that software disk that came with the batt?

[brokenjack]

Also, this might sound like a stupid question but what is that software disk that came with the batt?

The Instant HD is software for uprezzing SD footage to HD I think, and the Colorista is a color correction program.

[Sherlock256]

Godamgo - you got your rebate itmes but you only purchased your cam three weeks ago? Wow. I've been waiting since early May. I was told that I'm on the list and have been approved since May 8, 2007. I'm a little envious of those of you that have received a response from Red Giant and got your rebate. I tried twice in the last month to email the support team at RG as suggested, but never got a response. Patience is something I have in abundance, but I'm curious to know if there is an organized system for sending these things out. Anyone know how this list works?

[jupiterleo]

I received my package last week, I agree that the book is very informative. Haven't used the software though.

I actually used the battery when shooting a commercial last week. It came in handy very well. I was able to get some good low angle shots on the floor while the battery game me a nice tilting point for the camera. Anything to keep the actually camera from touching the floor is a good thing in my book.

The Plate is kinda flimsy but if you use the sticky pads that came with the battery it makes it a whole lot more stable. If you do this the battery should not be to much of a problem.

IMHO, I think it was a decent rebate package.

[RE1000]

The book is very helpful and good, but it's not that helpful to get it 2-3 months after you already have your HVX. I got the HVX DVD's to learn about the camera. So I don't even need the book anymore, now 2.5 months after.
Packaging the book in the camera box would be amazing, but i'm sure they can't for some reason.

[jupiterleo]

The book is very helpful and good, but it's not that helpful to get it 2-3 months after you already have your HVX. I got the HVX DVD's to learn about the camera. So I don't even need the book anymore, now 2.5 months after.
Packaging the book in the camera box would be amazing, but i'm sure they can't for some reason.

Your definitely right about the 2-3 months part!!

[godamgo]

Hey Sherlock, yeah something is definitely not right with your process. Too bad you have no contact with them. Try sending your proof of purchase with a letter explaining your situation. Good luck.

[Sherlock256]

I called the rebate office weeks ago and confirmed that I qualified on May 8th 2007. They called me after I left a message and told me that everything is out of stock. I will try calling back to see if I will receive something soon or if my paperwork is lost in the shuffle. At this point the only thing I really want to get my hands on asap is the software. I don't agree with the practice of making a offer and then failing to properly stock the rebate center. I don't think that rebates will continue to be an incentive when making a purchase. But I digress, I love my HVX, and most of what I learned about the camera came from this wonderful forum. It's the best source on the web IMHO. Thanks to all of you for hours of good reading.

[Sherlock256]

Over the past three days I have spent a few minutes of each day talking with the rebate center. While they have never answered the phone, they do call back within a reasonable amount of time after leaving a message. These quick call backs initially made me feel like they we're paying attention to the needs of an important Panasonic customer: namely ME. The reason that I called three days in a row was to follow up on the reps promise to call me back in "fifteen minutes with a definitive answer." He never called back, hence the follow-up calls.

Each time I spoke with him (same person: name omitted purposely) he asked the same questions, "Which HVX purchase have you not received your rebate on." and "What is your zip code." After giving the information, I was put on hold for a few minutes and then told that some time was needed to verify a status and that I would be called back immediately after a determination of status was made. Again, each time I was asked I informed the representative that I was already told by another rebate rep that I qualified on May 8, 2007.

I asked for a clarification on what further "status" had to be determined. Initially the products were out of stock, I can understand that, but how can it be that there is no clear answer to a simple question?

"Where am I on the list of qualified rebate applicants and when will you expect to be fully stocked so that these incentives/rebate offers can be fulfilled?"

I think that is a reasonable question to which no clear answer has been offered thus far. Perhaps in switching the responsibility for one Rebate Company to another documents and qualifications for rebates were lost or filed in an improper place among other possible explanations. I could accept that, but that has never been offered as a reason.

Today, I called again, and again received a call back fairly quickly. I was told that the rebate items were now in stock and would ship out next week, but that no specific date was on the list of scheduled shipments. My reaction was, “Did you say list?” “Where am I on the list?” I asked. He did not or could not give me an answer and skirted the question again and again.

I own many Panasonic products that have more than paid for themselves with income from their use. Great products, no doubt, but these unorganized practices, poor record keeping and lack of answers are just not what I expected from Panasonic. I think that many of us here have felt the frustration and have expressed it on various threads. I needed to vent….

To Panasonic: Great products! Thank you. Advice: do away with the rebate process. Offer instant rebates or ship the products inside the box or attached to the box. Just a thought.

Ok, I’m done.