16G P2 not reading in HVX200

[bill totolo]

If this has been covered please direct me in the right direction.

I purchased my camera (HVX200 software version 4.06) on July 17, 2007 and bought a 16G P2 card last week.

Card worked fine for several days until I turned the camera on yesterday. The camera doesn't read the card or any data on it. Slots 1 on 2 do not light up, I cannot access any files or format the card.

Tried in in both slots.

Called c/s received 1 e-mail so far asking me which card I have.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Bill

[Jason Ramsey]

Did you by chance inadvertently switch the camera from p2 mode to tape mode? Since you say it's not even attempting to read if cards are there or not, seems a possibility.

Check the switch on the back of the camera and make sure it is fully on P2 just to be sure.

[bill totolo]

Thanks for the reply, but yeah, the switch is in its proper position.

BT

[Jason Ramsey]

Is there footage on the card? Have you tried checking to see if the card works in your computer (if you have a pcmcia slot) to verify if it's the card or not?

Though if the camera isn't even trying to read either of the p2 slots, sounds like it could be an issue with the camera....

Perhaps re-installing the latest firmware for the camera from the Panny site might help...

sorry... can't think of anything else.

[brian.wells]

Yeah, my first instinct is to tell you to update your firmware. I think Panasonic says even recently sold cameras need the latest firmware to use the 16 and 32 GB cards. I believe the firmware update just came out this summer.

[David Saraceno]

You don't have the write protect switch on the p2 card?

[bill totolo]

I dropped the card off w/ Panasonic, hoping for an answer today or tomorrow. Hoping it's not a camera issue...

[bill totolo]

Panasonic tested the card, it's fine. Now they are working on the camera.

I dropped it off Tuesday afternoon. I have a gig Wed. night so they're going to see what they can do with the camera by Wed 5pm.

I'll keep y'all posted.

[bill totolo]

Turned out the camera needed the P2 drive replaced. I'm testing the camera to increase my confidence. So far so good.

Anyone else have a P2 drive fail?

[Dick Campbell]

Turned out the camera needed the P2 drive replaced. I'm testing tne camera to increase my confidence. So far so good.

Anyone else have a P2 drive fail?P2 Drive is probably a misnomer since there are no mechanical actions in the P2 system, which is why panny warrants for 5 years on their higher cams.

Interesting failure tho - did you get any other indication, or was this just infant mortality?

[TimurCivan]

thats probably a 1 in a Million failure. ihavent heard anyone else having a failed drive.

[AcidBurn]

I've known a lot of people who have shot P2 and no one has ever had that problem... one in a million... sorry...

[bill totolo]

It was difficult to troubleshoot. The only indication in camera was that nothing lit up when the card was inserted into either P2 card slot.

It happened after I used the slot for a week. At least it was a quick repair covered by the warranty.

Good thing I live near a repair facility.

[aleyland]

hey bill,

i think i may be having a similar problem.
i get no lamps when my 16gb card it put into the slot.

i'm in a pretty bad situation here, in the middle of a shoot in australia where after a week i goto chile.

i'm hoping that if it is a P2 Drive failure that I could get into Sydney or Melboure and get it replaced before heading to South America (where i'm going to definetly out of range from any sort of service/repair centre)

here's my post here if you'd like to chime in on or have any advice,
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=1035443#post1035443

[bill totolo]

Aaron,

After diagnostic, the camera was repaired quickly, it's just a matter of getting the parts delivered. It was quick here in L.A. (a day or two) Hopefully you'll have the same experience in Sydney.

But I feel for you, I was booking work without a camera. I had to do a shoot with the tape drive while I waited for the parts.

Good luck,

Bill

[billhsp]

Just a note,

Had same problem with my brand new HVX200 (August 2007). Worked fine for 1 hour. Then the P2 reader (and SD reader) failed. Thought it was the P2 cards, P2 store, etc. Spent a lot of time with tech support ruling those out. They were hesitant to cite the camera as the problem. Turns out -- was the camera. Makes me very nervous to know that the reader could fail that easily in the field. Always bring a tape (and another camera).

Bill

[aleyland]

hey bill,

yeah, i had the same problem.
p2 card reader failed and was replaced, but the service centre in australia was really good.

-aaron

[billhsp]

Thanks Aaron,

Yes, confirmed P2 card reader failure in camera. Should be back in action in a week or so. I assume you've had no similar problems since the repair?

Bill

[bill totolo]

I've been using the camera consistently with no further problems. Using all frame rates, time lapse, etc. Looks great, I'm relieved to say.

[giuseppe palumbo]

yea wow. I just bought my brand new hvx200a , no hours and it wont even open the menu in P2 mode. I cant Turn the camera off in P2 mode. Both of the P2 card lights are blinking on the LCD, I tried reformatting card , reseting camera and tried another battery.

Luckily there just hopefully going to swap it out since it was last week ., theyy better ;) !

sadly , this is one of my first posts :(

[milleto]

hello...sorry if you already got a message from me or already hear me asking about this but I'm just a bit desparate. I have a shoot in 10 days and trying to fix this.

Have same problem....P2 sign blinks non stop, no P2 light in sluts, no menu access, no turn off.

You guys said the problem was the P2 drive/ P2 reader. I want to order this part to replace it myself but I have no idea how to identify this inside the camera. I already have a service manual and know my camera from the inside out very well, but in any documentation i find the part name you guys mentioned.

Just want to order the part. I'm in Venezuela and there is no pana service here, don't know when I'll be able to travel to US...other wise I rather take it to pana service.

Please help.

Milleto