Zoom noise...What's the final word?

[jaypass]

Just got my HVX today(Thanks to everyone who helped answer my questions on it a few months ago!). I'm experiencing the same issues with zoom noise that apparently many others have...I searched the forum, and saw that some people have accepted it, others tried to get their camera replaced...What was the final word, if any? Should I bother with Panasonic, or accept that many models come out of the box with this issue? I'm just curious as to if there was a final say on this, whether or not its a real defect or just the design of the camera.

Thanks!

[benniles]

I get zoom noise from mine as well when I use the onboard mic but when I hook up a nice external shotgun mic and hook it up to the shotgun mic holder that came with the camera the noise goes away.

[Justyn]

ditto.. only really hear it with the onboard mike.. so get a good shotgun and ya money as the onboard mike isn't the greatest anyway

[jaypass]

I connected an external mic, but the noise continues...I've been doing tests and whatnot, and the mics are picking up the noise. Anyone else have the issue persist even after attaching a mic?

[Huy Vu]

I connected an external mic, but the noise continues...I've been doing tests and whatnot, and the mics are picking up the noise. Anyone else have the issue persist even after attaching a mic?

Depends on what kind of external mic and how far it is from the motor. A shotgun is probably less likely to pick it up and if the mic is on a boom (as it should be) then the noise is a non issue.

[jaypass]

Ok...so are you suggestioning that the noise is nothing to worry about? My only concern is the operation of the camera...if this noise is a normal function, then you're right, I'll try to work around it. But if it is cause for concern, I want to get it checked out ASAP.

Thanks for the replies, everything is much appreciated, as always!

[kennylarkin]

can you describe the zoom noise? i am having a problem too with my hvx200. when i zoom in to the extreme position, i hear a rumbling inside the camera. i thought it was the lens, but it looks like its the zoom. when i disengage the auto focus, it goes away mostly, but the noise is still there. it doesn't sound normal to me, since it popped up 2 months after i bought it new.

[bosindy]

I connected an external mic, but the noise continues...I've been doing tests and whatnot, and the mics are picking up the noise. Anyone else have the issue persist even after attaching a mic?

what are using to listen to the playback. If you record on an external mic, and shut the two channels that the internal mic is recording off (in your nle), you should not be able to hear it.

[Chris Santucci]

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEvLhJr84Ks

He talks about the "noise" and how it has something to do with gray market versions of the camera...

.

[Noel Evans]

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEvLhJr84Ks

He talks about the "noise" and how it has something to do with gray market versions of the camera...

.

Sorry but that guy is living in fantasy land. Not about the gray market stuff. But as far as I know all the parts are exctly the same.

[Dan_Dabisch]

can you describe the zoom noise? i am having a problem too with my hvx200. when i zoom in to the extreme position, i hear a rumbling inside the camera. i thought it was the lens, but it looks like its the zoom. when i disengage the auto focus, it goes away mostly, but the noise is still there. it doesn't sound normal to me, since it popped up 2 months after i bought it new.

I too had/have this issue. I do not know if my camera was always doing it because I noticed it about 2 weeks after receiving it. I did also find that disengaging autofocus caused the noise to disappear. It was much more pronounced when in lower light and only when zoomed in. I figured this was just an autofocus/low light issue and have written it off. I did post something in the foums,, but did not get any replies, so I really am not sure if it is a problem or not. I try to keep from using autofocus as much as I can.

[jaypass]

can you describe the zoom noise? i am having a problem too with my hvx200. when i zoom in to the extreme position, i hear a rumbling inside the camera. i thought it was the lens, but it looks like its the zoom. when i disengage the auto focus, it goes away mostly, but the noise is still there. it doesn't sound normal to me, since it popped up 2 months after i bought it new.


Yeah, I have that issue with my autofocus as well. I can hear the autofocus working as the focus ring turns.(I'd describe mine as more of a clicking then a rumbling. This is seperate from the other noise though; that is only an issue when I have autofocus engaged. The zoom noise has occured in every variation of camera set-up I have tried thus far - I just got my tripod today, though, so I'll check tonight or tomorrow to see if it happens when mounted to that as well. My guess is that it probably will.

Anyway, it seems that this is actually a common issue, and most people just deal with it....Maybe I'll check with Panasonic myself, see what they've heard about it. Anyone have any experience with that?

[kennylarkin]

Yeah, I have that issue with my autofocus as well. I can hear the autofocus working as the focus ring turns.(I'd describe mine as more of a clicking then a rumbling. This is seperate from the other noise though; that is only an issue when I have autofocus engaged. The zoom noise has occured in every variation of camera set-up I have tried thus far - I just got my tripod today, though, so I'll check tonight or tomorrow to see if it happens when mounted to that as well. My guess is that it probably will.

Anyway, it seems that this is actually a common issue, and most people just deal with it....Maybe I'll check with Panasonic myself, see what they've heard about it. Anyone have any experience with that?


i took mine to the local panasonic service here in la, and he mistakenly thought it was the lens assembly and ordered a new one. it took about 6 weeks to get one, as they are on backorder. he installed it, i picked it up, and it STILL had the noise. that's when i noticed it was coming from the body of the camera as opposed to the lens.

my noise is extremely noticeable when i zoom between z10-55. i mean really loud. sometimes it's louder than other times. it appears to go away sometimes, when i disengage the autofocus and put the lens on manual focus. but, only sometimes.

this is definitely a problem i can't "live" with. i will take it to another service center and see if they can do something about it.

[tallrd]

I am in talks with some of the higher ranking technicians at Panasonic in their US offices regarding this issue. I have made them aware of this thread, as well as others related to the zoom noise issue. These are the people who in direct communication with the engineers in Japan.

Once I have some solid information, I will post accordingly.

[kennylarkin]

I am in talks with some of the higher ranking technicians at Panasonic in their US offices regarding this issue. I have made them aware of this thread, as well as others related to the zoom noise issue. These are the people who in direct communication with the engineers in Japan.

Once I have some solid information, I will post accordingly.

well, i'm glad that panasonic will be told about this issue. i was really bummed out to follow this forum for so long, buy the camara, and run into this problem, right out of the gate!

the guy at the repair center i took my camera to, was older, so i thought he would have problem hearing the issue i was describing.

anyway, i would like to post audio of how bad it gets, so others can know and see if their camera is suffering from the same problem.

[snp]

I doubt there has ever been a video camera (from Sony 900's on down) that doesn't pick up zoom motor noise thru the on-board mic. We're talking about a mic hard-mounted inches from the lens in all cases.

I don't know of any serious DP who relies on the built-in mic for quality audio. Best bet, if you must use an on-camera mic, is to mount it via an isolating shock mount that minimizes the proximity effect. I will say that Panasonic's external mic holder is one of the best I have seen and when used with a quality directional Sennheiser, produces good quality audio.

Any actor or talent, no matter what the camera, requires either a wireless or boom mounted mic. Let's give Panasonic a break here. Personally, I'd rather see them eliminate the built in mic completely than worry about this issue.

The HVX is a professional camera - built in mics are for home movies.

[kennylarkin]

i can speak for only myself personally when i say, my camera is not emitting a small noise that is more of a nuisance. no, it's a LOUD noise that if u are sitting across the room in a quite room, you can hear, and it is NOT normal. almost a grinding noise from inside the camera that is not coming from the lens itself. actually if autofocus is engaged, once i zoom in the noise stays there for about 4 or 5 seconds, as the lens tries to focus on whatever it sees.

very annoying, and not within what would be considered as normal mechanical noise a lens makes. if u had the noise i have, and others, you would definitely KNOW it is not normal.

[HVXSHROPSHIRE]

OK this is what causes the problem. I have had my Panasonic ag-hvx200a about a week when I accidently moved the zoom ring while the camera was set on servo zoom and automatic focus. Right after I did it I realized the the sound comming from the lens motor was singnificantly louder. It doesn't take much to do this mistake. It can even happen while your camera is off or in your case getting rubbed the wrong way. Always be sure to put it in the case with the manual zoom and focus selected. The only way I know to fix it is to add on maybe a 6in extention to your super directional microphone. That way the motor sound will go away completely. Other wise just use a boom like you should and just stop bitching. Right out of the box the motor is still not "quiet" Mine was not gray market. It was straight from b&h.

[HVXSHROPSHIRE]

All hvx's whether version A or the first one all have some zoom noise and some cameras more than others. I have actually read alot of posts that people sent in their camera and had the lens completely replaced and when they got it back still had noise. It actually has to do with the processor inside the camera not the camera itself or the gears. Best bet is to just get used to it and start using a boom mic like a serious DP. nothing is absolutely silent on a motion picture camera.

[mabou2]

I'm piping in too... I have owned and used a massive variety of consumer, prosumer, and professional cameras. Yup, the onboard mic will pic up noise from the camera. But the problem with the HVX is real and often substantial.

My HVX randomly makes a sound that (cartoonishly-speaking) is like a small bear cub calling for it's mom... lol, but true. It is a loud sound that can be heard across the room, and it has NOTHING to do with "Pro users never use the on-camera mic". If I had a shotgun across the room you would still hear this sound.

This is a true issue that Panasonic needs to deal with.
If enough people have this problem, and if Panasonic is not dealing with the problem properly, a low cost lawyer and a class-action suit on behalf of all of us having the problem should get their attention.

I realize this is not a higher end camera, but most / or all of us bought in to the claims that we get an exceptional product at a breakthrough price, which is true. But NOT if the camera itself is creating a noise situation that takes us out of the ability to shoot professionally. I have already had to apologize to a client for the bear-cub noise....

Anyway.. my two cents.