Build Quality of HMC40

[Goldenplates]

There is only one review of the HMC40 posted on Amazon, with comment about the quality of the construction --

"The build of the camera surprised me a little as this is supposed to be a prosummer camera. To say it politely, it is less than sturdy. "

For those that have this camcorder, would you agree that it is "less than sturdy?"

[rich_r]

I don't have much to compare it to, except consumer cameras (Sanyo and Sony). There are not many moving parts (lcd, viewfinder, the lens ring, a couple of cover flaps, etc.) and they seem to be reasonably engineered. The Amazon reviewer was not very specific, but I don't see any glaring problems. And as the reviewer stated, it does have a 3 year warranty.

[Cranky]

The frame is not magnesium alloy like on the 100/200/170/150, it is plastic, in some materials I think I've seen it has been called carbon fiber. Not sure that it is indeed carbon fiber, that should be more expensive than magnesium alloy.

On the preproduction unit the viewfinder was wobbly and shaky, how does it feel on production units? Other than the viewfinder, I did not find much to whine about when I looked at the cam at NAB.

[Ed Kishel]

the hmc40 might be getting some of the bad wrap the 150 got when it came out- the magnesium alloy body sounds like plastic when tapped on. Be sure- it is not plastic. I dont know what the 40 uses but they are meant to compliment eachother. Panasonic toughbooks use the same material. See the thread where the user dropped it off the back of a racing motorcyle, and it still works.

[jplevinski]

seems sturdy to me... the only complaint I have so far is that it is only mediocre in low light.

[BobDiaz]

The frame is not magnesium alloy like on the 100/200/170/150, it is plastic, in some materials I think I've seen it has been called carbon fiber. Not sure that it is indeed carbon fiber, that should be more expensive than magnesium alloy.

On the preproduction unit the viewfinder was wobbly and shaky, how does it feel on production units? Other than the viewfinder, I did not find much to whine about when I looked at the cam at NAB.

Are you sure of that? What is the source of your information?

I recall that some believed that the HMC-150 was only plastic, but they were wrong.


I'll ask Panasonic at the DV Expo show next week....

Bob Diaz

[Cranky]

Are you sure of that?
No.

What is the source of your information?
I honestly do not remember. For that sake, I'd rather take my statement back :-)

[rich_r]

I suspect it is not magnesium. The HMC150 description goes out of its way to indicate that it uses a magnesium body. The HMC40 descriptions says: "Lightweight, yet durable, design with removable handle" - that description makes me suspect plastic.

However, I am not particularly worried about the body material - today's technology is quite capable of making a satisfactory plastic body. I am more concerned about the LCD and viewfinder hinges, since at least in my case they get a "workout."

[David Saraceno]

The frame is not magnesium alloy like on the 100/200/170/150, it is plastic, in some materials I think I've seen it has been called carbon fiber.

Could you give us some independent source or support for this statement?

[Cranky]

For example: http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1001680 This blurb is being repeated on many sites that sell the HMC40, so I suppose that this is a standard Panasonic's blurb.

David, you could find it yourself it you googled for "HMC40 carbon fiber".

[David Saraceno]

David, you could find it yourself it you googled for "HMC40 carbon fiber".


The frame is not magnesium alloy like on the 100/200/170/150, it is plastic, in some materials I think I've seen it has been called carbon fiber.

Could you provide support for this from Panasonic. Because you are stating it as a fact, and all I've not seen anything that confirms that from the Panasonic.

Unless you know this first hand, then it remains a guess.

[Cranky]

Could you provide support for this from Panasonic.
No. Are you saying that Abel Cinetech is not reputable enough for you to believe what they post on their website? As I said, you can find similar info page -- word for word -- on other websites that offer the camcorder, so I assume this being the standard Panasonic's PR info.

Feel free to disregard it.

[Cranky]

Look, if you know, tell us how.
The only way for me to know it for sure is to get one, break it apart and perform spectrography analysis. Otherwise these are just someone else's words. If you believe Panasonic's PR more than vendor's PR then feel free to disregard what I posted.

[David Saraceno]

What Panasonic's PR are you referring to.

You represented the build quality of the cam as a fact based on what a vendor stated in an ad. You may be correct, but it's a fair statement to say you don't know this as a fact.

I would prefer to wait until we have an authoritative statement from the company rather than anyone quoting what some company states in an advertisement.

best

[Cranky]

ANY Panasonic's PR. Anyway, let me rephrase my prior statement: "from what I've read on various websites that are owned by resellers/dealers, the HMC40 seems to have carbon fiber frame".

On the other hand, the viewfinder on the preproduction model at NAB seemed PERSONALLY TO ME as wobbly and unreliable. If Panasonic fixed this in the production model, then kudos to them.

[Mark Whalen]

seems sturdy to me... the only complaint I have so far is that it is only mediocre in low light.

I agree with Jplevinski on both points. I just finished a shoot today with the HMC40 (both indoors and outdoors) and found it to be reliable and easy to handle. The controls are well laid out, easy to access, and the build quality is certainly more than adequate. The LCD hinge is firm and works well, as is the viewfinder pivot. On the other side of the coin the low light performance is somewhat lacking, but nothing that can't be overcome with an on-camera light or supplemental lighting on stands - and I used both types of lighting today.

All in all I'm fairly pleased with the HMC40. As with any device, it has its strengths and weaknesses. The trick is to learn both and employ the best strategies to get optimal images.

[David Saraceno]

We've had the cam for two weeks.

I don't know if it is carbon fiber or something else.

But it seems to be a pretty solid 2.5 lb cam to me.

We like it as a companion to our 170, and other than low light issues, it produces some pretty darn good images.

We'd suggest that you treat it like any other $2k USD purchase.

As to the LCD, it doesn't seem "wobbly" but the cam's light weight makes it imperative that you be aware of the LCD when the cam is moved.

[Cranky]

As to the LCD, it doesn't seem "wobbly"
I was talking about the flip-up eyepiece. Mark said that the viewfinder pivot does not feel loose or wobbly, so I assume that what I experienced at NAB has to be attributed to a hastily glued together preproduction unit.

Anyway, I will try the production version in a week at DVExpo.

[David Saraceno]

It isn't the highest quality I've seen, but for its purpose, it seems all right.

To be honest, this cam does not have the fit and finish of the 150 or the 170.

But compared to other $2k cams I've seen, and some lesser quality $1k cams, it seems to be in league.

I'd love to compare it to the $3k JVC.

Perhaps some one can based on fit and finish.

[BobDiaz]

I was talking about the flip-up eyepiece. Mark said that the viewfinder pivot does not feel loose or wobbly, so I assume that what I experienced at NAB has to be attributed to a hastily glued together preproduction unit.

Anyway, I will try the production version in a week at DVExpo.

The key term here is, "pre-production unit". Things aren't always the same from pre-production to production units; close, but not exactly the same.

I missed the fact that you are in San Diego. Also, are you going to the presentation by Panasonic on Thursday? ... or are you going on Wednesday?


Bob Diaz

[rich_r]

I was talking about the flip-up eyepiece. Mark said that the viewfinder pivot does not feel loose or wobbly, so I assume that what I experienced at NAB has to be attributed to a hastily glued together preproduction unit.

Well I have had the camera for a little over a week. I think the viewfinder is a bit on the wobbly side. It slides back and tilts up, so the mechanism needs some play on multiple axis. It should last, but as mentioned you will need to treat the camera like a $2k investment.:)

I think the decision to slide the viewfinder backwards is what allows it to move about 70 degrees. The little JVC GY-HM100 specs indicate it only tilts up about 45 degrees. I am pretty happy with the way the viewfinder works. But I do echo Barry's comment about the eyecup being usable for right-eye dominant only. I too am left eye dominant and I am taking a look at the i-cuff.

[shphotovideo]

Well I have had the camera for a little over a week. I think the viewfinder is a bit on the wobbly side. It slides back and tilts up, so the mechanism needs some play on multiple axis. It should last, but as mentioned you will need to treat the camera like a $2k investment.:)

I think the decision to slide the viewfinder backwards is what allows it to move about 70 degrees. The little JVC GY-HM100 specs indicate it only tilts up about 45 degrees. I am pretty happy with the way the viewfinder works. But I do echo Barry's comment about the eyecup being usable for right-eye dominant only. I too am left eye dominant and I am taking a look at the i-cuff.

I am left eye as well and wear glasses so the eyecup does not work well at all for me :(

[Mark Whalen]

I think the decision to slide the viewfinder backwards is what allows it to move about 70 degrees. The little JVC GY-HM100 specs indicate it only tilts up about 45 degrees. I am pretty happy with the way the viewfinder works. But I do echo Barry's comment about the eyecup being usable for right-eye dominant only. I too am left eye dominant and I am taking a look at the i-cuff.

I think for more tilt as well as getting the viewfinder into a usable horizontal position when a 5,800 mAh battery is attached, since the pack's quite large. As for the eyecup, I hadn't thought much about that, but it makes sense about not being able to switch for left-eye dominant people.

[jeff9329]

We've had the cam for two weeks....

...We like it as a companion to our 170, and other than low light issues, it produces some pretty darn good images.


David:

Have you had the opportunity to shoot both the 170 & 40 in a moderate indoor low light setting and did the footage mix okay for you?

Im wondering where the cutoff point is where they can be successfully mixed together for projects in lower light.

I may not have given the 40 enough of a chance when I tested it with my 150. In my brief two days of testing, I looked at light in the lower acceptable limits for even the 150, in that case the 40 is totally unusable to match 150 footage without seeing a huge change between cameras shots.

Now that is getting later in the year and it gets dark earlier, and I have shoots coming up, I was just too paranoid to keep the 40. Keep us updated on how the 40 is partnering with the 170.

[Barry_Green]

Okay, the definitive, official word from the product manager for Panasonic:

The HMC40's chassis is carbon fiber. It ain't plastic.

[Ed Kishel]

At work we use 4 DVC30s- which is what the 40 is modeled after. We put our cameras though hell, and I can assure you the viewfinder isn't going anywhere.

[David Saraceno]

David:

Have you had the opportunity to shoot both the 170 & 40 in a moderate indoor low light setting and did the footage mix okay for you?


Not yet.

We will at a presentation in a couple of weeks, but I plan to do some testing beforehand.

We knew the issues going and didn't expect the 40 to really shine when not much is shining, so we elected to treat it as a B Roll exclusively in those situations.

No 1/4 cam is going to be a stellar in low light.

But its sharpness is something pretty darn good.

I'll give it a try this weekend.

[David Saraceno]

Okay, the definitive, official word from the product manager for Panasonic:

The HMC40's chassis is carbon fiber. It ain't plastic.

Thanks for following up on this Barry.