katemyers
12-01-2004, 12:37 PM
Hi! I am a new documentary filmmaker using a new DVX-100A. On a shoot during October, I was getting quite an annoying buzz off the tape transport. I stopped the shoot, drove back to Philly and had the camera in the repair shop for over SIX weeks. By the time I got it to the shop, the tape ejector would not open and the entire transport mechanism had to be replaced (thank God for the warranty....but I still had to rent a camera for shoots).
I got the camera back last week just in time to head to Georgia for Thanksgiving. Wouldn't you know that the same motor noise is still present on all of my audio? It's not loud, but it's definitely there and is annoying. To make matters worse, the tape ejector (I'm sure it has some other techincal term, but you know what I mean) is intermittently sticking.
Here's my question. I purposely bought the camera from a local Panasonic authorized dealer in case I had problems. Since these problems began, they've been no help and instead have been making money off my camera rentals. I cannot afford to replace the camera, nor can I afford the time to put it back into the shop for another warranty-covered repair (which would mean renting a camera @ $175/day for the three shoots I have scheduled in December). That said, this rental place is the only game in town, and I must keep up relations with them for obvious reasons.
I believe I was sold a lemon of a camera. I've used it for around 10 hours, and I've had nothing but problems with it. I want for Panasonic to replace it....although the warranty does not provide for such a solution. Regardless, I would like to ask this local dealer from whom I bought the camera to advocate on my behalf for Panasonic to replace it.
Will I alienate these local folks with this request? Are the noises I'm hearing normal and therefore I should just live with the problem (and the compromised audio?) Am I wrong to be so severely disappointed with this purchase, which I researched for MONTHS before making? (Other than these tape transport noises/operational problems, I really do love the camera).
What should I do? Note that I cannot afford to outright buy another camera and eat the loss of the first one, which I have owned only since mid-August.
Thanks for any advice y'all can offer....
Warm regards,
Kate
I got the camera back last week just in time to head to Georgia for Thanksgiving. Wouldn't you know that the same motor noise is still present on all of my audio? It's not loud, but it's definitely there and is annoying. To make matters worse, the tape ejector (I'm sure it has some other techincal term, but you know what I mean) is intermittently sticking.
Here's my question. I purposely bought the camera from a local Panasonic authorized dealer in case I had problems. Since these problems began, they've been no help and instead have been making money off my camera rentals. I cannot afford to replace the camera, nor can I afford the time to put it back into the shop for another warranty-covered repair (which would mean renting a camera @ $175/day for the three shoots I have scheduled in December). That said, this rental place is the only game in town, and I must keep up relations with them for obvious reasons.
I believe I was sold a lemon of a camera. I've used it for around 10 hours, and I've had nothing but problems with it. I want for Panasonic to replace it....although the warranty does not provide for such a solution. Regardless, I would like to ask this local dealer from whom I bought the camera to advocate on my behalf for Panasonic to replace it.
Will I alienate these local folks with this request? Are the noises I'm hearing normal and therefore I should just live with the problem (and the compromised audio?) Am I wrong to be so severely disappointed with this purchase, which I researched for MONTHS before making? (Other than these tape transport noises/operational problems, I really do love the camera).
What should I do? Note that I cannot afford to outright buy another camera and eat the loss of the first one, which I have owned only since mid-August.
Thanks for any advice y'all can offer....
Warm regards,
Kate