Sending off My camera for Repair tomorrow.

mb72378

mb72378

Well-known member
Im sending off my HVX to get the focus housing cleaned out tomorrow. Im really nervous. THe people from panasonic told me to send the camera to K&M Electronics in Georgia because it was the closest to my home(NC). I am shipping it to them via UPS overnight airmail so hopefully I will have it back in about a week. Somehow some dirt or grit got inside the focus wheel so when you turn it, it grinds. Wish me luck everybody!!!!!!


*** UPDATE ***

- WED JUN 11 -
I got my camera back yesterday in the mail. Everything seems to have gone fine. I dont feel the grinding anymore. I was told that I had a faulty lens housing and stuff so they replaced that. The place I sent it received the camera last Friday, fixed it, and shipped it back out that same evening. The place I sent it was K&M Electronics in Loganville, GA.


- WED JUN 4 -
I sent the camera off this morning via ground UPS. The package was 15 lbs. and with "fragil service" it cost me $104. More than I was expecting especially I paid $130 for UPS overnight air when I purchased both my camera and my pelican case. Anyways. Its off and I have a three day quote from the company. Hopefully the HVX will be back in my arms in about 1 week.
 
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I have to do the same thing. I'm now looking for a good rain cover that can also be easily and comfortably used in windy/dusty conditions
 
I had one of those Porta covers and it sucks. So damn hard to get to any of the controls you need with it on. I have had my camera out when it's snowing I just let the snow get on it and wipe it off here and there. Risky ya, but haven't had a problem yet. I might just make an umbrella holder on my tripod this year. It will work great for those really sunny days as well.
 
Okay, then. What is everyones favorite rain/wind cover for the HVX? If price was no option.
 
mb72378 said:
OUinLA, this is what I plan on getting.

http://www.portabrace.com/productB-RS-HVX200

A little pricey, but I have spent half that already sending my camera off for repair. I would rather be safe than sorry. From now on, my camera will always have this on it!
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I was looking into the same thing but heard some mixed reviews.

I'm also looking into this http://www.enggadgets.com/s.nl/it.A/id.4996/.f it's even more expensive but days without my camera mean days without income. I'm open to other option/suggestions if anyone has them. I've heard the Kata rain cover is nice, and it's really affordable.

Lasly, I was told that shipping was covered by the warranty? Is your camera still under warranty? I can't get anyone from Panasonic to call me back but the nearest service dept to me told me it would be covered.
 
FWIW, I heard that the Sony EX1 is extremely bad about allowing dirt and dust to get between the components. Bad enough that people doing a lot of action stuff have avoided it or regreted the purchase.

We got the Petrol after looking at other options at NAB. We've been doing a lot of Agriculture stuff lately and I should probably use it more. But it's pretty simple to adjust the controls with the Petrol on. Well, as easy as it gets when you have a condom covering the whole camera! :)
 
i slip a T-shirt over the top of mine. the lens goes through the head opening of the shirt. wont cost a cent and theres plenty of room to put your hands in to change settings and even focus.
obviously not as stylish as a proper cover but it works for me :-)
 
el jeffe said:
... I have had my camera out when it's snowing I just let the snow get on it and wipe it off here and there. Risky ya, but haven't had a problem yet.
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That's not really a good habit to get into. You may not have problems now, but down the road you will. You can't see the moisture that works it's way in and no amount of wiping will protect the camera from it. You'd be surprised at how much corrosion can come from a little moisture.
A friend placed a towel over my camera to protect it from direct sunlight. The towel had sand in it and that sand worked it's way into the focus mechanism. A number of us are having this same problem. If sand gets in there this easy, you know that moisture is as well. My camera gets shipped off tomorrow for the same service.
 
To me it's more about getting the shot. If one of those covers does not allow me to properly adjust the settings let alone zoom then I am not going to use it. I will risk the camera to get the shot. It is after all just a tool you are using to get the shot. Too bad these cameras are not built like the Canon and Nilkon Dslr's. I have put those things into some crazy conditions with snow making guns blowing on them overnight and completely freezing over, thawed them out and they worked just fine.
 
mb72378 said:
Im sending off my HVX to get the focus housing cleaned out tomorrow. Im really nervous. THe people from panasonic told me to send the camera to K&M Electronics in Georgia because it was the closest to my home(NC). I am shipping it to them via UPS overnight airmail so hopefully I will have it back in about a week. Somehow some dirt or grit got inside the focus wheel so when you turn it, it grinds. Wish me luck everybody!!!!!!


*** UPDATE ***
I sent the camera off this morning via ground UPS. The package was 15 lbs. and with "fragil service" it cost me $104. More than I was expecting especially I paid $130 for UPS overnight air when I purchased both my camera and my pelican case. Anyways. Its off and I have a three day quote from the company. Hopefully the HVX will be back in my arms in about 1 week.
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I need to do the same thing. If I may ask, what did they quote you on the service?
 
el jeffe said:
... Too bad these cameras are not built like the Canon and Nilkon Dslr's.
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No doubt.

el jeffe said:
...I have put those things into some crazy conditions with snow making guns blowing on them overnight and completely freezing over, thawed them out and they worked just fine.
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Dude, you're a unique kind of crazy. Where are you shooting all this snow related stuff? Ski Slopes?

Back to the original thread, I am seeing more and more people with the sand in the focus mechanism. This vulnerability might be something Panasonic would consider looking into for future improvements. As for us now, it's something we should keep others warned about. My camera is going off to Spec-Comm for service today. Fortunately for me, my friend who inadvertently added the sand modification to my focus is paying for the repair and shipping. I do know that some Panasonic service facilities are charging $130 per hour. So shopping around a bit would be time well spent. Understandably, none would give me an estimate without seeing the camera first.
 
wsturtevant said:
Back to the original thread, I am seeing more and more people with the sand in the focus mechanism. This vulnerability might be something Panasonic would consider looking into for future improvements. As for us now, it's something we should keep others warned about. My camera is going off to Spec-Comm for service today. Fortunately for me, my friend who inadvertently added the sand modification to my focus is paying for the repair and shipping. I do know that some Panasonic service facilities are charging $130 per hour. So shopping around a bit would be time well spent. Understandably, none would give me an estimate without seeing the camera first.
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Aside from Panasonic, are there any Panasonic service centers in LA?
 
WOw.. that glove does look good! I hated the Portabrace raincover... looked and acted more like an oversized diaper.. Was hard to put on, and a pain to shoot with and just didn't like it at all. When I'm in a hazardous situation, I use my pro waterhousing that I had built.. and it's a hell of a lot lighter, more robust, and more practicle than the Gates housing. That this is only good in the water and deep dives at that. You'd kill yourself running around with that. But a pro water housing from jim at waterhousings.com is only 8 pounds and has a tripod plate on the bottom. You'll never see that on a Gates.

I'd advise against the Portabrace.. just didn't seem to be easy to shoot with...
 
Thanks Andrew. That's one I never saw. I like my Petrol but might get one of those as well.
 
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