So whos got their HPX 170???????

The more in-focus your shot is, the longer the focus bar grows. It appears to me to use about the central 70% or so of the image, but I couldn't get a true scientific answer as to exactly what it uses for its determination. But yeah, basically you turn the focus ring until the bar is as long as it can get, and at that point you should be in focus.
 
I've noticed that when zooming in the focus bar's maximum length is much shorter.
Found that kind of odd.

All in all the focus bar is helpful - but I think I'll still be using the focus assist function.

The thing that I've already grown to love in the short time I've been playing with the camera is the WFM. Just did some playing around in the backyard (what else), and had the WFM on the LCD while keeping an eye on the frame in the EVF - that's really a great combo to have...especially when shooting outdoors in bright sun like that where the brightness of the image can really fool you if you're not careful.
 
Obviously, this is done in the manual mode.

That's a nice feature and I am guessing that it works well in the field.
 
hi all,

i'm just curious...why is everybody buying from spec-comm (esp. for those in LA), rather than a local store, like EVS or even AVS? it looks like the price is the same, but you're paying more because of shipping costs.
 
I'm not in L.A. - but I can tell you I bought from Spec-Comm for a couple of reasons:

1) I got my HVX from them last year and had a great experience with that, so I figured I would continue giving them my business even if I could have saved a few bucks somewhere else (not sure I could have).

2) Their customer service has really been nothing short of fantastic - I've been able to reach people there anytime anything has come up, and not only have they been willing to help, they actually remember me. That counts for a lot.

3) They support this site and are active on it as well, which are both important factors for me.


Oh, and ground shipping was free with preordered 170's from them (plus a free battery and CoverLens kit).
So there was no added shipping costs except for those who wanted overnight or some other kind of shipping.
 
i bought mine from spec comm becuase they had that pre-order reservation several months ago.

and their reps called me several times as availability neared to verify and confirm prices and shipping - THEN on the last day they sent me an email reminding me that i had to buy that day to maintain my reservation.

if they hadnt been on top of things i would have totally forgotten and would have had to wait for the next round of shippments.

and thats all just FANTASTIC customer service! and not to mention the free battery, coverlens and shipping (even though i paid for fedex next day)

i bought my HVX from a local houston dealer nearly two years back. they were great, and originally i'd planned to buy my 170 from them. but amusingly i was in their shop about a month ago and asked them about 170 availability - and they didnt even know it existed. so i thought ummmm... NO.
 
Luis Caffesse said:
The thing that I've already grown to love in the short time I've been playing with the camera is the WFM. Just did some playing around in the backyard (what else), and had the WFM on the LCD while keeping an eye on the frame in the EVF - that's really a great combo to have...especially when shooting outdoors in bright sun like that where the brightness of the image can really fool you if you're not careful.
Click to expand...

That sounds fantastic for bare camera shooting! Man I really want to get my hands on one!
 
This may be a dumb question but does this thing still have the damn infinite focus ring of the DVX100 and HVX200? It nearly drove my DP to suicide a few months ago.
 
I love it. It's like a little tank. I think because of the weight it may, to some people, seem weak, but I don't think so. I just got mine yesterday, but the only issue I have so far is the lens cap. Because of the 4 corners sticking out, it's not as easy to put in the back pocket as the 200's lens cap, and there are many times in run and gun situations that I have to do that. I'm thinking of cuting them off, but I don't want to be the first to do it. The biggest thing I like so far is the MA focus option. That's going to be very handy for the remainder of my current doc. project.
 
DavidBeier said:
This may be a dumb question but does this thing still have the damn infinite focus ring of the DVX100 and HVX200? It nearly drove my DP to suicide a few months ago.
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Yes, but I think someone said it does at least have a little more drag to it.
Also it has a few new features. It can be used for the iris and it can be switched completely off.
 
Brian@202020 said:
I just got mine yesterday, but the only issue I have so far is the lens cap. Because of the 4 corners sticking out, it's not as easy to put in the back pocket as the 200's lens cap, and there are many times in run and gun situations that I have to do that. I'm thinking of cuting them off, but I don't want to be the first to do it. The biggest thing I like so far is the MA focus option. That's going to be very handy for the remainder of my current doc. project.
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You sound like a candidate for the Lens Cover that Spec Comm shipped us for free. It's nylon, holds a cleaning cloth, and a bunch of white balance and backfocus charts and can be put on and taken off with one hand. I am using it instead of the stock lens cap and I like it.

I think that they retail for about $50.00?

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
You sound like a candidate for the Lens Cover that Spec Comm shipped us for free. It's nylon, holds a cleaning cloth, and a bunch of white balance and backfocus charts and can be put on and taken off with one hand. I am using it instead of the stock lens cap and I like it.

I think that they retail for about $50.00?

Dan
Click to expand...

I got one with my 170 from Spec. I just might try that tomorrow. Thanks Dan.
 
Brian@202020 said:
I got one with my 170 from Spec. I just might try that tomorrow. Thanks Dan.
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I am on day three now with it and I REALLY like it, so much easier and more versatile than the stock lens cap.

It was nice of them to include it because from the description of it, I never would have bought one but now that I have it, it's pretty nice.

Dan
 
So have any of you tried it with your DoF adapters and do you find the wiggle in the lens giving you any problems?
 
USLatin said:
So have any of you tried it with your DoF adapters and do you find the wiggle in the lens giving you any problems?
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It's like trying to stamp out roaches -- this "wiggle" thing is everywhere. Can we please not try to spread some rumor like wildfire?

The lens wiggle in the 170 is exactly the same as the lens wiggle in the HVX200 and also in the DVX100. In other words, this is a time-proven, time-tested design. Nobody's ever complained about it before. It's a non-issue. Every frame of footage you've ever seen from anyone using a DVX or an HVX with a lens adapter has had to face the "wiggle" and you know what? Nobody's ever even noticed it before! In the five years DVXUser has been running, nobody has ever said (as far as I can think of) one WORD about lens wiggle.

But grab an HVX200 and try it. You can wiggle it side to side just like in the video of the 170. Yet people have bought something like 150,000 DVXs and 100,000 HVXs and nobody's ever complained about lens wiggle, have they? Yet they all have it. Which means it's a non-issue. If it was an issue we would have heard complaints over the last six years!
 
Barry thank you so much for pointing this out. I sure did try it and the same exact thing has been present all a long in my trusty HVX-200. I NEVER EVER noticed this... and needless to say I feel TEN TIMES better! I haven't had any isues that I've noticed arising from this when used with an SGpro and Zacuto baseplate so I am in the clear!

It isn't a rumor though.. but it CERTAINLY isn't an issue to get all freaked out like I did :D

Needless to say we never noticed it on DVXs... andif it goes that far back then I can go back to knowing that my Pana camera is a sure bet that won't let me down... never has and the 170 never will.
 
It is amazing how quickly "defects" and misinformation spread on the web. Does anyone recall the macroblocking issue that spread like this when the HVX was introduced? As I recall from my experience, that was an issue with the Dell 2405 being used as a video monitor, not an issue with the HVX. I had a Dell, I hooked it up to the HVX and lo and behold, yes, it had huge macroblocks in the darks. Nothing at all to do with the HVX, the Dell is not a video monitor, it is a PC monitor that happens to have video inputs.

I am with Barry, I think that this is a non-issue. I will hook up my HPX to my Letus this weekend and check it out, but I don't think this is an issue.

This is exactly how the Dow loses almost 800 points in one day. Panic and rumour.

Dan
 
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