Recognizing older model JVC HD 100 form newer ones

S

sjr

Active member
About to drop my Panasonic DVX 100 for the JVC HD 100, Monday in fact, I am getting in before the IDX battery deal fades away.
I am seeing posts about older versions of the JvC 100 as having problems , but this has been fixed with the newer models .
My question is this how do you tell , what version you have , without opening it up in the store and doing a check for screen split etc. is there a number or batch code or something .

thanks
 
I'm not sure if you can go from serial numbers or not but companies like EVS are only getting new shipments from JVC so they should be good. You may be able to ask the dealer.
 
sjr said:
About to drop my Panasonic DVX 100 for the JVC HD 100, Monday in fact, I am getting in before the IDX battery deal fades away.
I am seeing posts about older versions of the JvC 100 as having problems , but this has been fixed with the newer models .
My question is this how do you tell , what version you have , without opening it up in the store and doing a check for screen split etc. is there a number or batch code or something .

thanks
Click to expand...
sjr, the hardware is the same as the original run. It's the calibration proceedure that is different. No matter what camera you get it will be the same hardware. The difference would be when it was calibrated. If there is a problem then I'm sure JVC would work with you to get it calibrated once and for all and make another happy customer with this superb camera.

all the best,
 
thank you all

thank you all

Thank you for your replies, I will endevour to think positive about my purchase.

simon reilly
 
The tape drive on the HD100 is so friggin solid. It's better than the XLH1 tape system. No worries., The HD100 is solid.
 
As my shooting day gets underway and I'm checking the greatest Board on the Net...OK DVInfo's cool too... before we get going. Coffee in hand, I have to comment on this post in two parts.

Part 1:
After more than 200 hours of run-time on the heads of 4 new JVCs from EVS shooting in the past 4 weeks, we've had exactly zero tape run problems with the JVC system. We've heard all the stories of stuck tapes and all the reasons behind them and all the fixes for them and the bottom line is the same as it's always been, use quality tape. I have John Tarrantino on the set today handling our principle photography and I asked him about this while struggling with him over a glazed doughnut (never get inbetween John and Craft Service!) He had 10,000 words, as you knew he would, on the subject and I'll post the Cliff Notes version later when we're on terra firma..it apparently poured last night here. It really is an interesting story with a simple ending that EVERYONE should get something from. See you all later.
 
bilgami said:
i was in one of the jvc forum rooms and one guy complained he had probs with it maybe it was just him.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=46964&page=1
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Oh, you mean Huiy Tang. You have to take what he says with a grain of salt. He had a bad experience and has only posted negatively ever since. Check his previous posts.

I did a search of "tape jam" posted by Huiy Tang and that was the only post, of his previous 49 posts, where he ever mentioned the phrase.
 
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jlames said:
Part 1:
After more than 200 hours of run-time on the heads of 4 new JVCs from EVS shooting in the past 4 weeks, we've had exactly zero tape run problems with the JVC system. We've heard all the stories of stuck tapes and all the reasons behind them and all the fixes for them and the bottom line is the same as it's always been, use quality tape.
Click to expand...

What kind of tapes are you using?
 
I was going to purchase the JVC camera today but it seems the postings on this camera for the past few day show there is still some problems with it. Don't get me wrong I think this is a great camera and I still plan on purchasing it soon (I really have no need for it until april) I just would like to see some of the problems fixed. From what I understand the SSE issue won't completly go away they have improved it but its one of those unfortunate problems that you have to work around. But what I am worried about is shooting with it and finding blank screen where video should be. At least that is what I have read on some post.
I sure would have loved thoses free batteries thou.
Anyways I'll be going to LA next week for Videomaker expo and I will stop by and check out EVS new store.
I 'll also be going to NAB too so I am saving my money(not for new equipment, not for gambling, but for food). Man it is expensive to eat there. Where are those cheap buffets?
 
Joe,
please bare in mind people tend to post issues they are having in hope to learn more.

Users who don't have issues, don't usually post anything.

I'm sure I've been vocal about how well this camera is working for myself - no SSE or other issues.

I plan on posting some frame grabs soon and hopefully have someone post some m2t files for me.
 
Ok, end of the production day and I promised a shot story (short?!?!?!) on the tape issue. John's 10,000 words can be reduced to a couple of points. As far as John Tarrantino is concerned and others like Tommy and the group over at EVS, 99% of the tape problems could be resolved if the camera was presented with a single type and not brand of media. And John tells me Adam Wilt holds the same position except he's rather convinced that, except for Sony which is a wet lube tape, there's no mix and match issues because the other brands are essentially dry lubes. Basically, the feeling is that issues involve principally the lubricants used by the tape manufacturers; hence the type and not brand.

Our JVCs run Sony tape exclusively, a tape with wet lubricants. We could have run Panasonic or JVC (same tape) or Fuji or Maxell but we've been using Sony w/ no problems for so long that we just stuck with it; one of those, "If it ain't broke..." things. Others like Panasonic and JVC, Panasonic's sister company under Matsupoo pooa, Fuji and Maxell use a dry type of lubricant. Mix the two and gum starts to collect on the heads of the camera which contribute to all sorts of problems.

The typical probles are drop-out and, if the heads are really dirty or gummed up, you'll begin to see diagonal, mosaic-type lines on the viewing screen. DV head clogs are displayed as a set of five horizontal bands across the screen.
When a tape is being recorded to, it moves at almost 19 mm a second past a rotating drum that's moving at 9000 rpm; a drum which contains recording/playback heads that are angled so the heads can read and write data tracks diagonally across the tape, a process called "helical scanning". In America, an NTSC camera will lay down 10 tracks for one frame of NTSC video while in Europe, a PAL camera will lay down 12, all in a space the width of a human hair. These tracks contain the video, audio and data the camcorder uses to manage everything. Head clogs are different from dropouts, which appear as simple blips in the picture and disappear. A clogged head is a very distinct and noticable error.

Now most people run out and buy a head cleaning kit. Good idea and bad. Good becuse it's a quick fix, maybe, for the issue. Bad because constant or over use ruins the heads. It's like sandpaper or Ajax on your sink; it takes the stains out but also rubs away the finish. So, what's the solution? First, make sure you're cleaning tape uses the same lubricant as your recording tape, dry or wet and use the cleaner for 5 seconds only. View the results and if it's not any better, try it one more time for 5 seconds and view the results. If the ptroblem persists, using the tape longer or more times isn't going to fix the problem. If you've been switching tapes, the damamge is already done. If you expect ultimate results from your tools, that is if you're going after professional results, ship the camera in for servicing and when it comes back, pick a tape and stick with it. Your heads will be realigned and you're off to a freash start.

The second issue is with the tape itself. Sony makes, for example, a variety of DVC tapes (lower priced) and Sony HD video (DMV63HD). Which ones do we use? The Sony HD video DMV63HD variety and we do it because the manufacture process is different from the others in the Sony line (Metal Evaported) The tape has dual magnetic layers, improved magnetic grains, improved lubricants and a carbon-like layer. All of this combines to give a greater packing density of magnetic grains, higher retentivity, higher output and lower noise. Simply stated, all those digital 1s and 0s have a better bonding to the tape face itself. The result is a better adhesion and bonding of the signal to the media and that means less drop-outs and that means less retakes. Are HD tapes more expensive that others in the Sony line. Absolutely, but have you checked the cost of retakes, even without a set move, after seeing drop-out blips on the playback...on a 3-camera shoot?

Bottom line is that all of this is experience talking and not really scientific at all so you know all of those disclaimers...well, imaging them here as well. Whatever tape you're using is probably good. Just avoid mixing Sony with other brands, keep your heads clean...all three of them... and life will improve.
 
Also, kidtexas, Steve and Full Rez are knowledgable posters and each uses his own preferred tape. We all do. As I said in my post that I posted before I read all the messages posted today, pick a good, quality tape and stick with it. These guys do alot of work and though they don't run matching tape, each has had no problems.
 
I've also seen some things about the tape drive and some ejecting problems. Also, there seems to be some issues with some JVCs firewire in/out.

My position on these things is that while the boards are great, there are going to be some cameras w/ defects that must be fixed - no way around that - and that because we all read these 'bad experiences' it tends to scare off new buyers. I know the SSE issue kept me from buying the camera until they worked it out - which it seems JVC has.

These boards can help keep everyone on their toes, but I wouldn't let a few reports of malfunctions keep you from buying this camera - If there's a problem, JVC seems to be a fairly responsive company (this board has had a few visits from JVC big-wigs for instance) to people's problems.

John
 
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