Damaged HMC - repair speed?

J

Jim H

Active member
The HMC was accidentally knocked over onto concrete. The hood popped off, but it seems to snap back on mostly OK, though a bit looser now. Lens seems fine. But, apparently, the XLR ports are both broken. One got pushed in, because it had a cable plugged in and the camera landed on it. I'm guessing the internal sound board might have been damaged, since the other port which was covered and not in use also doesn't work.

Anyway, we've got an authorized repair place near us that does onsite repairs. Does anyone have an idea of how long that would take to fix? Or cost, for that matter?

Luckily , we have accidental damage protection, so we should be covered on the costs.. But regardless, I was hoping we could get it fixed fast since I'm about to shoot a movie.
 
I had the same problem on my HMC and brought it into a Burbank, CA repair location. The overall cost of repair would have been almost $1000 if I didn't figure out that they exaggerated the amount of repair needed. It turned out it was just the housing that was damaged and the circuit boards had no issue other than a disconnected ribbon. Not trusting them, I just bought the part (which was backordered about two weeks) and replaced it myself. The part itself was $120 or so.

My personal story aside, the main issue is whether the parts to repair the HMC are backordered or not, as Panasonic doesn't seem to have much stock in America. They had to order it from Japan directly.
 
I just sent my damaged 150 to the only authorized Panasonic repair center that does 150 work in the US (in Kansas). They say the turnaround (once received) is 2-5 days.
 
ChrisPrine said:
I just sent my damaged 150 to the only authorized Panasonic repair center that does 150 work in the US (in Kansas). They say the turnaround (once received) is 2-5 days.
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Sounds good. I shipped it out to that very place today, it'll be there tomorrow by noon (express mail and I live in Missouri, so only about 200 miles away). Fingers crossed on it making it back here Friday or earlier.
 
Bit of an update. I called yesterday, and they told me it was being looked at. Today, they sent me the estimate. Close to $700.

I sent them payment info, and they told me they ordered the parts.

Very annoying. The ONLY Panasonic-authorized HMC repair place in the USA and they don't stock the parts for it? It sucks enough for me, having this huge delay (may have to delay til spring now, depending on how long it takes them) in a project I'm working on that I've sunk significant money into...

But, what if I used my camera to earn a living? I really like my HMC, but I am unhappy with Panasonic on this front. Also, the lens hood is a little wonky, and I told them this, but apparently they decided it wasn't bad enough to replace after looking at it. I guess I should have deliberately mentioned I wanted them to order it for me. Anyone know an online place that sells the HMC150 hood? Damaged one might be OK, but I think I'd rather replace it anyway...

On another note, it's an awful thing watching your camcorder fall over. Now, I'm just going to be worried something else will go wrong with it as long as I own it... It's just like when a new car gets into an accident, and you're worried something else is damaged you don't know about after the repair work is done. :(
 
It's this very reason why I bought a backup HMC, actually. Always good to have a good comparable quality backup cam if not the exact model.

Also good to insure the sucker.
 
mikeshu said:
It's this very reason why I bought a backup HMC, actually. Always good to have a good comparable quality backup cam if not the exact model.

Also good to insure the sucker.
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Yeah, I'd love to have a backup HMC (it'd be useful to have two when shooting anyway, it'd save a lot of time). But I really can't afford it, especially since I'm more of a hobbyist than a professional at this stage.

I gotta say, the $50 investment (a rider on our homeowner's insurance) for accidental damage/theft insurance on the HMC is the best $50 I ever spent. The whole situation just sucks though, as I babied the thing every day (which is what I do with all my equipment) I have it and then this happens. Blargh.
 
matt s. said:
does spec-comm not repair the 150?
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Well, I did two things: I used their locate a center for your camera thing on the panasonic website, and the only one that comes up (regardless of your location) is PBTSC located in Kansas. I also called up Panasonic, and they told me pretty much the same thing. If spec-comm does repair it, Panasonic seems to not want its customers to know that.

Spec-comm themselves acknowledges this here:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=173331
 
Well, I got my camera today. Yesterday, actually, since it's almost 4 AM. So, it took just under two weeks. Not too terrible I guess.

They seem to have done a very good job on the repair, everything seems 100%. They also evidently tested all the functions of the camera (part of the bill, not to mention they had obviously tested the servo zoom since it was switched on), which I appreciate.

So, there ya go.
 
Pretty much same experience here. I immediately went out and shot some test footage. Everything seems to be in order.
 
Under two weeks, and they can't send me my free batteries and cards from two HMC150s I bought in January?!
 
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