Disapointed with JVC HD100-U

Gain at 3db or 6db is very often useful, my concern is if the split will be visible at these gain levels... 18db is noise any way, with or without the split!
 
My HD1 also has that vertical smear Barry talks about on the FX1. I suppose we're asking too much from cheap HD.

As to the split screen, even if the sensor is being sampled by 2 different processors they (I'm sure) are the same, so it's weird to have that problem. If they're calibrated the same way the problem should either disappear or be so faint you wouldn't even notice it.
 
... and that is the standard that JVC finds acceptable: "so faint you wouldn't even notice it."

If it's noticeable, it's a problem, although at more than 9dB of gain there's going to be so much noise that it's probably not the biggest of your worries. If it's not noticeable at 0dB or 3dB or 6dB, then it shouldn't be a dealbreaker, right?
 
Barry_Green said:
... and that is the standard that JVC finds acceptable: "so faint you wouldn't even notice it."

If it's noticeable, it's a problem, although at more than 9dB of gain there's going to be so much noise that it's probably not the biggest of your worries. If it's not noticeable at 0dB or 3dB or 6dB, then it shouldn't be a dealbreaker, right?

I concur... although I would prefer it to stay hidden until 18dB.

What is the low level performance like on the HD100 Barry, were you able to test it?
 
If it's not noticable up to say +9 or +12 dB, it's defenately no dealbreaker. I never wanted to use more gain because the image is so bad then I won't use it anyway. The ONLY application it's usefull in is newsgathering. No one else will ever use that much gain and end up usiong the shot in any edit.
 
JVC Enough is Enough

JVC Enough is Enough

I am so tired of people justifying this camera. The unit is a wash. In 90% of the camera's- the split screen can be observed at 0dB at relatively normal conditions. It shouldn't be there at all for crying out loud! Every HD100 displays the split screen to different degrees at 9 or 18 dB. Still unacceptable. It was wrong for JVC would allow the camera to leave the factory in this state. It only indicates to me that this is in fact about beating competitors to market and making money rather than distributing a decent fully functional product. The worst part is I was trying to beat my competitors to market by offering a cost effective HD solution to meet their needs, which is the primary reason I bought the camera from the first lot. I will stop my bellyaching, but I know none of us want to offer up substandard work to anyone, especially a client. I am frustrated when I read about concoctions to add varying degrees of on-camera lighting to compensate and justify the cameras defect. I read about round about methods to edit the split sceen footage in a color corrected state. By God - this is inefficiency at it's most absurd. People should really think about the extra expense in time and money it will require just to ensure the camera is functioning decently. I for one will not be taking another HD100 home until I test it for a couple hours in the show room. Also Please take note that I do hope who ever you bought (or buy) the camera from that your sales person and dealership will advocate for you, the consumer and ask on JVC to correct the issue in a timely manner-the sales people don't want to give up their commissions either. It seems that sales managers at JVC aren't returning calls or emails regarding the issue (at least in my estimation). Like me I know many of you are torn on whether or not to keep the camera. Don't waste your time. I've been informed that in a month a upgrade will be made to cameras manufactured and this version will be a safer camera to buy once the bugs are worked out. In a month it will have made a world of difference to have waited. The JVC techs are smart and will work the issue out. It's the sales department that disapoint me in releasing the camera with a known defect. I really do enjoy everything about the camera other than the split screen defect. Please be warned that during shooting the split screen wasn't always visible. It is shocking when you load the footage onto your computer or play it back on a monitor and see the line down the middle. It really does break your heart.

I have to let go of my hopes and emotional ties to the camera and simply wait it out.
For the money-if the camera was defect free-this would be a no brainer for anyone looking for a versitile camera.

Best to all of you who are in this kenundrum.

P.S. Don't give me any BS about looking at this as a limitation rather than a defect. I've worked with the camera extensively, and trust me even in controlled lighting it is very apparent that the split screen is indeed a major defect. It's intermittent but it's noticable. We can't afford to take risks in our industry.

That's the last word I have on the HD100 for the moment. I will indeed sing JVC's praises once the matter is rectified.
 
Huiy Tang said:
In 90% of the camera's- the split screen can be observed at 0dB at relatively normal conditions.

Where the hell did you get that. The JVC-reps over here clearly and officially state there shouldn't be anything visible, perhaps only faintly at +18dB, so should it occur at 0 dB, that is a defect and the camcorder needs to be returned....
 
No offense but I find your story a bit incredulous. The split screen should only be barely visible at the highest gain setting. As was stated, if you are getting it at 0db gain JVC will replace your camera.

I'm getting one this week and will post my impressions once I break it in... oh YEAH (Kool Aid Man Voice)... According to my local sources no one has had any split screening or dead pixels in the batch that's arrived in my neck of the woods.
 
Chance White said:
No offense but I find your story a bit incredulous. The split screen should only be barely visible at the highest gain setting. As was stated, if you are getting it at 0db gain JVC will replace your camera.

Sorry man, I'm just saying what JVC said to me.... (believe it or not...)
 
Ah, now I see... stupid of me... (you're just agreeing).

Weird that I read that all wrong... :-) :beer:

I need more hours of sleep and les cafeïne, perhaps ... :happy:
 
Huiy Tang said:
I am so tired of people justifying this camera. The unit is a wash. In 90% of the camera's- the split screen can be observed at 0dB at relatively normal conditions.
Between people like Barry and many of the others who seem a bit anal about "the image" (with good cause considering the reality is image is what sells our services) I find it hard to believe they would say the camera didn't have a split screen at 0db if it did. Although I think maybe the problem may have been worse in the overseas models so I don't know.
Huiy Tang said:
It shouldn't be there at all for crying out loud!
Agreed. This probablem made me not even consider it for a long time.
Huiy Tang said:
Every HD100 displays the split screen to different degrees at 9 or 18 dB. Still unacceptable.
I agree here too but simple based on the idea there should be no split screen. I shot on the DVX under a street light and got a good image with no post. I'm sure if I hit the JVC with a 500 watt holgen I wouldn't have a problem. My point being who shoots above 9db and expects good footage anyway?
Huiy Tang said:
It was wrong for JVC would allow the camera to leave the factory in this state. It only indicates to me that this is in fact about beating competitors to market and making money rather than distributing a decent fully functional product. The worst part is I was trying to beat my competitors to market by offering a cost effective HD solution to meet their needs, which is the primary reason I bought the camera from the first lot.
We're all trying to do that somewhat, that's what competition is about. And no they shouldn't have shipped faulty cameras but it's all water under the bridge now. Even if they fix this in a month they still got the drop on Canon and Panasonic although the bad press will probably hurt them some.
Huiy Tang said:
Please be warned that during shooting the split screen wasn't always visible. It is shocking when you load the footage onto your computer or play it back on a monitor and see the line down the middle. It really does break your heart.
I can see why you'd be upset. I'd be pretty POed too.
Huiy Tang said:
P.S. Don't give me any BS about looking at this as a limitation rather than a defect.
I have to agree here too.
Huiy Tang said:
That's the last word I have on the HD100 for the moment. I will indeed sing JVC's praises once the matter is rectified.
I'm waiting to see how it goes too.

-Nate
 
Nathyn said:
Between people like Barry and many of the others who seem a bit anal about "the image" (with good cause considering the reality is image is what sells our services)

I don't want to go too far off topic here, but for some of us, what sells our services is our experience and demo reel. I myself am hired because I know how to photograph things very well, not because I can offer HD at bargain prices.
 
All of these new cameras are fantastic. A guy posted over on dvinfo.net about working in 320X240 resolution and that got me thinking. It wasn't that long ago (relatively speaking) when I was working in 320X240. There's no good reason any of these cams can not be used for top quality content. Then it comes down to what Nate Weaver says. It's about skill and experience.

The split screen will have to be fixed. To me it's the only limiting factor with the HD-100. I would have to return the camera until I got one without a split screen, but I'd still keep returning it until I got a good one. I really think the HD-100 and ProHD has tremendous protential. The codec JVC has wired to the HD-100's board is worth changing the camera over and over to get one without a split.
 
Nate Weaver said:
I don't want to go too far off topic here, but for some of us, what sells our services is our experience and demo reel. I myself am hired because I know how to photograph things very well, not because I can offer HD at bargain prices.
All and all pro or not if your image sucks you don't get the gig. People don't ask to see a demo DVD so they can toss it like a frisbee, they want to see your image, this includes your camera movement, etc. They want to see is your image light where it should be, dark where it should be. Maybe you even made something light that noramlly would be dark or vice versa but for whatever reason it looked good. Image pays the bills. You may not have to offer HD at a bargin but you sure as heck can offer even DV with a split screen unless it's a useful special effect.

Last year the guy who got me to shoot his short decided to shoot this after he saw the 24p with cinegamma. A one day shoot (one project) turned into two projects. A doc and an action short. Again at the time people were saying no one would care about 24p. I said people would and they did. The same is true with HD/HDV. All you have to do is find the right people (and not shoot with a split screen). I'm sure JVC is working on this and will have a fix but we do sale on image.

-Nate
 
I think both Nates are right here.

You get paid for you skills, but you don't want to be let down by your equipment. Skill and equipment are BOTH profitable assets. I know I wouldn't be able to earn much using a U-matic to U-matic edit suite like I used to :)
 
Huiy Tang said:
I am so tired of people justifying this camera. The unit is a wash. In 90% of the camera's- the split screen can be observed at 0dB at relatively normal conditions.

I'm glad you're tired of hearing people trying to justify the problems that the camera has - one more reason for you to post a couple of grabs at 0db showing us the problem you mentioned. It would have taken less time than writing your last post.
 
I have now spent 2 full days shooting nonstop and the split is only visible on my unit at full gain... and who is ever going to shoot at full gain?

I love the camera BTW. I'll post some footage and stills later, if I get around to it.

The amount of manual control and options allows you to be very creative, I was trying all kinds of things, I got a Saving Private Ryan type look in like a minute of playing around with settings, and I tried doing crazy stuff like shooting in 60p mode with a slow shutter- that had a very interesting effect...

The low light performance I was very happy with. I got nice, crushed blacks, higher sensitivity with some tweaking then on the DVX, and no noise at all...

This was the first time I've really felt like I was shooting with film, and I've never shot on film, but I imagine it would feel something like that... heh.

Thanks to Barry, Nate, etc for the work they've done. JVC should definitely be sending you free gear, cause I know it helped to sell me.
 
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