Firewire connector breakage
- Thread starter nof
- Start date
I don't know if this helps anyone but I made a cable strain relief that I zip tie all the connected cables to when connected to the camera. It takes all the load of the ports and helps me manage the cables. Here are pics of the piece if you want to have one made up. Oh, on the actual piece I drilled a number of holes to allow for using the zip ties.
Bob
Bob
siniarch
Veteran
Hey Bob,
That sound like a great idea. I'd also like to see how you are connecting the bracket to the camera and how the cables are connected to that.
I just order a custom part from a company last week to adress this problem, but maybe a cable strain relief along with a connection relief like the one I'm making might be the best solution. I'll post pictures as soon as I get it.
possibly next week.
how much was it to have that part made?
That sound like a great idea. I'd also like to see how you are connecting the bracket to the camera and how the cables are connected to that.
I just order a custom part from a company last week to adress this problem, but maybe a cable strain relief along with a connection relief like the one I'm making might be the best solution. I'll post pictures as soon as I get it.
possibly next week.
how much was it to have that part made?
Siniarch,
Using a connection relief with the strain relief is so the way to go. I only have a connection relief setup for the component connection but it has already saved the camera once when a director tripped over the cables. With the connection relief it only disconnected the video and didn't dump the whole camera. As for how much the part cost, the few that I have made were made using scrap aluminum so I don't have any idea on cost. I do plan on making a quantity of them in the near future for sale and I'll post prices then. In the meantime I'll post pics so you can see how it bolts up and I am sure that you could make your own with a hacksaw, hand drill and a vise.
Bob
Using a connection relief with the strain relief is so the way to go. I only have a connection relief setup for the component connection but it has already saved the camera once when a director tripped over the cables. With the connection relief it only disconnected the video and didn't dump the whole camera. As for how much the part cost, the few that I have made were made using scrap aluminum so I don't have any idea on cost. I do plan on making a quantity of them in the near future for sale and I'll post prices then. In the meantime I'll post pics so you can see how it bolts up and I am sure that you could make your own with a hacksaw, hand drill and a vise.
Bob
We had the same issue on our camera in the midst of a feature shoot in Katrina ravaged Mississippi. I was able to replace the connector and then got a 4 pin to six pin adapter and glued the thing firmly in place.....no more 4 pin hokieness. We found that the internal 4 pin bridge that holds the pins in place is a very thin piece of plastic that is not designed for the labors of shooting with a cable attached. We've put the new adaptor through its paces and we feel this is a very good solution.
Don Wilson
MississippiSon.com
Don Wilson
MississippiSon.com
siniarch
Veteran
Fire Wire Saver
Fire Wire Saver
Ok, so I just got my FireWire Saver and have been using it for a little bit. It seems to work pretty good. the connection is so much stronger and it even rests on the battery.
Now for the good news:
I'm SELLING IT.
Now for the bad news:
The price is going to be $12.00 for the first 20 orders, and $15.00 there after.
+shipping + tax. (I can't imagine shipping to be that much at all)
Unfortunately, I'm a little guy and I don't have a guarantee that people will buy tons of these, so the manufacturer has to make small quantities. If I made 1000-5000 units, these things could go down in price dramatically. I actually won't be making a lot of money on these and is probably more trouble than is worth, but I thought it would be nice to help others avoid having to replace their FireWire connector on the Camera.
So take a look at the pictures, let me know what you think. Ask questions. And let me know if you want one. I would have to order them and should have them within 14 days.
Also they are rubber, so you can smell the rubber (I'm sure this will go away with time), but it must be rubber in order to be flexible and allow the cable to be able to fit through.
And if you can see, I have a headphone jack 1/8" to 1/4" jack in the top (not included). and I plug my headset to that. Most professional headsets have 1/4" jack so this should work for most. If you have an 1/8" jack just make sure it is the thick kind.
Fire Wire Saver
Ok, so I just got my FireWire Saver and have been using it for a little bit. It seems to work pretty good. the connection is so much stronger and it even rests on the battery.
Now for the good news:
I'm SELLING IT.
Now for the bad news:
The price is going to be $12.00 for the first 20 orders, and $15.00 there after.
+shipping + tax. (I can't imagine shipping to be that much at all)
Unfortunately, I'm a little guy and I don't have a guarantee that people will buy tons of these, so the manufacturer has to make small quantities. If I made 1000-5000 units, these things could go down in price dramatically. I actually won't be making a lot of money on these and is probably more trouble than is worth, but I thought it would be nice to help others avoid having to replace their FireWire connector on the Camera.
So take a look at the pictures, let me know what you think. Ask questions. And let me know if you want one. I would have to order them and should have them within 14 days.
Also they are rubber, so you can smell the rubber (I'm sure this will go away with time), but it must be rubber in order to be flexible and allow the cable to be able to fit through.
And if you can see, I have a headphone jack 1/8" to 1/4" jack in the top (not included). and I plug my headset to that. Most professional headsets have 1/4" jack so this should work for most. If you have an 1/8" jack just make sure it is the thick kind.
Attachments
I'm going to give it a try as well.
Panasonic takes away with both hands here.
Bad battery tabs AND a flimsy 4 pin FW connection.
For another $40.00 we wouldn't be talking.
Panasonic takes away with both hands here.
Bad battery tabs AND a flimsy 4 pin FW connection.
For another $40.00 we wouldn't be talking.
bbalser
Veteran
I looked over my HVX in hand while looking at those photos. I really don't think this is going to be any where near enough force to make the battery even notice it's there.
And if the battery does notice, well, shame on Panasonic. The battery should really be in place plenty enough for the very nominal pressure I see it being able to exhert.
Having fooled around with my HVX in hand while looking the photos over, I think it should be fine.
But I really want to try it first hand before any final judgment.
And if the battery does notice, well, shame on Panasonic. The battery should really be in place plenty enough for the very nominal pressure I see it being able to exhert.
Having fooled around with my HVX in hand while looking the photos over, I think it should be fine.
But I really want to try it first hand before any final judgment.
Max R. Wilson
Stream Master
Why not just loop the Firewire cable around the handle so then there is no stress on the firewire port? Thats what i have been doing and have been using the FS4/DVX for over a year and never had a port problem.
siniarch
Veteran
Yeah THoff,
I checked it out and it doesn't seem to be an issue. Perhaps I don't have the old battery tabs, but the pressure put on the batteries is minimal if any at all.
I'll keep checking it though just in case.
Thanks BenB & David S.
Now if I can just get more people interested then I can make a larger order so I have units in stock.
I checked it out and it doesn't seem to be an issue. Perhaps I don't have the old battery tabs, but the pressure put on the batteries is minimal if any at all.
I'll keep checking it though just in case.
Thanks BenB & David S.
Now if I can just get more people interested then I can make a larger order so I have units in stock.
siniarch
Veteran
Webdog,
That is not a bad idea, but in a busy environment when people are moving fast to try to get the shot before they lose the light and so on, accidents happen. some people might bump the actual plug sticking out of the camera and either damage it or lose the connection and not record to their hd without noticing.
This is not the best solution, it is just an added precaution and a safer way to operate. And it definetly makes the connection stronger.
The best solution would be a 6pin FW cable and a better / safer configuration like the FX1/Z1 featured above.
Just my 2cents.
That is not a bad idea, but in a busy environment when people are moving fast to try to get the shot before they lose the light and so on, accidents happen. some people might bump the actual plug sticking out of the camera and either damage it or lose the connection and not record to their hd without noticing.
This is not the best solution, it is just an added precaution and a safer way to operate. And it definetly makes the connection stronger.
The best solution would be a 6pin FW cable and a better / safer configuration like the FX1/Z1 featured above.
Just my 2cents.
bbalser
Veteran
I have actually been playing around with the FW ports on both my DVXa and HVX side by side. I have to say, I'm totally convinced that the physical port on the HVX is a very much inferior quality built product than what's on the DVX. I know I'll get flamed for that, but it's my honest first hand experience.webdog said:
The HVX's port will disconnect with only the most tiny, slight, miniscule, minute vibration. Of that I'm certain. And of that, I'm certain I'll have quite a few FS-100 users agreeing with me. And I'm certain the fact that there are those who will insist that because it carries more formats than any other camera, we're suppose to ignore the other major problems.
Any camera "can" send many more different formats over a FW cable than the HVX does now. But "can" Pannasonic justify why it skimped on the design of a FW port on a TAPELESS camera they knew would have FIREWIRE recording device support when it went to market?
That is not an FS-100 problem, as Focus Enhancements has no control over what Panasonic does. It is a pure, HVX/Panasonic problem.
And when I say Panny crippled this port, I stand by that statement. Won't play out to component in HD? Cause another D/A converter would run too hot? There's already one in the unit! As a retired engineer, I don't buy it.
And why not a high quality secure 6-pin on a "tapeless" camera they knew would rely on a good number of Firewire FS users? And why such a weak, cheap FW port at that? The damned thing is crippled. It's not what it should be for a TAPLESS camera that they knew would have FIREWIRE SOLUTIONS before it hit market.
Love my HVX very much, but there's this FW port detail that I will just never understand why they so freakin' skimped on and poorly. Wish I could know why this port is so damned weak, even compared to other camera's 4-pins, and why they ignore the problem.
Ok, rant over, I'm done. Flame me. I'm out...