HPX250: First Breakage on HPX250

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digitalgecko

Well-known member
Well I guess it had to happen, and if you were to ask I would have said it would be the first to break. Yes, the little RCA video out jack on the side of the camera. I know most don't use them and there is SDI out, but when you have to shoot an event and they want to put a camera on the big screen, they are not usually using really expensive or professional equipment and they always ask for composite video. I've only used it once before at the same venue and it worked well. I used a very light RCA cable, and I thought all was well. They called today and I went out there to check out there setup and I connected the camera and no video out. I checked the menus to see if it is possible to turn off the composite video output and no, it's on all the time. So I'm brushing off my old Sony Z7 to shoot this one. It has a priority cable connection that breaks out into composte video and audio. A more solid design than flimsy RCA connections. It's sad because I do love everything else about this camera.

My question is has anyone come across a reasonably priced SDI- to composite coverter. That may be a better way to attack this issue?
 
I make my own BNC cables every once in a while. After repeated cycles of use, it will wear out. Premiun commercially produced BNC able made Canare also suffers the same fate after repeated stress 1-2" from the BNC connectors itself. Those are very hard to fix because one would need their a very expensive cable crimping vs. the typical RG-59 found in most electronic stores. Even high end optical fiber triax cable suffer shorts within 12 inches fr. the LEMO connector. Mostly due to repeated stress, door jamming and other field abuse.

What you want to do is to have a short harness of about 4-6" long and get a BNC female to join them. I'd get a male RCA to female BNC or male RCA to male BNC and make a short harness. This will reduce a lot of stress to the cable when panning or tilting is performed. Or find a right angle RCA-BNC adaptor. There's much better chance of retaining connectivity this way.
 
It was the physical RCA jack on the camera that broke, not the cable. I think that a BNC composite out jack (like on the HPX370) would have been a sturdier option for the HPX250. I would have paid a few dollars more for better connectors. It seems both AJA and Blackmagic make HD/SDI decoders to composite video in the $250 to $320 range. That may be a better option for a stationary camera needing composite out to a video projector.
 
Yikes. This is a board level re soldering. May be covered under 5-yr warranty. Composite video is still alive, particularly for most older live satellite video feed and quick monitoring.
 
The question is ... is it worth repairing only to break again, or spend the same couple of hundred dollars and get an HD/SDI coverter to composite. That way you're using the sturdier BNC connection going to the converter. I believe I would still do as you suggest and use a bnc to rca adapter and use a lighter RCA cable in that situation as well. But on the other hand, I hate things that are broke on a camera. Ruins the resale value.
 
I would get the female connector fixed under warranty. Then, buy a SDI to composite convertor. Look at ebay, I see those used sometimes. Anytime I have a cable connected to a camera, I always tape a relief loop on the tripod arm. That way, the cable is not stressing at the connection. I haven't lost a connection yet. Those firewire connections are the worst.
 
I would get it fixed and it is connected to the main control board. You never know what might happen over time if you dont get it repaired to other componets on the same buss. Once fixed I would go with JonnyD and make some type of strain releif and then use that and aviod the extra cost and bulkiness of a extra device to have to bring. I do the same and have a small double loop releif right at the tripod arm so it moves with my arm. I also have a converter and it was $400, I only use it when I must does a good job from HD to SD.
 
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