Get by with autofocus? Manual Focus ring is broken...

O

Orpheus

Active member
Just wanted some thoughts--my manual focus ring appears broken (DVX100). I can spin it and spin it and the focus number does not change. It stays at the last number the AutoFocus used. Is this something worth fixing? I am probably going to sell the camera down the road and upgrade, but can probably get by with it for awhile.

Also, I can use the Servo zoom to zoom in and out just fine, but when I take it out of servo zoom, I can only "zoom out." The zoom ring will not change the zoom other than zooming out. Is this also broken?

It's really disheartening to be new to videocameras and buying things off ebay which may or may not work. Maybe I have learned my lesson and should buy new? Anyone have an opinion on that?

I paid about 670 for it (original DVX100 with 400 hrs)--not sure if it was a very good deal, but I can't afford much more and don't have a computer to edit HD.

P.S. I also had it sent in to get the tape heads cleaned, but apparently they didn't check any other fuctions to see if they were working.

Thanks for the input everyone!
 
670 isn't much for these cams so you probably wont get to much better for that price. They are going down in price as they are replaced by HD cams. if you bought from ebay you be able to a file an "item not as described dispute" and get your money back. That being said, i rarely use manual zoom, but always use manual focus. You can however focus it in auto and then set to manual to keep it from changing. My biggest problems with auto is if a closer object get caught by the cam the cam may change its focus. If you can get the auto focus to focus on what you want, you can then disable the auto. there is an option in the menu to make the focus ring control your iris, so make sure the focus ring is set to control the focus. I would default all settings when buying a new cam. I think its in the other functions part of the menu. At default, the focus ring will focus.
 
Since I was normally going to be shooting in Scene file 6 anyways, it doesn't keep autofocus on so although I won't be able to manually focus, it shouldn't ruin many shots if I shoot things in that mode since it won't be autofocusing.

It's in good shape otherwise, with 400 hours--so with that in mind, do you think I will at least be able to get $300 out of it? Even though I just bought it a few months ago and will probably use it for awhile, I feel like HD might render it more than obsolete soon--I want to sell it before that happens.

The problem being that there don't seem to be any good options at the moment. DSLRs seem like a compromise, and actual videocameras blow my budget out of the water.
 
make some money with your dvx and then use it to buy a used HVX. You can find the HVX for around 2g and that's going down since everyone wants the HPX now. The DVX has it's place and should be looked as a tool to make you money. it definitely is not something you should expect to get money uot of in a few years. it will always be worth atleast 300 though.
 
Realistically I'm not going to be making any money with my camera unless I somehow win a cash prize from video contests that I hope to enter more often, but I do feel a bit spoiled by bluray and HD tv--the picture I get from the DVX just isn't quite what I was hoping. Then again, I also need a new computer to edit HD video--so that's why I bought the DVX as a "starter" camera so I can at least practice changing settings and whatnot. I'm definitely going to shoot more stuff with my DVX (I've only shot a wedding.), but alas there is no perfect camera for my purposes and budget yet.
 
I prefer the dvx100 look when shooting people. I don't like HD unless I am shooting people under 25 yrs of age.
 
Richter Video Equipment said:
Most HD cams have a SD mode
Click to expand...

Not all do..but you can output in Sd from your nle.

You must have manual focus..autofocus will not do things like focus on a stage performer who is in motion! Or if you put the subject off center.. Get the camera fixed.

The hmc80 sounds like what u r looking for.
 
8string said:
Not all do..but you can output in Sd from your nle.

You must have manual focus..autofocus will not do things like focus on a stage performer who is in motion! Or if you put the subject off center.. Get the camera fixed.

The hmc80 sounds like what u r looking for.
Click to expand...

The Panny 170 and 200 can record in SD
 
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