Help save a friendship!

J

JoshuaK

Member
Problem: Loaned a friend my 100b (I know, mistake) for a music video shoot in the Mojave Desert. First time using it after I got it back, I noticed the focus ring and the zoom felt like they were lightly grinding (on sand) when turning. I tried to ignore it but when the blinking red x told me the camera heads were dirty, I knew that it must've been sand from his shoot.

1) Am I mistaken that there's probably light sand damage?
2) Is the best step to take it to an authorized Panasonic repair center and having them clean the heads, the ring and the zoom and check for sand?
3) Is the Video Clinic in Los Angeles a reliable place? (I'm in West LA. Got Video Clinic's number from Panasonic itself.)
4) Is the $390 charge (plus parts) sound like a fair price from the Video Clinic?
5) I had 209 hours on this six-month old camera. (Now 218h with friend's use.) Keeping in mind that some regular maintenancing probably did/would need to be done, should I pass the whole bill on to my friend or what?

I want to keep the friend but I don't want to take this bill on the chin for damage he (might have caused). Fair?

-j

P.S. I checked a thread that recommended Digitron. They gave a quote of $225 (plus parts).
 
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Hmmm... tough one. If it were me, seeing how it could already be time for a good cleaning, send it in for a cleaning. Tell your friend that you sent it in because it was needed. Say you're not trying to put blame on him, but the desert environment may have rushed the need for the cleaning, and if he want's to help out and pitch in, you'd appreciate it. If not, that's cool too... but don't ever loan out your camera agian.

You did him a favor by loaning him an expensive peice of equipment, the least he could do is pitch in 50-150 bucks.


EDIT: And YES, it sounds like sand could very well be the problem. Go in halfs with him.
 
I think your friend needs to foot the whole bill. You lent him the camera with the understanding that he would take good care of it and he didn't. If he refused to pay or gets angry then he's not a real friend.
 
I ran into the same problem with my HVX, after internal cleaning and 250.00 later the camera was fine. My friend gave me 50.00 back. He is no longer my friend. What you described with the grinding focus is 100% from the sand. When you have it cleaned they will tell you the same thing. tell your friend to pay for the entire cleaning as it is 100% their fault. If they really are your friend they'll be sorry they messed up your camera in the first place.-Adam
 
I would charge your friend the lessor of the repair costs or the costs of days rental from a reputable equipment dealer. I am sure the rental value probably greatly exceeds the repair costs; so your friend got a deal. You can show him how much he saved by not having to rent the unit at the daily rate. He wanted a free deal but he screwed up. These aren't $200 consumer camcorders he needs to realize that. He saved a bundle by not having to go out and buy/rent a camera himself and then pay for his own cleaning/repair.
 
Some creative thoughts. The reality is you lent it to him with good intention, he has to pay something. I would have him view the cam ASAP and show him the redx and the noise in the lense. I mean grinding sand noise, sounds like grinding sand noise.
 
Hello Joshua,

$390 doesn't sound too bad for sand damage. I have met the owner for the Video Clinic and he is really nice.

I hope everything works out for you.

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman
Senior Operations Manager
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com

Please visit our new online store at ( http://www.spec-comm.com/store ). New products being added daily!
 
Take it to an Authorized repair center, ASAP.

Ask you friend to at least go halves with you. You said it's probably about time for some regularly scheduled maintenence. The cam has sand in it now, from his shoot. At the very least, (if you're a nice guy) he needs to go half with you.

In the future, get some type of cover for your camera when shooting in sandy, salty, etc. conditions.

Later,
Jason
 
ncje said:
I would have him view the cam ASAP and show him the redx and the noise in the lense. I mean grinding sand noise, sounds like grinding sand noise.
Click to expand...

Good point.

And after reading the other posts on this thread, I'm going to have to change my original suggestion, and say that everyone's right. He really should have to pay for the cleaning. It may have been a good idea to have a good cleaning anyway, but it wasn't NEEDED. Now it is, it's his fault, and you can't shoot anything till it gets the necessary service. Like someone stated above, the daily rental cost would be the equivalent of a cleaning, or MORE.

-brown
 
I agree with the others. You gave him the camera to use in good and working condition. I would imagine he or she would agree they got it this way or you would have heard otherwise. You got the camera back and it was not in good and working condition. The onus is on the last person to use the camera to return it in good condition like they got it. This should have been discussed and understood as a condition from the beginning. He should cover the cost of the damage to the camera and you should cover the cost of routine maintenance if it was needed.
 
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I am very weary about loaning my DVX. Iloan it once to this guy named "Jay". He took really good care with it. He is probably the only one I would loan it to.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. I'm going to take this information plus the discussions I have had with Panasonic, Video Clinic and Digitron. Prior to this, he seemed willing to fix it (though he didn't know prices). We also had a written agreement which supports all this. I'll let you know how it goes.


Best,
J
 
"NEVER, repeat, NEVER loan your camera to ANYONE"! This was one of the first things my professor said to our
Video/Film I class the very first day last semester and you have just substantiated another reason not too!


This is what you depend upon for your livelihood. Anyone in need of a camera for whatever reason can rent one. Period.

This may seem harsh but look at the circumstance you're facing now. Who care's if it was an accident or not.
The bottom line is, your camera was returned NOT in the working order it was before your lent it out.

As far as the cost to fix the camera, simple. Your friend is responsible for the entire cost to repair your camera.
You have already spent $$$$$ on the purchase of your camera. Why would you be expected to pay anything to
have it fixed, especially when you were not at fault? If he's a true friend he should of offer to pay for the repair already.

Good luck.

Mark Dalzell / AudioScapes
Las Vegas, NV
 
Number one - fix the camera asap. Number two - did you know your friend was going to take the camera out in the desert? If yes, it's your problem (if he's a real friend he might foot half of the bill). If he didn't tell you where/how he was going to shoot, it's his bill. Never use a camera out in the desert without proper protection.
 
Thanks for all the input. Here's the update:

My friend agreed pay completely with no resistance. Digitron confirmed sand particles in the tape transport and lens assembly. They cleaned it, I have it back and my friend will be paying the bill this weekend.

Best,

J
 
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