Here's what is in the box:

Agreed about that -- gain is the plague, and gain on the HD100 is to be avoided. I wouldn't shoot with gain if there were any way to avoid it.

Now that you've seen that white pixel, you'll probably see it in every frame that you shoot (although it won't necessarily be white!)

The split-screen effect hasn't really bothered me in most of the things I've shot or seen. It's there, but it takes certain circumstances to make it noticeable. Gain is one; if you shoot with high levels of gain, you can count on seeing the split screen. And yes, in your footage it's much easier to see it when you shot against the wall. It corresponds with other reports, where one side is just "redder" than the other.

But as you say, with no gain it shouldn't be much of an issue in most shooting circumstances. And yes, we have been hinted at (at least in DVDoctor forums) that there could be a firmware patch coming that would fix the split-screen; apparently there are different processors for the right and left half of the screen, and I guess they can calibrate them a little better than they have been from the factory. Haven't heard JVC comment directly to that yet, but I do hope that it's true.
 
dashwood said:
Hi Barry,

I did a split-screen test at +18db and I can definitely make out a level difference of the firewire captured footage split left/right. I also found a white pixel!
However, it is not nearly as pronounced as on the NTSC live signal.

I've uploaded the m2t to my server. 38Mb. Download it here:
http://homepage.mac.com/timdashwood/.Movies/split-screen-test+18.m2t

The shot starts with the lens cap on, but you can really see it best when I zoom to the blue wall.

Honestly though, I very seldom shoot with any gain for most of my applications. It comes in handy sometimes when I'm shooting documentaries, but I don't remember ever shooting anything for broadcast at more than +6db (even on my betacam.)
So, this probably won't affect me now for my current projects, and it will be great if they clear it up in a firmware patch.

Tim
Click to expand...


I downloaded your clip and put it in the CX color corrector. (Click here for graphic) for others to take a look. Definately slanting toward red and you can certainly see the split screen effect. I'm like you and very rarely ever get into gain. I typically will slow the frame rate down to gather more light just to avoid getting into gain at all. Anyway, it is visible. That would be a function of electronics in the cam and nothing else.
 
mezelf27 said:
Is it in that menu that you can find a faulty-pixel-masking?
Click to expand...

No, not as such. From memory there was nothing that stood out. But there are a lot of very technical menu adjustments that can be made.

I'm also use to the Sony cameras where a simple black balance off the wb switch is enough to enable the masking.

And without a service manual to go with the menu structure there is no telling how each adjustment affects the camera.

Tim may want to document those service menu pages to post but it would be a labour of love...
 
I just went into the service menu, and it reboots the system into NTSC DV. I go into the menu and the header says NTSC, and then there is an adjustment for location. Mine is set to U_E
This menu is not navigatable like the normal menu, and the other two option don't seem selectable.

I couldn't exit the menu, so I turned the system off.

I think a few menu items went back to default after that, and I had to reload my settings from the SD card.
 
Yes, but keep in mind that end users aren't really supposed to even know about it. It's a service menu for repair techs to use (so, I guess it should be "scary"!) ;)
 
stephenlnoe said:
t. dashwood, were you able to mask out this dead pixel sucessfully? I've included a screenshot of your lenscap on vid.

Click here to see the DOA pixel
Click to expand...

I'm working on it tomorrow. I had an interesting conversation with my dealer today about the pixel and split screen. I will post the info tomorrow in a new thread (after I test it), but he said that if I turn the camera on for at least two hours, the pixel will mask itself. Ever hear of this?

Also, if the split screen appears in any gain settings other than +18, JVC will swap the camera same day. (I'm in Canada, the policies in the U.S. may differ.)

Tim
 
dashwood said:
but he said that if I turn the camera on for at least two hours, the pixel will mask itself. Ever hear of this?
Click to expand...
Seems unlikely; the camera I used at WEVA had been on for likely 10 hours straight, and there was a dead pixel in every frame. So I don't know why it would be different, but I'm hoping it is! Please keep us posted...
 
What's in the box with the SD card in the 4th picture? In the camera I tested, there was just the SD card in that upper part, with the charger, mic and everything else in the bottom part. Did you get the free wide angle? Is that what comes in that part of the box? I wondered why such a big space for only a SD card.
 
Do you remeber what's that then. What was with the SD card? The camera I tested, there was just the SD card in there.
 
If your SD card was already inside the camera when you received it, you likely received a unit that was used by someone else. JVC upgrades the firmware and send it to another consumer and tells them they have a brand new replacement camera. Look for other clues as to how used the camera is. Track your serials numbers, to make ensure that they are shipping new units and not-refurbished ones. Look at the drim and fan hours, to see if the camera has been used.
 
Mediacre said:
Do you remeber what's that then. What was with the SD card? The camera I tested, there was just the SD card in there.
Click to expand...

If I remember correctly, the SD card was wrapped in pink bubble wrap and was in the same box with the charger, cables, core filters, etc.
 
Mr. Tang - thanks for the advice, but perhaps folks on this forum are professionally experienced to buy $6000 gear from dependable suppliers.
 
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