HMC150 Cold Weather Problems

S

Superfresa66

Well-known member
Alright i remember reading about the lens problem on the HMC150 and the 170 under cold weather... I couldn't find the thread, I was working Saturday outside for about 1/2 hour and the temperature was 45 degrees (normal chicago october day) I notice the lens started to become hard to focus.

I remember reading about this, and if i remember right it has to do with the lubrication of the lens.

On Sunday i was out working since 5:30am till 2:00pm recording the Chicago Marathon, on temperatures from 30 to 42 degrees. focus ring was hard and very difficult to use...

Is there any service that could be done to lube the camera to be more cold weather friendly?
 
AFAIK, Panasonic has never officially recognized this issue. Thus, they will not re-lube it with 0W oil. Can you do it yourself? I don' t think so.

I wonder when did you buy your camera. I am curious maybe they fixed this issue undercover for newer shippings. I wonder will one have the same issue if he buys the camera now.
 
I bought the camera the first week of May 2009... and i even remember one of the members here at DVXUser sent his camera so Panasonic could check it out, and they just gave him the run-around/silent-treatment.

I'm sure now that winter is coming more people are going to start documenting this issue
 
I remember that Jan kept denying any problem with the lubricant and obviously as the no.2 camcorder manufacturer, they don't care much about how you might feel after being treated like this, as the attitude from SONY can only be worse.
I might use my 150 this coming Janauary in temperature around 30-35F, it is very likely this camera will even operate normally.
 
The old thread guys is over in the HPX170/HXV200 forum, something about 'sticky focus in cold weather' iirc. VERY long debate, got locked for a while.
 
Yep, mine does this too. I'm pretty sure its just consistent with all HMC's.. I was filming a football game in 40 degree weather and it gummed up pretty good on me..
 
I had a Kata rain cover in my backpack just in case of rain, but it makes the camera very hard to use, specially if mounted on a dvtec like i did. i just wished the focus ring was a little softer on the cold weather... Keep in mind we're not talking winter temperatures here, just any normal day in the fall.
altho i have to mention that i'm recovering from it as we speak (i got a cold)

@ tallrd, would that fit the HMC150?
 
This thread is scaring me a bit. I am planning on shooting with our snowboard team in the backcountry this winter, with pretty cold temps 16-30F, is the HMC150 going to do ok in manual mode in this range of temp? I have yet to use the HMC150 in cooler conditions so I cannot add to any of the above comments, just hoping with as much as we kicked down for this cam and all accessories that it will perform in this range of temps. I wonder if I used some hand/foot warmers (Last 8hrs)and kept them in the cam bag with the cam, if I would be able to shoot for 10 minute intervals without focus ring stiffening up to much, then just throw the cam back in the bag to warm up a bit until the sleds get back to the top to pull it out and shoot again? Although this might add some serious condensation problems in return.

Any input is greatly appreciated!
 
When the temperatures get down to near freezing, the hMC150's focus ring gets stiff. If you're on autofocus it's not a problem, but for manual focus the ring can freeze up and it takes some effort to get it moving again. It will work, but it takes effort. If you used something like a Foxi controller it would probably avoid the problem.
 
I do my manual focusing with this http://www.fullcompass.com/product/355000.html
so it would not effect me. But I still don't like the idea of this happening to a camera that panna bills as having "reliable performance in tough environments" like it says on its product page.

If they dont fix it they could at least update the manual and put a disclaimer on page 36 with the info on manual focusing. No camera is perfect, but users like knowing about shortcomings before they run into them.
 
it took the camera 20 minutes to warm up and function normal, and it took me a week to get rid of my cold... i still wish this issue wasn't there, there were a couple of clips that i couldn't use because of the focus ring stiffness.

I don't own the bogen focus/iris controller, how sensative is it?

I have the Varizoom VZ RockPZFI on my dvtec and is hard to focus with it! (maybe i just need more practice)... but i still feel i should be able to do this by hand on the lens. you know, old school!
this is the one i have!
http://www.varizoom.com/products/controls/vzrockpzfi.html
 
What is the point of having a manual repeatable focus wheel just to use a remote control? How this is different than using, say, the Canon HF-S, which is three times cheaper, with a LANC controller?
 
I'm just trying to find an alternative workaround the cold weather problem! plus the there are more features i need that a cheap consumer camcorder can't provide!

anyone else having this problem with the HMC150? how are you working around it?
 
you could try attaching those disposable hand warmer packs on the lens barrel some how. i was thinking maybe a flecce sleeve that fits over the lens hood with little pockets sewn in to hold the hand warmers thats loose enough to still be ablee to slip your hand inside to control the ring?
 
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