HMC150 vs HVX200A?

aleebee156 said:
Question?- Just to make sure, the cheap DV camera that i get will be able to transfer the 24pa that i have shot on my DVX correct? along with all the other frame rates, 30p, 60i, it will recognize all the sqeeze mode i shot. It should becuase its imbedded in the tape correct?
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Yes, all your footage will work just fine, you should have no problems at all with working with your older DVX footage, unless you shot in LP mode (because LP mode is not guaranteed to be compatible among different cameras).

i am correct in thinking that the auto focus will still work fine in freezing temps just not the manuel focus correct?
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Yes.
 
Cranky said:
Imagine Honda selling a car that would require manual cranking at below-zero temperatures. Impossible. Yet, a sticky focus ring is not considered a problem. Am I ranting again?
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Imagine JVC selling a camera that develops a big split-screen effect where the left side of the image looks totally different from the right side. Impossible. Oh, wait, they did.

Imagine Sony selling a camera that the battery drains to dead overnight, the lens vignettes between 10 to 25mm, and the paint rubs off so you can't even read the labels -- and imagine them selling it with the vaunted "CineAlta" badge on it. Impossible! But they did.

Imagine Sony selling a "professional" camera where the slightest dropout on the tape causes you to lose an entire half second of footage. Outrageous! But they do, they sell them every day.

Nothing's perfect, so get over it. Who said the sticky focus ring isn't a problem? Every product has flaws, even design flaws, and it's up to the buyer to determine what they will or will not put up with.

We've made the prospective buyer aware of the issue, and I went so far as to refer him to a different camera (the 200A) specifically because of the focus ring thing. But he's evaluated the situation and decided what he's willing to work around. So if the buyer's happy with the compromise, why shouldn't you be?
 
Like my mother used to tell me "if everyone is jumping out of a window, will you jump too?" The least I expect from Panasonic is to admit that the problem exists, because as of now users know about the problem, but the company says it is all fine, and no 5-year warranty can help resolving the issue. As a customer I would be put off by such an attitude. Acknowledging the problem is the first step. Panasonic must admit it and then should work on a fix. At least, to fix the models they are being manufactured right now; at best, fix already sold cameras for free.

Toyota found the guts to stop production of all affected models until the solution for sticky accelerator pedal is found. It also will fix the pedal on all sold cars for free. Will this incident tarnish Toyota reputation? I doubt it. Everyone makes mistakes, Toyota chose second-rate subsidiary to cut costs, now it has to fix the problem, and it will come out this mess as a victor, as a company that can acknowledge mistakes and learn from them.

Why recalls are customary in automotive industry and not, say, in video? Is it only because someone can get killed from a sticky accelerator pedal, but not from a sticky focus ring?

Robert M Wright said:
There are "professional" camcorders that don't even have a focus ring. :shocked:
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Did you mean the AG-HSC1 or the AG-HMC70? If you ride a bicycle you will not have problems with accelerator pedal, that is for sure.
 
Cranky said:
Like my mother used to tell me "if everyone is jumping out of a window, will you jump too?"
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That depends on why they are jumping out of the window. If the house is on fire I may just follow them... :)

Why recalls are customary in automotive industry and not, say, in video? Is it only because someone can get killed from a sticky accelerator pedal, but not from a sticky focus ring?
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Recalls are almost exclusively on the basis of safety. It's not just cars, it's push-chairs, baby gates, cots, etc. Sony recalled a LOT of laptop batteries not too long ago because of safety concerns, so it does happen in the electronics industry too - and for the same reasons as all other industries. Safety, nothing more, nothing less.

Now, if you can show that the focus ring is causing bodily harm then maybe you are on to a winner ;)
 
Not sure if a recall is really necessary... seems more just like a con to the camera. if you need a car that gets 40mpg you dont buy a gas guzzler, if you need a house with 5 rooms you dont buy a house with 2, and if you need a camera that doesnt have a focus ring that freezes up then you dont buy a camera that has one... Like Barry said, nothings perfect
 
If you wanted to record 200 minutes with p2 you'd need 2 32gb cards at a price of $570 each(e-series at b&h) plus 1 16gb card at a price of $395.00 (e-series at b&h)= 3535.00

Compare that to 1 32gb 6-series sd card = $115.

In the end you'll have to decide if p2 is worth the extra money but personally I never want to go back to p2 except for green screen work.[/QUOTE]



That's the only advantage I've ever seen. the P2 cameras are a bit more forgiving when doing greenscreen... Only thing I've ever seen that's even marginally signifigant... I love the 150 and don't regret selling my HVX at all.
 
Hi Cranky,

If I were as unhappy as you with the HMC150 I would sell it and get something else. This would also have the advantage that other forum members would not have to hear me constantly complaining about the camera they I very happy with. Not to mension Panasonic, who although not perfect, produce some very fine products at competitive prices.

Everything in life is a compromise but on balance I believe that the HMC150 is the best value for money in it's class. Most of us bought it to make films not to analyse every detail of the spec and examine the picture 6 inches from the screen.

On the subject of recall how many times has the focus ring been a problem to you when shooting with the HMC150? In my case it has not as I have not had to shoot in cold condition. If that was a requirement of mine I would have checked it out with Panasonic before a bought the camera. If I had done that and it turned out to be a problem only then would I have had some recourse.

Regards,
Ken
 
Hi

I'm in the UK and I am new to the HMC151. I shot all day in sub zero temperatures in January (I think it was between minus 5-7 C), and I did not experience a problem with the focus ring. Is this because it is a new camera or because only a few units are having difficulties?

Regards

Paul
 
Exact said:
Now, if you can show that the focus ring is causing bodily harm then maybe you are on to a winner ;)
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Does a producer chasing you with a baseball bat cause you missed focus on that once in a lifetime shot of a polar bear eating an Eskimo count? ;)


I've always like Panasonic video products, but this focus ring issue drives me nuts. Even in +5C (41F) weather this is a problem. Not exactly practical for anyone who lives with a winter climate.

I happen to have a varizoom, but it's not practical for run and gun shooting. I didn't know about the focus ring issue when I bought mine. Pretty peeved when I discovered it. Really peeved when I found out panny is doing NOTHING to fix the issue.

I could even understand it being an issue in really cold weather. But +5C?? That's ridiculous! Other than that I like this camera.
 
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