Hour usage on hour meter?

jeff jassky

jeff jassky

Active member
Hey guys. I'm looking into buying a used DVX100A. I'm basically wondering what the life-span of one of these cameras is hours-wise.

In your opinion - what would a camera in good condition with 80 - 85 hours of usage on the meter?

Thanks guys!
-Jeff
 
That is pretty low. I think I am approaching that mark and I dont use my camera too often. Although 80 hours is enough to screw up a camera though...
Brian
 
I think we've had this discussion before. 500 hours in a studio is better(usually...) than 50 hours in the desert or on a beach.
 
Yeah.. my original DVX is pushing 400 hours and still works like a dream, and its been through hell and back, been in smoke, fog, beach, rain, snow and pretty much everything. If i remember correctly, the official life of the heads is supposed to be just under a 1000 hours, so 30 hours is very low, i think i did that the first week i got the camera.
 
when do the heads require professional cleaning? - I've got 416hrs on my DVX. I use a cleaning cassete once in a while, but i heard that the heads have to be profes. cleaned at some point?
 
If you are really serious and the deal looks good enough, ask the owner if you and he could take it to a factory authorized service center for tests and head cleaning. Get a price quote from the tech and and negotiate a deal with the owner. 85 hours is not many hours; however, the heads should be cleaned. Get a "bill of health" from a tech first. Then everyone leaves the deal with a "clean" conscience to boot.
 
what happens when you go past the hours does it just never work again or do you get it sent off what?
 
I've always felt anything over 1,000 wasn't worth buying, even if it works perfectly. I liken it to buying a car with a 150,000 miles on it.

As a rule, I wouldn't consider anything over 800. Ans as others have mentioned here, it helps to know where the camera has been. For example, a camera with low hours that has been used on an island for a realty series and sucking up salty air for 16hrs a day is not something you want.

80hrs isn't squat. to me that's like buying a car that's a dealer demo, only a few thousand miles on it. It's really practically new.
 
Spidey,it only means the head ( drum or cylinder ) or some gears need to be replaced,
the electronics can last 10 year , be happy .
 
Since getting DV Rack other than steadicam shots, I don't roll any tape, just straight to the computer so head life isn't really a concern any longer.
 
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