How is the HVX200A audio? Same problems as with DVX100B? Help please before I buy!

DGW

DGW

Well-known member
Hello all...
If anyone has used or owned the HVX200A and is familiar with the audio issues on the DVX100B, I would like to know if the 200A has the same issue. I just bought a new 100B and, although I don't usually use autofocus or do much zooming, occasionally I need to, and the sound from the AF motor and zoom servo is picked up in the recording on DV tape. I eliminate this problem when I use and external mic not attached to the 100B but there are times when I'll need to use either the onboard mic, or an attached shotgun. Both the latter solutions introduce the noise made by AF and zoom. I have only had this camera for 13 days now and have only used it in a quiet studio to test the imaging (which I love by the way)...but the audio issue is unacceptable, so I am considering sending it back and buying the HVX200A. The posts on this by other users indicate the tape transport may add to the camera sound being recorded but even if I have no tape in the camera I can hear the rumbling and whinning thru headphones as I zoom or allow AF to work. It definitely comes out on the tape...so my simple question after this long preamble is....WILL THE HVX200A experience this problem? Will the recordings on both P2 card or DV tape have camera motor noise?

Jan (at Panasonic) ...if you are reading this, your unbiased opinion would be much appreciated...I have a project at a state university that I need to begin in 4 weeks so I have to get a quiet camera.
Thanks all who can provide feedback!
Dan (DGW Video Productions)
 
These problems aren't problems if you don't use the servos. It's really built for ring use more than anything else. Using a shotgun attached to the camera gets it a couple inches further from the mechanical bits, and should help eliminate some camera noise. You'll have to deal with some if you have an on camera mic even if you don't use the motors at all. It's the same with most any camera. Having an HVX doesn't fix that, you'll have to change your filming practices to do so.
 
Thank you for the quick response. I was afraid you were going to say that! As I indicated, I mostly don't use AF and rarely zoom while filming but I did not want to own a camera that may be defective if that was the case. The Panasonic gal indicated in one post I read that moving to an HVX may improve the situation, but I didn't really see how that could be since the same principles of mechanics would be involved. It's just funny that a cheap little $450 Canon ZR200 does not pick up any noise, but then again, I suppose the servo controls in it are no where near as robust, i.e. able to operate quieter.
Thanks again...guess I may have to live with it.
 
It may be true in that the HVX is built sturdier and possibly with more insulated mechanics, and it's newer; so Panasonic may have learned a bit about quiet operating motors. But I doubt it's $1200 worth of improvement, or whatever the difference comes to lately.
 
yeah...closer to $2500 for me to return the 100B and buy the HVX. I'm still weighing the possible advantage of a 13X 82mm lens vs the DVX's 72mm 10X and the fact that I can ingest quicker. The reviews I have been reading give good comments on the image quality. I will assume no noticeable change with audio due to servo's so I appreciate your comments on that. Any comments on the rest of the HVX (good or bad) that you are aware of?
 
I used to own a DVX, traded it for an HVX. Definitely an improvement. I don't like where the menu buttons are placed, but everything else is clearly engineering advancements since the release of the DVX. It's a better SD camera as well as having the possibility of HD. The only disadvantage from its predecessor that I know of is the price. And P2 cards are quite spendy, but the tapeless workflow is an incredible change. So basically it's everything you like about the DVX, plus a little better. And with the ablity to do HD or real 24p, little things like that.

Oh, and the focus markers come in feet and inches. I'm not sure if the later DVX's did that, but mine didn't. I really like that.
 
Once you start shooting HD, you'll realize just how bad SD looks, and you'll never want to use
that noisy tape drive again!

I find that the mic inputs to the HVX200 are noisy, the hissy kind of preamp noise.
Only solution is to get a high-output mic, with a sensitivity of 20 mV/pA, if possible.
 
Thanks for your help. I returned the DVX100B today and ordered the HVX200A. I'm sure I'll have questions next week when it gets here. Thanks again....all the best...Dan!
 
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