HPX170 Lens Wobble Improved

Gary Senda said:
On my HPX171 there isn't so much play as in your video. It is 1/4 of what I can see on Vimeo.

Anyway, this is a letus problem and not an HPX problem: it is simply absurd that the camera lens must hold the adapter, even partially. I have an SGPro and this is not an issue with that adapter because tle adapter is a solid rock with the support and the camera doesn't hold a single gram of the adapter weight. The camera must simply 'watch' into the adapter.
This is the reason for what I've accurately avoided to buy the letus and for the same reason I will not never buy the SGBlade.


This is a confirmation I've made a good choice.

Gary
Click to expand...

Gary,

You are completely wrong. Letus provides support from rods like every other 35mm DOF adapter. It's just that I wasn't screwing the support and the adapter together. My mistake, I didn't get screws from Letus, so thought it wasn't necessary. Indeed, it wasn't with a 200A or EX1. It most certainly is with a 170.

I predict that this will be an ongoing issue with the HPX170 when people try other accessories on the camera like clip-on matte boxes, wide angle adapters,
follow focus--although the closer the accessory is to the camera, the less lever
action is applied side to side.

Did you ever stop to wonder how all those Letus adapters out there have not
had this problem with other cameras?
 
Dino said:
I am disheartened that a Panasonic product rep. is already stating warranty policy before this issue has been looked into or understood properly.

I have done nothing differently than what I've done with a 200A or EX1, neither of which had the issue, at least not visible in the image during focusing.
.
Click to expand...

This camera has more in common with the DVX100 than it does with the HVX as far as how the build is. I have used a FF system and there is no problem. I have used the focus ring without any FF and there was no problem. I cannot imagine how you would or why you would exert side to side pressure on the lens in normal use. I have been traveling with the camera for the last couple of months, and I have had several of the consultants that we work with use the camera somewhat extensively. It has not come up as an issue.

I did mention the warranty issue as when the DVX100 was used with the larger adapters, and the lens separated from the body, people were surprised byt the fact that it was not covered by warranty. The HPX is a smaller camera, it does not have the same build as the HVX, it is a pound light and is more like a DVX.

Best regards,

Jan
 
i want to be as calmed by this situation as anyone does, but jan, telling us that it's simply not the 'build' of the HVX and is lighter, etc. certainly doesn't make anyone feel good about things. obviously it's not a massive camera, but that doesn't relieve panasonic of build quality.

a camera that exhibits the wobble in the video (and yes i have one and it does the same thing) should be corrected. period. i've been a solid HVX owner since the first shipment, and it honestly makes me more than nervous - disappointed - that there is this much play.

grab yours and check it out - there's a tremendous amount of play with VERY LITTLE pressure needed. again, this is an issue that needs to be corrected, not excused because 'it does not have the same build as the HVX, is a pound light and is more like a DVX."
 
Last edited:
Jan,

Let's take 35mm adapters and follow focus out of the equation. Why would the build quality of the HPX170 lens be less robust than an HVX200A lens? More to the point, why is there less precision with this camera which streets for the same price and doesn't even have the cost of a tape transport involved?

I don't think people buying this camera were expecting lower build quality. Just because something weighs less does not mean it is poorly built. I also mounted my TV Logic 7" monitor, which is lighter than a BT-LH80, and the whole handle had deflection which is a bit of a worry.

A follow focus can exert force on a lens, especially when getting to the end of focus travel.

Again, at no time have I put weight on the end of the lens. I've been a DP for over 25 years, I'm sure most people on this forum don't remember Ikegami HL-79 cameras, or Sony BVP-30 BETACAM dockable cameras. It's not my first rodeo, just my first ownership experience with what seems to be a "toy" camera, even by other palmcorder standards. A shame, because it is a brilliant little camera in every other respect.
 
YOu need to look at this camera in comparison to the DVX100 build and you will find that it is simiular. As far as not havin a Tape drive, you are right, it does't but it does have HD-SDI, it has three different focus assists, it has the ability to go to pre-rec from the user buttons, it can input metadata on the camera, it has a dedicated switch to toggle to the Iris mode, it is a full pound lighter. The build quality is sound, it is just a smaller camera.
Best,

Jan
 
I wouldn't put this much weight out there on the HVX without support on it it either.
Click to expand...
its not an issue of weight. if you have rods holding up the adapter.

my fear is not so much with an adapter but with a follow focus. just by the nature of how that works its putting some lateral torque on the focus ring/lens.

im going to do various tests this afternoon. and if the thing moves under normal use. camera is going back first thing monday. we simply cannot have this happening

i really hope that my other thread about overall cheap build quality isnt another clue to the core of this issue. i so would have paid an extra $500 or more for a camera with better build quality
 
The build quality is sound, it is just a smaller camera.
Click to expand...

i hate to be argumentative but that's is absolutely NOT true. for the reasons i posted in my thread about build quality. brittle p2 door, ridiculously small lcd latch. not to mention the non-locking lens hood. its pretty obvious to me that a lot of cost-saving and or time-saving measures were taken.

and mentioning all the great technological features doesnt mean a hill of beans if the mechanics of the camera cant hold up.
 
this is an interesting discussion as far as responsibility goes. the 35mm market is kind of an esoteric one and i dont know that a manufacturer would obligated to support such application. but id say that a follow focus (either friction wheel or geared) is a pretty long-established probable accessory and if a cameras engineering doesnt provide support for it - id say we have a problem.
 
It seems as though we got a MUCH improved image, with newer sensers, at the expense of build quality. Still though, not enough to send me over into the EX1 camp.
 
I just received my HPX170, I'm worried if it will hold up for aerial shoots, which I do frequently. That would be a clear example of side pressure on the lens being exerted by wind.
 
We need to know if there are tolerance differences from camera to camera. I am surprised that Barry Green or Adam Wilt didn't notice this, but they were testing pre-production cameras
which might have had more precise tolerances than production cameras?
 
Dino, My HPX170 does seem fairly sturdy. I don't seem to be getting the side to side motion you were able to get. Maybe some cameras have a higher tolerance?
Certainly an interesting issue
 
wgzn said:
my fear is not so much with an adapter but with a follow focus. just by the nature of how that works its putting some lateral torque on the focus ring/lens.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I thought this would be obvious to any DP.
 
Is it okay that the "lens" does wiggle like this in terms of normal use? I just tried mine & definitely wiggles like the video.

Does the HVX200 do this? I am going to take a look at my DVX100 later today for comparison as well.
 
When I saw all the preproduction pictures of the 170 I thought it looked a bit 'cheap' but put that down to prototypes and hoped that the production models would be better. I have handled a 170 and immediately got the impression (comparing it to my HVX) that it is a poor quality product. Panasonic have rapped up all the features we asked for in the body of a toy. Why? I'm sure that most of us would indeed, pay extra for a better camera body.

I was about to place my order for a 170 but frankly, this post has scared the hell out of me and I won't be ordering one until this issue has been resolved by Panasonic.

Panasonic, I hope you are hearing this...it is unacceptable!!! You had an opportunity here to make something really special. I hope you haven't blown it, but if you have, you have only yourself to blame.

Weenie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top