HVX Battery Mount Issue

steadicamsteel said:
......PANASONIC......YOU GUYS SUCK AND BLOW.
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you say that like its a bad thing :kiss:

seriously though, exterior flimsy plastic anywhere else is one thing, but if the battery falls off 1) you loose the shot 2) you damage the battery, 3) the manual states not to disconnect power while the camera is running.

I doubt Panny will recall all these HVXs to fix what alot of beancounters and company brass might consider "rough use". But there are enough users finding this problem that I am sure it will be addressed in a 200A :)
 
Ed -

It's hardly rough use that is causing these things to break-off. Merely traveling with the battery attached or just putting on the battery has caused the clips to break. My baggage was not checked - it was carried on - and perhaps when it got set on the security camera belts - moved around by the porters when I landed in london -- there are a host of things that could have caused it. But 99% of the time it was carefully handled in my possession. The weight of a battery should not cause it to break off a mount.. It's a blatant design flaw. I do agree that the company is probably not going to have the integrity to either recall, nor fix it under warranty which is quite frustrating. The retailer where I bought it is getting the run-around from the Pana. service center about it at present.

When a lion is right in front of attacking a gazelle and battery falls off and you lose the shot you're a little more than pissed-off - I'm not shooting soap opera's with the cam.

RP
 
mavrix said:
. . . The weight of a battery should not cause it to break off a mount.. It's a blatant design flaw.
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Wow, this sounds really crappy though I haven't had a problem. I went and took a good look at my HVX's battery mounting area. I'm trying to figure out exactly what you guys are experiencing.

On the right side is a small, gray plastic clip that seems to secure the battery in place. All I see is one and there doesn't look like any more should be there. Pushing the small gray button on top releases that clip and hence the battery. On the left side are four metal contacts (two positive, two negative) where the juice flows. Below is a shelf that the battery (on its side) rests on for support.

So maybe you guys could post a few pics of what exactly is happening with your cameras? Maybe even highlight some areas by photoshopping in some circles or something?
 
David S. said:
I believe it is the metal abutments that hold the battery in place below the battery.
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WRONG. There are 4 small plastic molded clips that hold the battery in place. Unfortunately the clips are part of the body and therefor cannot be readily replaced.
 
steadicamsteel said:
. . . There are 4 small plastic molded clips that hold the battery in place. Unfortunately the clips are part of the body and therefor cannot be readily replaced.
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I can't for the life of me imagine exactly what you are specifying. And I don't have the camera in front of me (or anywhere nearby).

If you could post a photo . . .
 
mavrix said:
Ed -

It's hardly rough use that is causing these things to break-off. Merely traveling with the battery attached or just putting on the battery has caused the clips to break. My baggage was not checked - it was carried on - and perhaps when it got set on the security camera belts - moved around by the porters when I landed in london -- there are a host of things that could have caused it. But 99% of the time it was carefully handled in my possession. The weight of a battery should not cause it to break off a mount.. It's a blatant design flaw. I do agree that the company is probably not going to have the integrity to either recall, nor fix it under warranty which is quite frustrating. The retailer where I bought it is getting the run-around from the Pana. service center about it at present.

When a lion is right in front of attacking a gazelle and battery falls off and you lose the shot you're a little more than pissed-off - I'm not shooting soap opera's with the cam.

RP
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No I agree that its not user rougness, they obviously got it right with the 100, 100A, and 100B. I am saying that when a company, ANY company not just Panny- sits down and looks at numbers and sees what costs are incurred by recalls- user error looks alot better than saying- "yea we messed that up- we will pay to fix it". But to thier credt I would say that Panny is one HELL of alot more receptive to thier consumers than its rival Sony ( though they have been good w/ vegas) so I would be surprised if they didnt address the issue.
 
steadicamsteel said:
WRONG. There are 4 small plastic molded clips that hold the battery in place. Unfortunately the clips are part of the body and therefor cannot be readily replaced.
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Sorry, that was a mistype.

I meant plastic abutments. They're square I believe.
 
steadicamsteel said:
As you can see from the image I've snapped the 2 upper tabs but so far have successfully regluid them back on.
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Super glue?

Wow, I really hope Panasonic addresses this.

I took a look at all four cams we own, and this configuration is easily the most delicate and it's on the most expensive cam.
 
Now that I have no post left on my camera and I can't find them to super glue them back on, I too have gone the velcro route. It seems to hold the batter on pretty well, but what a crappy way to do it. I will probably by the Anton Bauer Statis, and power my camera with the gold mount batteries.
 
Wow!

Ok, I see now. Thanks for posting that picture.

When I get home later, I'm gonna take a look again at my HVX and see how things are looking. But I'm pretty sure nothing has broken off (yet).

In any case, Panasonic should improve that design and (dare I say) consider recalling the camera if reasonable improvements can be made to existing ones out there.

In the meantime, I shall tread lightly. :)
 
WEll actually from starring at the Camera the plate piece is easliy replaceable. I think Panasonic should send a strong plastic plate out. I am sure they can mod with a Steel the plsticed over so they wont have redesign batteries :)
 
SurJones said:
WEll actually from starring at the Camera the plate piece is easliy replaceable. I think Panasonic should send a strong plastic plate out. I am sure they can mod with a Steel the plsticed over so they wont have redesign batteries :)
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I'd even buy something like that if Panny or a 3rd party manufactured it.
 
Yup, I've got all four of them still connected. SAFE! WHEW! :thumbsup:

But I will be very, very careful from now on.
 
I own an HVX and frequently rent a second unit for some shoots, this is a very common problem. It is also worth noting that the DVXuser battery seems to be funky and not help the cause, we have ceased from using them on the HVX.


ash =o)
 
SurJones said:
WEll actually from starring at the Camera the plate piece is easliy replaceable. I think Panasonic should send a strong plastic plate out. I am sure they can mod with a Steel the plsticed over so they wont have redesign batteries :)
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WRONG AGAIN.......This piece is far from being easily replaceable as the faulty tabs are molded from the body of the camcorder and you would have to take apart the whole of the rear section of the camcorder to replace the rear section.
 
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