cheezweezl
Veteran
And it's time for you to stop sticking up for them.
Hvx200 Not Optically Centered
- Thread starter shiny4
- Start date
... and it's time for you to stop ignoring perfectly reasoned and logical arguments, and accept that you're using a relatively low-end tool in a non-standard way, resulting in the odd pitfall and annoyance.
Try a different adapter. Or sell your HVX and buy another 2nd hand. You shouldn't have to lose hardly any money to do that.
Try a different adapter. Or sell your HVX and buy another 2nd hand. You shouldn't have to lose hardly any money to do that.
cheezweezl
Veteran
If it's new return it.
ullanta
Veteran
Page 5 of the HVX User Manual: "11) Only use attachments/accesories specified by the manufacturer"
1 - 944 in the 70's? Nah!
2 - 914 wouldn't handle as well as a 944? Pretty arguable, especially for, say, autocross.
3 - As a hyper little mid-engined whirler, going straight is the last thing you want (or get) from the 914 when you're having fun!
1 - 944 in the 70's? Nah!
2 - 914 wouldn't handle as well as a 944? Pretty arguable, especially for, say, autocross.
3 - As a hyper little mid-engined whirler, going straight is the last thing you want (or get) from the 914 when you're having fun!
ChesterEdam
New member
Hey there, I know this is a relatively old thread now but I feel I have something to contribute to this debate as it must still be a big problem for many, many people out there.
Firstly to deal with the issue most Panavision employees have been making, this is not strictly a lens adaptor problem. Every single accessory, made by Panavision or third party manufacturers, added to the HVX via the front thread, will be mis-aligned.
(And does anyone really believe that buying a Panavision ‘recommended’ accessory will fix the problem? Are all their matte boxes shifted to the left? I doubt it.)
Secondly to answer the calls of "does it really matter?" - YES, it does. A Mis-aligned CCD not only affects edge to edge image sharpness, but zoom tracking calibration too - as well as the much documented vignetting with virtually any accessory.
Thirdly this leads onto the subject of "it’s only a prosumer camera" which may hold some water with issues such as if the sound bars were displaying different information to what was actually being recorded, or it had noisy CCD’s, because I can guarantee no-one buys an HVX to use as a sound recorder. What they buy it for is THE IMAGE, and before we even get onto the subject of resolution, colour depth or latitude - THE CENTER OF THE LENS ISN’T EVEN ALIGNED WITH THE CENTER OF THE CCD, and to accept or dismiss this as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances is absurd.
(And before I summarise, this is not a matter of quantum physics or philosophy, this issue really is simple enough to be able to discuss it on it’s own merits, in it’s own terms. The VW/Chevy/Porsche analogies have gone far enough, the car market and the Prosumer Video market are, funnily enough, completely different and I find it hard to believe that the members of DVXUser can’t wrap their heads around the subject of video cameras.)
So really it’s time this issue was publicised more, ideally by Panavision themselves but more likely by us on behalf of Panavision so that customers are aware BEFORE purchase, of the limitations of their cameras. Because even if you accept the argument that the HVX "performs as it was intended" (which is only valid if it was intended to perform without edge to sharpness, with offset zoom tracking and without the capability to add any accessories - even Panavision brand ones) don’t you think that people who are purchasing the HVX just SO they can add accessories and lens adaptors have the right to know BEFOREHAND, so that they should steer clear of the camera, or request a centralised CCD? I’m tired of reading the many illogical replies to this thread lecturing others on how it isn’t a problem BECAUSE it’s a cheap camera, well it still IS a problem for accessory users no matter how expensive the camera, and even if we commit the crime of having high expectations this issue wouldn’t arise if it were made public and we could avoid the camera in the first place.
(Sticky thread perhaps Mods?)
In an ideal world Panavision would offer discounts or repairs publicly and acknowledge their mistake, because I’ve tested DVX’s for this problem too and every one I’ve seen is perfectly aligned, so is it that much to ask that their next generation of camera can have a centralised CCD? I don’t think so.
I’d like to hear feedback from some HVX owners / DVXUser members since this thread was first active about whether they even knew of the problem and whether they’ve had trouble since as well.
And finally for all you analogy lovers out there can anyone name a market which WOULDN’T either issue a recall for defective products or just sell them at a discount?
Thanks and look forward to some fresh debate!
Firstly to deal with the issue most Panavision employees have been making, this is not strictly a lens adaptor problem. Every single accessory, made by Panavision or third party manufacturers, added to the HVX via the front thread, will be mis-aligned.
(And does anyone really believe that buying a Panavision ‘recommended’ accessory will fix the problem? Are all their matte boxes shifted to the left? I doubt it.)
Secondly to answer the calls of "does it really matter?" - YES, it does. A Mis-aligned CCD not only affects edge to edge image sharpness, but zoom tracking calibration too - as well as the much documented vignetting with virtually any accessory.
Thirdly this leads onto the subject of "it’s only a prosumer camera" which may hold some water with issues such as if the sound bars were displaying different information to what was actually being recorded, or it had noisy CCD’s, because I can guarantee no-one buys an HVX to use as a sound recorder. What they buy it for is THE IMAGE, and before we even get onto the subject of resolution, colour depth or latitude - THE CENTER OF THE LENS ISN’T EVEN ALIGNED WITH THE CENTER OF THE CCD, and to accept or dismiss this as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances is absurd.
(And before I summarise, this is not a matter of quantum physics or philosophy, this issue really is simple enough to be able to discuss it on it’s own merits, in it’s own terms. The VW/Chevy/Porsche analogies have gone far enough, the car market and the Prosumer Video market are, funnily enough, completely different and I find it hard to believe that the members of DVXUser can’t wrap their heads around the subject of video cameras.)
So really it’s time this issue was publicised more, ideally by Panavision themselves but more likely by us on behalf of Panavision so that customers are aware BEFORE purchase, of the limitations of their cameras. Because even if you accept the argument that the HVX "performs as it was intended" (which is only valid if it was intended to perform without edge to sharpness, with offset zoom tracking and without the capability to add any accessories - even Panavision brand ones) don’t you think that people who are purchasing the HVX just SO they can add accessories and lens adaptors have the right to know BEFOREHAND, so that they should steer clear of the camera, or request a centralised CCD? I’m tired of reading the many illogical replies to this thread lecturing others on how it isn’t a problem BECAUSE it’s a cheap camera, well it still IS a problem for accessory users no matter how expensive the camera, and even if we commit the crime of having high expectations this issue wouldn’t arise if it were made public and we could avoid the camera in the first place.
(Sticky thread perhaps Mods?)
In an ideal world Panavision would offer discounts or repairs publicly and acknowledge their mistake, because I’ve tested DVX’s for this problem too and every one I’ve seen is perfectly aligned, so is it that much to ask that their next generation of camera can have a centralised CCD? I don’t think so.
I’d like to hear feedback from some HVX owners / DVXUser members since this thread was first active about whether they even knew of the problem and whether they’ve had trouble since as well.
And finally for all you analogy lovers out there can anyone name a market which WOULDN’T either issue a recall for defective products or just sell them at a discount?
Thanks and look forward to some fresh debate!
Panasonic Canada was not really helpfull when you mentioned the problem to them, they hide the problem or just say it was, like you said, within acceptable manufacturing tolerances.
I send back my camera last fall, here is some extract from what they wrote me back:
"It should be noted, that all the camera parts are design with a certain amount of tolerance, when the CCD is glued to the prism block this tolerance also come into play.
The fact that a customer can create a flaw by attaching a filter of the incorrect size or any devices to the lens does not means the camera is defective.
It simple means the camera was not designed to be used with this size filter.
Note : I have also tested and compare the camera in question with other cameras with different dates of manufacturer, only a small percentage does not exhibit similar flaw when the filter or device in question is attached to them. Chris Robinson /Technical Support & Product Service Panasonic Canada"
Next time I bought a Panasonic product, I will open the box first and test until it's perfect before I take it.
I send back my camera last fall, here is some extract from what they wrote me back:
"It should be noted, that all the camera parts are design with a certain amount of tolerance, when the CCD is glued to the prism block this tolerance also come into play.
The fact that a customer can create a flaw by attaching a filter of the incorrect size or any devices to the lens does not means the camera is defective.
It simple means the camera was not designed to be used with this size filter.
Note : I have also tested and compare the camera in question with other cameras with different dates of manufacturer, only a small percentage does not exhibit similar flaw when the filter or device in question is attached to them. Chris Robinson /Technical Support & Product Service Panasonic Canada"
Next time I bought a Panasonic product, I will open the box first and test until it's perfect before I take it.