I need a list of functions to investigate for dvx

T

Thinketernity

Active member
Hello everyone!

I sure need y'alls help on this.

I think that my dvx (A) will be arriving today and what I'd like to have is a list of camera functions to inspect (obvious ones being lcd screen, focus ring, etc.) because I've heard of different instances of various problems that I want to make sure I don't have. I figure if I can check out everything that I need to, and every things ok, than that will be great. But if I were to find something, I would need to do it right away, so that I can return it for a fully functioning camera.

So could you guys give me a list of things to check, or, if some of you have had problems upon first recieving your camera's, let me know of those.
Also I need to know about things that I might think are malfunctions which are actually just "perceived" malfunctions.

Oh, and I'm not really that paranoid, I just want to make the most of 3,400 bucks.

Please, anybody/everybody chime in on this!

And thanks ever so much!
 
Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

Does anybody have anything?
 
Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

I check the "basics" first:
Charge up the battery (it's near dead out of the box).
Check tape loading,threading,unloading. Is it smooth or does it repeatedly make several attempts at threading?
Check the lens focus/backfocus issues: this is the big one!
Use a standard "wheel" focus chart (the one with those radiating lines). light the chart so that your f stop is about 2.8 in 60i. Set your camera on a tripod about 10 feet away and zoom in tightly. Focus very carefully on the chart (I always use peaking to aid focus), then zoom out slowly to the widest angle. Does the image stay sharp, or does the tightness of the pattern "bloom" at wide angle? Check the same thing on a distant subject at the infinity setting (93 on the focus scale) to make sure it stays in focus all the way back.
View this on a large monitor if possible. Back focus problems can indicate a defective lens assembly and aren't generally fixable except by replacing it (or the camera).

Next, I check the manual focus against the camera's auto focus...they're generally the same or within one number on the readout.

If all is well here, put a good, coated UV filter on your lens and leave it there! It's a lot easier to clean a filter than risk damaging the coating on your lens.

The zoom servo is capable of some long "creeps", but the start when zooming out from full tele isn't going to be super smooth; there'e a small bump...live with it. I haven't heard of any stuttering problems with the servo except for that.
Also, I set the menu item to "standby" as opposed to "power off"; most folks do the same.

Check the audio. You can use the built in mike for this...but not for much else...plan on buying a good mike for your work.
I also checked the XLR inputs with my main microphone.
Set the headphone level about 1/2 way up and make sure there is a decent signal coming through. Some folks have reported problems with the headphone jack cutting out.
Record all this to tape and playback to check for dropouts or noises that shouldn't be there (a high pitched squeal was reported by some users a while back...fixed by an alignment, if I recall).

That's basically what I check for,
If things are working well right out of the box, chances are it will stay that way...occasional head clogs notwithstanding.
It will take you a while to check out all the possible gamma and color matrix settings, but that's personal taste :).

You probably know about the OIS "clunk" when powered off.
The lens element in the camera eyepiece is a tad sloppy in it's mount...you can hear it rattle when you tip the camera fore and aft. Again, live with it...they all do that and it doesn't affect eyepiece focus ability.

Hope this helps.
Enjoy.

Ken
 
Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

THANK YOU very much for that quite-comprehensive, extensively delightful reply!

That was very much a help!

And by "threading" do you mean simply fast-forwarding and rewinding?
 
Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

No, just the way the tape loads until it's ready to record.
The transport mechanism will make a number of whirring noises as the tape is pulled from the cassette and threaded around the drum and rollers. It then goes into pause and is ready to record. If it does this without kicking the tape back out, you're OK.
I wouldn't recommend fast forwarding/rewinding in the camera...to hard on the mechanism. Use a deck or get a super cheap camcorder to use as a deck for capture and printing back to tape.

Ken
 
Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

Re: I need a list of functions to investigate for

I have the panasonic GS 9 which I will use as a deck.


Thanks alot for your help!
 
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