Is a a faint buzzing noise normal for the HMC150

L

Lat32Media

Active member
Just got my HMC150 - noticed that It makes some funny "electrical" buzzing noises emitting from the body, they are pretty faint and do not get picked by my shotgun, but seems to come on regardless of whether auto-focus is manual or auto.

I haven't played around too much to be specific as to what exactly triggers it, but was just wondering if this is normal behavior?

Thanks for your input!
 
It turns out it is the auto focus - slightly louder than I would have expected, sort of a mechanical buzzing/cracking sound - can hear it working up to 2 feet away in a quit room - wondering if this is normal ?
 
Lat32Media said:
It turns out it is the auto focus - slightly louder than I would have expected, sort of a mechanical buzzing/cracking sound - can hear it working up to 2 feet away in a quit room - wondering if this is normal ?
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I've heard enough people comment on this that I'm pretty sure it is normal. I can hear mine from a couple feet away. Sometimes it is louder than I'd like. I try to use manual as much as I can, but there's a time when auto is useful.
 
No, I don't think that it's normal. The only buzz/hum on my machine is the hiss in the external headphone jack, which does not come through to the recording. I would send it back to Panasonic for repair.
 
Mine is pretty dang quiet. I have to put my ear right up to the body to hear the AF at all.
 
8string said:
No, I don't think that it's normal. The only buzz/hum on my machine is the hiss in the external headphone jack, which does not come through to the recording. I would send it back to Panasonic for repair.
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Well, mine has been in for repairs (for a damaged XLR jack), and they checked out all functions, and there was nothing wrong. I will say, the only way I can hear the autofocus is in a dead quiet room at very close range though. Not sure if that is the same as what lat32 is experiencing. But, in a room with any kind of noise at all, it's covered up by that, so it is actually quite quiet - definitely much quieter than the noise a tape drive makes, anyway.
 
Any update?

Any update?

Lat32Media said:
It turns out it is the auto focus - slightly louder than I would have expected, sort of a mechanical buzzing/cracking sound - can hear it working up to 2 feet away in a quit room - wondering if this is normal ?
Click to expand...

Lat32, any update? I just received my HMC150 and I've noticed the same noise. Did you exchange or deal with the noise?
 
Double Check

Double Check

Vic Owen said:
Just checked mine -- it was dead quiet, as well.
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Hey Vic,

Try it in a very quiet room with focus on auto. The noise seems loudest at the front of the camera, right near the lens. Zoom in all the way and give it some objects to focus on in several different locations. Pretty audible. If yours is dead silent, I need to exchange mine. The noise gets picked up on my external mic.
 
OK - Just checked it again. If I put my ear very close to the front of the lens, I can hear a very low-level "hunting" sound. From anywhere else, I don't hear it, even on the headphones. But, since I use full manual almost 100% of the time, I would probably never have noticed it. So, it sounds like your camera might be operating normally.
 
Just an update on the buzzing noise. It's still there. But truthfully It doesnt bother me anymore. While I think its more audible than other hmc-150's, the cam works perfecrtly and the noise only gets picked up in a dead quite, poorly lit room when the focus goes "hunting".

In real world shooting it has never been an issue!
 
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