sticky focus ring in cold weather

I'd really like Jan to respond so we can hear it straight from a Panasonic employee that they know we are upset about this. At least acknowledge us... I've sent 2 private messages and it seems like I have been ignored.
 
Okay, maybe I'm a little hypersensitive, but at what point did it cross the line to where we can now demand that Jan answer us?

And furthermore, especially when she's already participated in this thread quite a bit, to say that you're being ignored is, well, if I was her, I'd find it offensive.

Maybe there's a reason that Sony, Canon, and JVC have *no* representatives on the web? Maybe there's a reason that even when they've tried, they've quickly pulled back -- anybody see Ken Freed around recently? Or Juan Martinez? JVC and Sony seemed to have pulled that plug pretty quickly, and methinks that maybe we're getting close to killing the goose that lays the golden Panasonic eggs.

And I don't think we should let that happen.

Now, for those who want an answer that Panasonic knows we're upset about it, I already answered that demand back in this post: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1625470&postcount=135

Jan first of all is the USA product line manager. She is not a customer service representative. She is not the factory. She doesn't make these products, but she does try to represent our interests back to the factory. It is the factory, in Japan, that has all say about this issue. She doesn't owe any of us a damn thing. She comes here to help (and to sell).

Second of all, it's not all that easy for her to type right now, seeing as she's recuperating from a BROKEN ARM.

Third of all, once upon a time this board used to behave itself in such a way that we were GRATEFUL that we had a voice with such a high-level individual in product design. Sure doesn't seem that way anymore.

So -- Jan isn't anybody's puppet, and nobody's going to go pulling strings and demand that she dance. Anybody who thinks otherwise can go start their own board and see just how many manufacturer's representatives they get showing up.

EDIT: after a suitable cooling-off period, we're re-opening this to helpful and constructive discussion. Thanks very much to all involved for the excellent dialogue through PMs, etc.
 
Last edited:
Interesting read...

Interesting read...

I am currently considering the purchase of several (ok 12-20) Panasonic AG-HMC40, AG-HMC150 or AG-HPX170 cameras. Our students typically include outdoor footage during autumn, winter and spring in the northeast. Temperatures certainly drop below 40 F here!

Does this frozen lens issue affect all these models?

Has the issue been acceptably addressed and corrected by Panasonic?

Jan, please feel free to e-mail me....
 
RickP said:
I am currently considering the purchase of several (ok 12-20) Panasonic AG-HMC40, AG-HMC150 or AG-HPX170 cameras. Our students typically include outdoor footage during autumn, winter and spring in the northeast. Temperatures certainly drop below 40 F here!

Does this frozen lens issue affect all these models?

Has the issue been acceptably addressed and corrected by Panasonic?

Jan, please feel free to e-mail me....
Click to expand...

Hopefully Panasonic made any changes necessary to make sure that the 40 wont have this issue. They are well aware of the problem so I'd be surprised if the 40 behaved the same way the 150 and 170 do.
 
Except that engineering on the 40 was probably completed months before this thread ever started. They have a pretty long lead time to bring these cameras to market. This thread was definitely the first time I had ever heard of this temperature issue, probably because I live in SoCal and it rarely gets very cold here and when it does, I am usually not shooting.

I was walking around Santa Fe, New Mexico with my Nikon D80 at night in December and it was really cold. The entire camera stopped functioning and wouldn't do anything until I put it uderneath my jacket for about 15 minutes so my body heat would warm it up a bit. Cold weather shooting can be difficult.

Dan
 
I heard back from one of the lead shooters at this year's Iditarod. He used an HPX170, his own personal camera. Yes the focus ring got stuck and he'd have to jump-start it. Everything else worked fine.
 
If I understand Barry's post regarding this issue, this only occurs when using the focus ring but does not happen with an external controller. (Like a varizoom)

If this is true I so don't care. I use an external focus device 80% of the time and almost always when handheld.
Is this correct?
 
panasonic germany told me: its not a bug, its a feature. because the ring would run smoother
in "normal" condition.
 
It may suck just a little, but it appears to me that it's just the way the thing was built....and it seems to function in almost 100% of the conditions in which it's specs call for. As for the advertising, I'm sure it was just a mistake where the advertising info was carried over from the 200. I do hope that the mistakes will be corrected, and if anyone wants to solve the problem, it only costs $100:
http://www.varizoom.com/products/controls/vzpfi.html

I've paid way more then that to improve other things on my 200...like microphone, matte box, 35mm adapter+lenses, add-on lenses for when I take off the adapter, etc. etc.

I'd love to have a 170, and I may still get one...the weight drop, image flip, waveform, vectorscope....I personally am ok with buying a $100 tool in order to have all that.
 
I have used the 170 in extremely cold temps. One particularly cold morning i remember NOT ONLY was the focus ring sticky, but the zoom ring was also very sticky. However it was a constant drag, different than the "jump-startable" focous ring. Later that morning it warmed up to about +20 F and both focus and zoom were working smooth.

Just DON'T use the servo zoom in these extreme cold conditions. or warm the cam up first, and risk getting condensation on/in the lens and who knows where else.

this has probably already been said but i thought i might share my experience.
 
I everyone,

I know this is no consultation, but if you install a remote focus control like the Bebob Foxi you will solve this issue as the Foxi connects to the internal electronic focusing and does not turn the barrel ring. I have attached a photo of the Foxi on my HVX200EN.

1255828461.jpg


You are probably looking at around $400 for the Foxi, but you need some sort of rail system to attach it to.

Steve
 
yeah, but how are you supposed to use the focus ring with that on it? I watched their video and it doesn't have a place for your left hand to reach and and use the ring...
 
Just came from Niagara Falls in 40-ish degree (F) temps, and my 170 focus ring was "sticky" too.

Was this ever officially addressed?

I suppose this isn't a great deal for me, but I just want to be assured this isn't a sign of a malfunction that's actually damaging the unit if focus is repeatedly adjusted in cold (cool) weather.
 
Last edited:
I'm going to drill some zerk fittings in mine so I can add temperature appropriate grease depending on the daily temps.

Either that or just soak my camera in triflow the night before a shoot.
 
It was addressed to say that it's operating as designed and it's not going to change...
Click to expand...

Well thats really lame! so much for "reliable performance in tough environments" quoted from panasonic... it sounds like they need to debug and troubleshoot their products better before releasing it to mass production!

I'm not sure if this has been mention on this thread, but the HMC150 is also affected by this design flaw. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=186590
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top