What needs to be checked on a brandnew HVX? Most common problems?

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daktulus

Well-known member
What needs to be checked first on a brandnew HVX?

Is there anything that can be checked already at the dealers office, before taking the camera home?

What are the most common problems?


How do I best check if the camera is completely flawless?
 
If you want to use a 35mm adapter, you can check the CCD alignment, to see if it 's not too misaligned. Some camera have really bad alignment. You can deal with it, but it's always better if you have a well aligned camera.
 
There are known "limitations" to the HVX and P2 8just as with a lot of other cams and formats), but no flaws in the sense of "the HVX handle breaks of, the lens falls of" or sth alike...
Only thing I consider a production flaw is the weak battery mount, it is adviced to take of the battery before transportation - but maybe this has been fixed with the newer cams...(?)
 
Shadow:
How do I check the CCD alignment?



Spartacus:
What I originally meant is: What are the common kown flaws only some cameras have, coming straight out of the factory.
Are some cameras slightly better than others?


But advice about what breaks first and has to be handled with care is very welcome too.
 
Hi Daktulus,

You can try with an 35mm adapter or if you don't have one, try to find a 82mm to 72mm ring , screw it and then zoom until it's vignette and see if the vignetting is equal or more on one side. Some camera are really well centering, some just a tad on one side and others the vignetting is really off center, so you will have to zoom more to get an image without vignetting with your adapter.
 
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If you're talking about buying a new camera from an authorized dealer then you shouldn't have much to worry about at all.

Otherwise - I would definitely make sure to check the firewire port on the camera to make sure its functioning properly.
 
And rememember, if you tilt the camera and it clunks, don't take it!














:Drogar-Evil(DBG):
















Just kidding, clunk is perfectly normal.
 
Muhahaha, I was tempted to right that one too...

Another one would be: watch out for NOISE in badly lit scenes :beer:
 
Yeah good idea, maybe I get a rebate when the dealer hears the clunk:thumbsup:

After 3 years every camera still clunks? What a shame.
 
Most common problem: User Ineptitude

:happy:

Seriously...

Many people who I've seen using this camera (which, thankfully, includes no one I'm aware of that I've met here personally) seem to mistake it for a point-and-shoot thing like that Sony palmcorder they got for Christmas five years ago that has automaic everything and is basically idiot-proof.

The HVX is very, very idiot-hostile.

To get the best results from it you need to use it for what it is - a professional camera, best used with *manual* everything, especially at its much ballyhooed 24 fps rates. Autofocus is for all intents and purposes unusable at 24f. Auto-iris will have you cursing under your breath as it tries and fails to outsmart you in determining the correct exposure. There's no auto-gain control on the audio at all. What you happily ignored because it was "ok, considering" in a palmcorder could make you very very unhappy as your HV-Xpectations rise.

Scene files, SD cards, P2 workflow and the myriad settings on the dozens of menus and sub-menus add enormously to the learning curve (buy Barry's book! Now!). And again - the HVX will *not* forgive your initial ignorance very well at all.

Once you learn to use it properly, you will be richly rewarded. Just plan to spend a pretty fair chunk of time getting yourself there.

Of course, you might already be up to speed on all of this, and will do just fine. If that's the case, then perhaps this little warning will be useful for others who are about to take the plunge.
 
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