I am one lucky SOB!

[RGBell]

Last night I was filming a forest fire from my backyard using a tripod. A big gust of wind came up and blew the tripod over. My HV20 hit the concrete patio face on. I had a UV protector filter on the lens. The edge of the filter was bent and its glass was shattered. There was not one scratch on the camera and it functions perfectly! I am SO glad I installed that filter! I upload the footage of the incident:

http://hv20.info/yopu/Dropped.mpeg

(My expletives are included) I included a still image of the broken filter at the end of the video. It appears that the HV20 is built pretty well if it can survive that hard of a hit with absolutely no problems. I was sure I just flushed $1000 down the toilet. I am a happy camper!

[Simon Hughes]

You might want to consider a heavier tripod too!

[sp8ce07]

link doesn't work.

[Worley]

That had me rolling in laughter. I thought you were speaking to your companion.

I thought your swearing was mild. I'd have come out with a whole string of profanities.

Priceless.

[sp8ce07]

For some reason the link won't work for me in IE or Firefox.

[sp8ce07]

fixed link:

http://hv20.info/yopu/Dropped.mpeg

[SenorKaffee]

I think the HV20 is a little tougher than the cheaper DV cams.
When I was in Tokyo a few years ago I put a cam on the ground to open a door. While on the ground it fell on the side - broken. o___O

[Box of Chocolates]

Filters really are lifesavers. I've heard so many stories about camera's/lenses that were saved by a filter that was left on the lens.

[PWHerman]

Haha...that really is fortunate of you!

[Boybeck]

Forgive my ignorance, what do UV filters do and is there a specific make I need to get? (I'm a newbie). I'd quite like to invest in one for my new camera.

[Jake Ironshirt]

Good save RGBELL you lucked out....note to myself...get filter.

[Box of Chocolates]

Forgive my ignorance, what do UV filters do and is there a specific make I need to get? (I'm a newbie). I'd quite like to invest in one for my new camera.

UV fileters block out light from the Ultraviolet part of the EM spectrum. They're transparent to visible light however, so most people use them as ways to protect their lenses. They're certainly less obstructive than polarizing filters, since UV filters don't cut down on light input.

[tokyo_ren]

damn... the auto focus IS fast

[Simon Hughes]

A trick worth considering when using a less-than-optimal (read "heavy") tripod is to hang a weight from underneath the center of the head/column to anchor it down.