How to test out a new HV20?? Making sure its no lemon...?

[zaphods2ndhead]

I have one more week to return the thing if it should turn out to be a lemon.

I did take one hour of footage and looked at some of it on the display and a bit on an old TV. Dont have a firewire-in yet nor a mini-SD card.

Which would be typical glitches of a lemon? I would have some ideas of how to test a DSLR Camera but have not much experience in video.

With a DSLR I would look for Hotpixels, would know how to check for Focussing problems, would have a look at the lens...

But how do I go about this with an HV20?

THANKS!!

z

[Terfyn]

I have one more week to return the thing if it should turn out to be a lemon.

Squeeze it till the pips squeak.

Go and do some filming and judge by the results.

[wolferic]

I have one more week to return the thing if it should turn out to be a lemon.

With a DSLR I would look for Hotpixels, would know how to check for Focussing problems, would have a look at the lens...

But how do I go about this with an HV20?

I think this is a very good idea for a thread and hope those who have experienced problems can chime in and make this a good thread for the future (although it may take more than your one week window!)

If you can, I would borrow the highest resolution screen/TV/monitor you can get your hands on and have a good look at the tapes you've shot. As you pointed out, have a look for 'hot' pixels, faint lines that appear in low light footage and any soft focus spots in the corners at wide angle and max telephoto.

I would also suggest you read this thread http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=3054 and then buy yourself a good quality Firewire cable and make sure that the camera can transfer your footage to your computer. While you're at it, try out all the jacks on the camera (audio, component video, usb, HDMI) and make sure that you're getting signal from/to all of them.

Lastly, check the 'Trouble in Paradise' forum for anything that people seem to be reporting more than once. This should give you a good idea of some of the more common problems.

[Terfyn]

To properly test a camera of any sort, you need specialist equipment outside the reach of most amateurs. It is only possible to carry out a superficial examination of the equipment and its output.
I repeat go out and film, look at the results and, if you are not happy, take it back to be checked by professionals. The camera will have had a better check in quality control by people with more equipment and experience than us outsiders.

[zaphods2ndhead]

Thanks wolferic.

---- 1 High Resolution
unfortunately I cant get a hold of any better disply or a way to get the footage to the computer within the time - but I can zoom in when palying back on the camera-display. Maybe a weak replacement but better thatn nothing. I did mention some blue color-Fringes on a white/dark edge that I would worry about on a DSLR - but maybe that is just normal in Video? The Fringe was in the corner of a shot with almost full wide angle (hardly zoomed in at all). Is it normal?

----- 2 Fire Wire
Thanks for the warning - So from what Iread my conclusion is to power down the devices if possible or at least power down the cam and anplugging other cables when connecting the FW-Cable. Connect to the Computer first and make sure the FW sits correctly and then carefully plug in the cam at the correct angle. Avoid "static conditions". And when you mention buying a "good" FW-cable I suppose you mean that it should connect the Ground first before connecting the signals?

[wolferic]

Z-head -

1. VERY hard to really judge anything from the tiny screen on the camera itself: I can barely tell where the focus is most of the time. But that only means that you will be blown away when you see how it looks on the proper screen with real HD capabilities.

2. From all that I've been reading, the most important thing about a firewire cable is to make sure it fits securely: it should be quite tight and not be able to move at all on the camera end. I would buy one from a good dealer and check it out on THEIR equipment if possible, rather than on your own camera first (I know, this isn't always possible with the way most things are packaged these days). When I first started working with firewire 5 or 6 years ago cables were over US$25 - they have become much cheaper, but I wouldn't risk buying the cheapest since frying your firewire port will cost a lot more than you might save.

Regarding Terfyn's advice, I mostly agree: you will learn if the camera is a 'lemon' most quickly just by using it. But I do think looking through the forum to see other problems that people have had is an excellent place to start with the camera if for no other reason to assure yourself that you at least don't have their worries.

It's also amazing the access to 'specialist equipment' we actually DO have, at least of the software variety: I know of lots of programs (at least for Mac) that will give you any number of powerful monitors and scopes that can tell you all kinds of information about what kind of signals are coming from your camera. Of course knowing how to interpret all that info is another kettle of fish…