Buttons not working on HVX200

[Steve Eisen]

Looks like it is time to call the repair center. You can look up the number on the web or ask a Panasonic Rep at NAB.

It sounds like your camera has taken on a lot of wear and tear.

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Board of Directors
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group

[D. scott Dobbie]

Michael,

What was the purpose of your post? You’re not asking for help, only soliciting info on others who’ve had difficulty. It sounds like the camera was dropped.

Today you also posted your complaint on two old threads that ran their course back in July and September of 2008 (https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/193/875334 and https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/193/875332). You ended each by saying you should have stuck with Sony.

You said you’ve had the camera for 2 years, but then you say you bought it last April (1 year ago).

Also, you imply here you use the camera for a weekly TV show (I think you meant to say Fox Sports Net), yet in one of your other posts you say you use it once every 2-3 months.

Lastly, you say you’re going to wait until NAB to try to find a solution. Why not just contact Panasonic?

If you have a true issue and add some clarity, you’ll find that people in this forum will be very eager to help you.

-Scott

[Mike Herbach]

I have a weekly Tv show , I use many cameras , used teh HVX 200 for studio wraps .
The main theme of the show is travel
https://www.wfn.tv/wfntv/programs/show.php?showid=126
TV show times
https://www.ecofishingadventures.com/

I take smaller Hd cameras in teh jungles
I bought the camera in april 2007 from B&H and waited 4 months to get the 8 GIG promo card. I dont mean to bash Panasonic but mainly everything I have bought Video wise to even cordless phones have a small usage or life span.
The wiring harness problem is vast and panasonic should do something about it.
I had a wave Pamnasonic mixer in the repair shop from 1992 to 1998 bvefore tosssing it in the garbage.

Thios camera was a big investment for our studio work & grenscreen segmenst when we shoot them EVERY 2-3 MONTHS

Main shooting is in the jungle or Kayaks and yes I preffer my lil HDRC9 sony HD camera than the panasonic at least it works.
Do you work for Panasonic? I am sorry If I offended you in my search to find others with the same problem.
which I did and now I am enlighten to what the problem is defected
wiring or manufacturing.
NAB will be fun to hang around the booth and share my Panasonic tales!

[Jan Crittenden livingston]

[Mike herbach] “I take smaller Hd cameras in teh jungles
I bought the camera in april 2007 from B&H and waited 4 months to get the 8 GIG promo card. The wiring harness problem is vast and panasonic should do something about it. “

Mike, if you take it in we will fix it. It it was a huge issue we would have had to fix 60,000 of them, trust me we have not. Have some gone bad, sure, but that doesn’t mean that it is a epidemic problem, it isn’t.

[Mike herbach] “Do you work for Panasonic? “

I do, and if you take it is we will fix it. This is what you will be told at the Panasonic booth. See you there!

Best,

Jan

Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, HPX500, HVX200, DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems

[Matthew Abourezk]

Hi Jan,

I don’t mean to sound too confrontational, but there is a groundswell of evidence that the buttons dying on the HVX 200 is a known problem by Panasonic. This is a hardware bug that three of your authorized service providers have confirmed is known by Panasonic. To the point that they know exactly the cost of the repair and have the parts in stock.

My HVX 200 was barely used in the past year, and in each case of use, it was a studio situation with the camera being treated by me as a valuable tool. Really, this camera could be sold as new.

I was very surprised to fire up the camera the other day, on the way to a shoot, and find that it had developed this problem where the menu buttons and VCR button quit working.

I ended up losing that shoot which cost me $650.

Now I am facing a $300 repair charge.

The question I have, is Panasonic going to take responsibility for this hardware bug and cover the cost of repair? It is the right thing to do for your customers.

Please respond with your thoughts. Again, I am not (in any way) trying to be a jerk, but there should be some accountability for this hardware bug.

My email address is matt@talkingboxdmg.com and I would love to hear from you.

Thanks Jan,
Matt

Talkingbox Digital Media Group, Inc.
http://www.talkingboxdmg.com
(203) 327-6617

[Mike Herbach]

HI Matt I as you used this forum to complain…instead I got black balled off the site.

tons of mean emails back from wana be professionals / jerks/ panasonic butt kissers.
who told me I was “whining and to grow up”.. NICE professionals
even the creative cow owner Ron…. started blocking my posts
on creative cow and only allowed wannabe responses from hacks.
They
sent me harsh emails
even calling up the network where I have my tv show and slandering me to the Vice president of the network .

I hate to tell you but Panasonic wont help !!! in fact most of there products I have owned have all been crap over the years .
I am sorry but you wont find any help from creative cow or panasonic.
Mine is in the shop now being repaired for almost $500.00
Panasonic bad electronics for life!!

[Mike Herbach]

Best of luck keep in touch and let me know if Panasonic helps you?
I guess it has to be more than 50,000 in order to be recongnized as a defect.
just like the P2 card give away fiasco ….panasonic does not honor there products or name.

if it was a car with any defcet it would have been fixed.
buy sony next time I know I should have stuck with a reliable comapny
like sony…. let me know if you get this as I said I have been blocked form this post..

[Mike Herbach]

and the list is endless
yet Panasonic claims there is no defect with the HVX200

give me a break!
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=HVX++repair+issues&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

[Jan Crittenden livingston]

Hi Matt,

Just as I suggested to others, you should talk to the people at the NJ service center, not just get the RMA number and be done. They all are human and they all have compassion, spell out your case and I have seen them do some consideration. They may not fix it for free, but they may give it a price break. Talk to them rationally, reasonably and they will work with you, I have seen it time and time again.

Tell them I sent you.

Best,

Jan

Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, HPX500, HPX300, HPX170, HVX200A
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems

[Matthew Abourezk]

Hi Jan,

Thanks for the reply. I am getting the job fixed for $270, which is reasonable compared to others that have apparently had the same problem.

The only issue I have is that this is clearly a manufacturing defect on the part of Panasonic and it only affects a range of HVX 200’s that were made in 2007/08. It is known (now) by Panasonic that there are a couple of cables/contacts that corrode due to an issue with the metals used. Panasonic has since fixed this production problem, (and the repair I am paying for will cause the problem to not recur).

I don’t share the perspective of many posters that I have seen in various forums, that this is an example of Panasonic selling inferior products, but it seems to me that Panasonic needs to officially step up to the plate and accept responsibility for this issue. Your clients made the HVX 200 very popular, and a vocal and growing percentage of those clients are now frustrated by a problem that was accidentally introduced by Panasonic, you are creating an environment of ill will with those that you depend on. I am VERY interested in moving up to the newer cameras being introduced by Panasonic, but this experience has left me (and apparently quite a few others) concerned about your commitment to excellence.

Obviously, every technology manufacturer in the world has at one time or another, tripped on a previously unforeseen bug, goes with the territory. But in this economy, none of us should have to cover the cost of an issue that was not of our doing. Nor should we have to plead with a repair service and hope for compliance.

I have been shooting with Canon cameras for the past 16 years with literally not one technology glitch in that time. I took the leap to Panasonic with the HVX 200, and after only having used the camera for a short while, it died. Now I find that this is a known issue by Panasonic.

In closing, again, Panasonic needs to do the right thing for its customers. It is a small financial commitment to a company the size of Panasonic, it would be an important act of good will toward those in the community that bought your products, (who will eventually buy more products) and those who network with many other potential Panasonic clients. If nothing else, in this day of age, no manufacturer can afford the bad press that is so easily distributed via the internet.

Matt

Talkingbox Digital Media Group, Inc.
http://www.talkingboxdmg.com
(203) 327-6617