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EC3 Remote problems
I just got my Varicam back from the Panasonic service in LA after they did the new firmware update – and now I’m having a multitude of problems with the EC3 remote and the camera.
First off, the ECU Data Save is ON.
When I unplug the EC3, the picture shifts noticably. White balance changes, iris level too. I can’t determine whether there is a hidden “other” switch other than ECU Data Save which might have been reset with the firmware update. – never had this problem before. Also, I can’t get into the ROP settings (won’t scroll down on that page) and can’t adjust the Master Gamma, Knee Point, Knee Slope – a bunch of stuff can’t be setup or changed now. However, when I unplug the EC3, I can adjust these things on the camera directly.
So, my question is this – has the EC3 remote box gone south and needs to be sent in for repair, or am I forgetting to “flip a menu switch” somewhere? All this happens in either Video or Film Menus and either Video Rec or Film Rec – or any combinations thereof.
Any brilliant ideas will be gladly considered.
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8 Replies
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Hello Bruce : Sadly, I
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Rodrigo,
The EC3 is a very valuable accessory for a Varicam system; it does access all the menues and it’s actually easier to navigate through them with a remote controller whilst looking at a monitor rather than thru the viewfinder. Furthermore it’s very reasonably priced. I’d suggest a 30 meter cable in addition to the short one meter version than accompanies the unit.
JS
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[john sharaf] “Furthermore it’s very reasonably priced.”
And that reason in number is ?.
The 30 mt. extension is a great idea. That way you don
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Johnny,
Was this EC3 remote working for you last week when you used it?
Trying to figure out what’s wrong here. Panasonic tech support is pretty useless.
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Hi Bruce,
Please check following;
when you unplug ECU do you have gain, white balance and knee switch on camera on the same values like when using ECU?
Reason why I am asking is that when you have ECU connected it overwrites camera gain, white balance. When you unplug it camera goes to what switches on camera are set to. So that would explain problem with white color shift and exposure that you have.
When you have ECU connected you can not change ROP seeting with rotary menu button. You have all the other knobs for every ROP setting on ECU controller. ROP (remote operational panel) is special menu where you can see all values that you are changing with ECU in one convenient menu.
BTW I have few cameras here with newest upgrade and they work normally.
I hope it helps.Mariusz Cichon
AbelCine Tech NY
888.223.1599
mariusz@abelcine.com -
Rodrigo,
We also have the EC3 and it is extremely handy when we do aerials in a helicopter. We rent the Tyler nose mount and the Varicam is actually outside the helicopter. We use the EC3 to shade the iris, paint, and to press record. It also offers feedback as to the status of the camera.The 30 meter cable was a part that we ordered through our Panasonic Vendor. About $250 US.
Have you seen the Clarity Varispeed for the Varicam? It is really cool to work with.
Ray
Ray Palmer, Engineer
Salt River Project
Phoenix, AZ
602-236-8224 office
There are three types of people in this world, those that can count and those that can’t. -
Bruce,
Yeah, your CCU worked fine with my cameras. I’m not sure it was connected to the one that had just had the software upgrade, but whatever controller that camera was connected to did work fine, so I’m not inclined to think it’s an upgrade issue.
Let’s get together and sort this out!
JS
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For those of you who are following this saga, Bruce and I did get together and managed to “fix” the problem. It was the ECU save setting. Bruce is pretty knowledgable about this camera and its menus, so this situation does reveal the complexity of the menu tree, the need to know all the functions and confussion inherent in changing between the different camera models and manufacturers that we are all called upon to use and master!
The ECU save “on” setting is risky, but used correctly can be a powerful tool. Normally the default position is “off” but when “on” the camera remembers the settings that are made with the controller after it’s disconnected. The dedicated switches: shutter, gain, AWB, and ABB still work, but other settings remain. Otherwise in the ECU “off” setting, the camera reverts to what is often referred to as the “proc set” which is the standard setup when the controller is disconnected.
To put it simply and in practical terms, if you prefer to navigate the menues with the ECU attached (as I do) then you should probably set ECU save “on” if you don’t own or us the EC3 or prefer to use the rotary switch and menu toggles leave it “off”.
One landmine/trap however is that if you’ve changed the master ped while your EC3 is attached from a normalized setting (where the capped black overlies the 0 ire line) and you disconnect, no amount of auto black balancing will change (normalize) it. The only way to restore correct black level is by the ROP menu or the master ped control on the controller itself and a waveform monitor (of course the 8.4″ LCD waveform function will do). On most other camera brands, invoking the ABB will restore master ped to normal in addition to normalizing the r & b peds. It’s very difficult to see that the black is “crushed” in the viewfinder, especially in daylight scenes, but when you shoot in the shade or inside you’ll have a problem!
I’ve spoken with Panasonic several times and written letters asking for a “bug” fix on this, but there has not been any movement. If you’ve been bit by this “problem” you should write or email your concern too and perhaps if enough of us do, they’ll fix it in the next upgrade. Thanks!
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