Porta Brace cover for HDX900 ?

[John Sharaf]

If you really want to know, call Portabrace; I’m sure they’re working on a dedicated design for the HVX900 and they’ll gladly report their progress!

JS

[Peter Steinman]

I tried that first but, they are closed. I was hoping someone knows if the layout and size of the SDX900 and HDX900 are the same. Even if Porta Brace is working on one I bet it isnt going to be availible right away. The Varicam one is pretty close. Just the handle is smaller on the 900 and the Varicam case doesn’t fit right on top.

[Peter Corbett]

Go for a KATA camera glove. They are much softer (neoprene-type fabric) and look way cooler (black to match the camera) then the Porta Brace cover.

Peter Corbett
Powerhouse Productions
Australia
http://www.php.com.au

[Peter Steinman]

I used one once on my Varicam and it tore in a couple places. Neoprene has to be taken care of and this cover had seen some time in the sun I think. It seemed too fragile for field use and didn’t seem to have the cooling allowance the Porta Brace one did. My Varicam gets smoking hot sometimes. It worried me a bit to have so much of the camera covered in neoprene.

[Tony]

Unless your doing alot of shooting where the camera body is exposed to the elements I see little merit with the full body cover as it limits the air cooling to the camera which is essential. For rain protection I use a slip on generic rain jacket that cost me about 35 bucks and works like a charm.

Sort of like wearing cold weather gear on a hot summer day. Imagine how long it would be before you would pass out.

FYI I did a month of shooting in Alaska and none of the camera (D600’s) had any cold weather jackets to protect the camera body. Not a single one of the D600’s even went down. Instead the problems were with the lens zoom motors slowing down or not responding due to the cold weather exposure. The humans had a harder time dealing with the freezing cold than the cameras did overall.

The porta brace body cover in my opinion make access to essential vtr and camera operations cumbersome not is not worth the overpriced cost for it .

Tony Salgado

[Peter Steinman]

I shoot a lot of off-road racing for one end of my business. I have to have some sort of protection on the camera. The Porta Brace worked pretty well with the Varicam. Had velcro openings for pretty much everything and had mesh for ventilation at the heat sinks. My Varicam looks almost like it just came out of the box and its been in some pretty nasty places. It can be really annoying dealing with small little velcro flaps and tiny opening when its below freezing and you cant feel your hands anymore. That seems to happen more then I like.

The cover is left home for the studio and interior location stuff.

[Jeff Merritt]

Hello All,

Although I have not personally talked to Porta Brace, you should know that the camera body of the high definition AJ-HDX900 is identical to the standard definition AJ-SDX900. And, yes, the HDX900 is smaller and configured slightly different than the VariCam.

Another question came up in this thread, that of heat of the VariCam. The “H” version does run warmer than previous versions because of additional digital processing capacity. The case was re-designed to disipate this heat, specifically around the lens mount to help keep the temperature consistant there and thereby diminishing back focus problems with changing temperatures. We recommend you turn on the camera at least 10 minutes before shooting, then back focus, and leave the camera ON for as long as necessary to keep the camera’s temperature constant. It will only warm up to a certain temperature and stay there.

As in any camcorder of this qualtiy, you should avoid long exposure to direct sun on a hot day, something even film people do with their cameras.

And thanks for your input, Tony, the VariCam has actually been underwater below Glacier Bay in Alaska and worked just fine.

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[Tony]

Thanks for the update Jeff,

But do keep in mind shooting under water within a protected sealed camera housing is quite different in contrast to shooting on the surface while exposed to a severe wind chill factor and sub zero temperatures.

Constant exposure to ice, rain, snow non stop are just some of the environmental conditions any camera would have to endure out in the harsh artic.

Another note most experienced “film people” in the field who are working with a qualified AC will take the time to apply a thermal protection blanket over any camera (film or video) to minimize the build up of heat onto the camera body when it is exposed to heat or rain for long periods of time such as an extended break.

Not all digital video cameras employ a fan to cool down the camera head so it is vital to make sure the external camera temperature is keep within reasonable means.

Tony Salgado

[Peter Steinman]

So how concerned should I be about heat in the HDX900 ?

It appears to run cooler then my F model Varicam but, maybe I just haven’t had my hand on the right spot. The design of the heat sink on top seem a lot better then the Varicam. The taller skinny ribs should get rid of heat better if they aren’t just there for decoration. There are also more of them. The fake ones on the plastic Unislot cover are pretty silly though.

[Richard Boghosian]

I wish I had a 900 to worry about. Those of you who are lucky enough to have received theirs have anything substanitive to report about the picture quality and how you are (if you are) having the camera set up?

Richard Boghosian
Bogh AV Productions