I'm getting a lot of mixed messages from dealers and users of the hd100. Since let's say last month, the dismay of the SSE has certainly subsided. I have heard from other users that the SSE is non-existent in current models of the camera coming off the line. Is this true?

I've heard from my dealer that a new and improved lens is going to remedy the issue to a much greater degree. It won't eliminate the issue, but it will make it tolerable. When that lens will be released with the camera is yet to be determined: if at all.

Or is it that jvc has been able to recalibrate and update the firmware on the thousands of units sold between last august '05, and january '06.

Or are most in the same boat as me, where I have just had to learn to tip toe around the issue, and work around the problem.

I'd like to know what the current status is. If the issue is cleared up, I'd prefer to sell my current unit and buy another from the most current batch-where it would appear that Quality Control could be in better shape.

Anyhow-if anyone has heard anything from an authority on this-I'd like to hear some feedback.

Thanks in advance.

The SSE is not a lens problem, I don't think that a new lens will make it less visible than it is now on current units. I have my camera for 4 months and the spilt is perfectly tolerable. I never saw it on my footage, only under extreme testing situations of low light.

Hi Albert,

Don't know when you bought your unit but JVC did undergo what they called an extensive qc programme for the hd 100. It certainly seems the case that since JVC has done this that the reports of sse have diminished considerably. However, from a lens point of view I can't personally see how a different lens would solve that particular problem. It's primarily, I believe, caused by the fact that JVC decided to split the scanning into two bits thus down the middle. However, they underestimated the difficulty of being able to process the two halves identically thus causing a disparity, this is the cause of sse. With regard to your particular case if I was in your position I would try and speak to sombody at JVC and see if they wont take your unit in for the qc as many believe that during this process they've initiated some kind of firmware update that has allowed the scanning to be done in a way that maintains the integrity of the picture. Good luck with it I certainly wouldn't give up yet if I was you.

All the best Greg C

I have heard from other users that the SSE is non-existent in current models of the camera coming off the line. Is this true?...I've heard from my dealer that a new and improved lens is going to remedy the issue to a much greater degree.
It sounds like you've gotten two separate issues mixed up regarding the HD100.

The first issue is SSE, which is caused by the CCDs being scanned in two halfs. Newer cameras seem to have less trouble with SSE now because better adjustments are being made in the firmware. This is irrespective of the lens.

The second issue is the quality of the 16x lens itself, which breathes and has a lot of chromatic abberation. This can only be remedied by making better lenses. The optional 13x wide lens is purportedly much better, but very expensive. So, now there are rumours that some other options are being added to the product line, which should be more affordable.

SSE will always be a possibility on the JVC - at least until there is a change in how the camera gets its true progressive image - which JVC is on record as saying it's not going to do... In other words, if you want to make your camera exibit the effect, there are ways to do it (like shooting a plain surface in low light w/ the gain all the way up).

That said - I have a newer model and I have seen no SSE, even in low light. I think that JVC now is much more concerned w/ the SSE issue and that they've - through new firmware (and perhaps a slightly different manufacturing process), and better quality control - pretty much eliminated the SSE effect on newer cameras.

Remember that the camera's only been available for a little more than 6 months, and that the first run of any complicated machine is bound to have problems. The HVX is still working out the kninks I think.

If JVC is guilty of anything, it's that they did not do enough to explain the how/why the SSE happened. I know it kept me from buying the camera for a long time... But I'm glad I did finially get one.

BOTTOM LINE - Buy a new camera from a reliable dealer and I doubt you'll have a problem.

John

PS - Although some of the lens issued seem to exhibit gross chromatic aberation (some have even been reported to have dirt in the lens), my own lens is excellant - the so-called poor quality of the lens has been, IMHO, been VASTLY overstated. For instance, it's a much better lens, IMHO, than the standard issued lens for the Cannon XL1, for instance.

It is a manufacturing defect if the lens exhibits gross chromatic aberation, etc. and is returnable for such a reason.

It is a manufacturing defect if the lens exhibits gross chromatic aberation, etc. and is returnable for such a reason.
The only problem is that "gross CA" would be subject to opinion, since every stock lens will exhibit some amount of CA. I doubt JVC even QCs the lenses when they arrive from Japan.
The 16x lens does not have flourite elements or low-dispersion glass elements like the stock XL2 lens. It is a low-cost lens, but surprisingly sharp.

BTW, I'm finally getting a 13x3.5 tomorrow, so I'll be testing & comparing it ASAP.

Hi guys. My camera + my M2 adaptor have been stolen a week ago from my office. I had the M2 just for a few days and I managed to test it for a couple of days before my cam got stolen. I ordered a new one with the 13X this time because I' ve noticed that the CA with the use of the M2 and an 55 f 1,2 lense was even more noticeable. In my opinion the stock lens is unusable for serious applications, as elect. cinematography etc. That is why I went through this expence. The 13X will cost me in Jakarta 6.900 US$ that is a good price compaired to 8.200 in Singapore.
I have used the stock lens for coorporate jobs and it was OK, some CA was not noticed by the clients and some other clips with CA were discarted from the projects. Imagine though that you make a movie and you have this purple, blue and red spectrums in all your highlights... As for the SSE, after my cam has been adjusted it was never an issue for us. All the best and be carefull with your gear...! Panos

Imagine though that you make a movie and you have this purple, blue and red spectrums in all your highlights...
Sorry to hear about the theft...hopefully everything was insured. As for the CA, yours must have been a really bad lens because I haven't seen it yet on mine, except for one time when testing extreme situations. Good luck with the new gear, if you know how to check the firmware version, I'd love to know what your new camera will be.

Yes Jiri, I will post the info in about 2 weeks from now. I hope that the 13X will be a really pro lens!?
Panos

I was curious as to if there where any filters or type of glass filter that may help with CA from the lens.

Your best bet is to avoid shooting at low f-stops. Try to avoid anything below f2.8.

Thank you all for your replies.
Sending the camera back in for upgrades is a little troublesome and I do wish jvc or my dealer would at least foot the bill for the shipping. However they have deemed the firmware updates and recalibration as an optional mode of action. As far as they are concerned the camera is functional as is. I'm concerned about how compnaies don't have to take responsibility for releasing a camera completely finished upon release. It's as if they say. We'll look after the issue if enough people complain with a firmware update-rather than just look after the potential issue in the first place. Anyhow-my disgruntled thoughts aside. I"m glad to hear tha QC has been brought up to snuff and that the issue is being corrected, at least to some degree.
However, I may pawn my camera off and wait til I can afford the alternate lens. My apologies if I have been misunderstood. My dealer states that a better lens will reduce the SSE because of how it will allow light to get to both the left and right sensors in a more efficient manner. I am aware of the electronic architecture of the camera. How does panasonic achieve 1080p without a left and right sensor? If anyone can pass that on to JVC it may help them make improvements in the future.

How does panasonic achieve 1080p without a left and right sensor?
Interpolation...

The only problem is that "gross CA" would be subject to opinion, since every stock lens will exhibit some amount of CA. I doubt JVC even QCs the lenses when they arrive from Japan.
The 16x lens does not have flourite elements or low-dispersion glass elements like the stock XL2 lens. It is a low-cost lens, but surprisingly sharp.

BTW, I'm finally getting a 13x3.5 tomorrow, so I'll be testing & comparing it ASAP.


I'll be interested to hear your real world opinion of the new lens Tim.

What the heck is interpolation? And why isn't it on this camera?

Interpolation, in the context of the HVX, is the concept of having a sensor of X size and then processing (interpolating) the image to result in an image of Y size.

In camera, interpolating almost always means that the image is being upsized to a higher resolution...but understand, there are no free lunches. Interpolation doesn't magically add resolution that the sensor didn't capture in the first place. "Good" interpolation usually just means that the act of resizing didn't add any bad artifacts.

In the HVX, because the camera didn't seem to have resolution numbers better than 600 lines H or V, people are speculating that when Panasonic says they have a native 1080p sensor, they are arriving by that claim with interpolation.

One of the JVC's selling points all along was that the sensor truly has a grid of 1280x720 photosites, and that there is no interpolation in the camera DSP. That's considered a good thing.

JVC tackled a technical hurdle (1280x720 CCD scanned at 60p) at the expense of the problem of SSE. Other manus sidestepped the problem by either making interlaced CCDs at higher res (Sony, Canon), or prog scanning CCDs at lower res (Panasonic).

Yes, interpolation is just a fancy term for resampling. Many cheaper digital cameras do this to claim having a higher megapixel count.

The process works by blending adjacent pixels together. Well, it's not that simple, there's more to it but you kind of get the idea. The only issue is that you can achieve pretty much the same using Photoshop or certain NLEs.

As Nate says, there's no extra information added.

I'm guessing this is the main reason Panasonic hasn't told us the exact sensor pixel resolution of the HVX.

What the heck is interpolation? And why isn't it on this camera?
Mathematics. To estimate a value of (a function or series) between two known values. In other words they use mathematical equations in order to produce the resolution.

When you go to buy a desktop scanner they advertise it's resolution to to 2400x2400 but the reality is that it's really 600x1200 optical resolution and 2400x2400 interpolated. Same thing on digital still camera's they have a max optical resolution and then if you continue to zoom it becomes "digital" zooming or interpolation of the image.

Would you go as far as to say that the overall resolution in the hd100 is therefore superior to the hvx200's? I'm not certain that can be verified until I see the images side by side, but I have a hunch that DVCPro HD will have HDV beat in all aspects of picture quality. As much as I hate admitting that, being a hd100 owner.

Would you go as far as to say that the overall resolution in the hd100 is therefore superior to the hvx200's?

I would. I was involved in the 4 camera test Adam Wilt conducted in January. We saw it with our own eyes, via the resolution charts we shot.

Adam also summarizes as such in his writeup for DV.com.

Would you go as far as to say that the overall resolution in the hd100 is therefore superior to the hvx200's? I'm not certain that can be verified until I see the images side by side, but I have a hunch that DVCPro HD will have HDV beat in all aspects of picture quality. As much as I hate admitting that, being a hd100 owner.
It can be verified. Putting the camera's in motion will reveal the true resolution. We already know the HD-100 is 1280x720 and it will hold resolution when the camera is in motion.