On your camera you do not have 25P modes? I do. Or am I mixing things up? Now I'll have to call and find out if they mean in DV mode or HDV. They must be talking about the interlace modes..

Hd 101
 

Hi everyone,

I have just recieved my HD101 back from JVC, here in New Zealand, with the firmware update. The process took a little over a week. I have not tested the camera yet but will keep you posted when I do.

Regards
Sam

All the cameras have 720P25, but that isn't PAL, it's just HD at 25P. All cameras also have 720P24 and 720P30. Once again, just HD.

The DV modes are where things are different. The E models can record DV PAL at 50i (true PAL) or DV 25P (Progressive scan recorded to standard PAL on DV tape in DV mode.)
The U models can record DV NTSC at 60i (true NTSC) or DV24P (2:3 or 2:3:3:2) NTSC 30P is not available on any HD100/101.

Yes, yes, I see that now. Why they would point that out specifically, I'd like to know.

They are just trying to anticipate questions from guys like you...:-)

I have my own FAQ:
-is it going to shoot 1080i?
-is it going to record DVCOPRO HD and HDCAM?
-is it going to cook my breakfast and wash the dishes?

Just kidding... as long as they improve SSE, 'mode changing' and some of the other issues and bugs, I am one happy camper.

Mode Changing - YES.
SSE - that's a calibration issue, and who knows, maybe they QC it for you while it is there?

I'm interested in "undocumented" improvements in the update. For example, I would love if they added something that has been on the top of my wishlist for months: TC output to external out (component and/or composite.)
I would also love an option for VF and LCD on at the same time. I don't care if it draws more juice... It would just be nice in many situations.
A viewfinder "flop" feature would also be great for those using homebuilt micro35 adapters.

I hope they read our wishlist here...:-)

Look at camera's before the HD-100 was made. It's not the only camera which received an update after beeing in production for a while. If all the issues are solved nobody will talk about it in year from now.

It's my first experience with JVC. And I must say it is far better from what I have experienced with Sony. I don't want to start bitching at Sony, but they made me pay 300 Euro a few years ago just to look at a possible problem on a camera. Without even repairing it. That I found rediculus. So I bought the service manual, instead of buying an extra estimated 800 dollar repair bill for a PCB replacement. Apparently during usage of a walky-talky (during a production close to the camera) caused the LANC input circuit to be damaged by the strong RF signal. The LANC cable must have worked as an antenna for the RF signal. I replaced the damaged FET of 1.28 dollar and added an extra protection circuit inside the camera.
Sony didn't provide a free 'A' update...

I hope so. I sent an e-mail to JVC Europe asking them about it, however I couldn't find the technical support contact and sent it to the sales department.

On the proHD site you can find the info for your country.
http://www.jvcpro.co.uk/global.html

Cheers

Thanks Marc, the JVC service for Portugal is located in Spain and it doesn't have an email adress. I received today a reply from JVC UK. They say that there is and there will be no such thing in Europe as an A model, however if I need an upgrade for the info of the A/B batteries or for the DR-HD100 I can send the camera to my dealer to perform the upgrade. So, for European costumers, just contact your dealers.

While most of us will be approaching JVC for upgrades to our current hd100's. We should press the question of when or if a lens upgrade will me made available. One JVC tech told my dealer that a lens with better light handling capabilities would reduce and perhaps elimate the SSE, though the problem is still inherantly a hardware issue. Given this, I think it is a good time for JVC to hear us out regarding our wish lists, and have them actually hear us loud and clear what can be done to improve their product. If we speak up and nothing is done, no suprises, however if we speak up and they exhange our crappy stock lens then you'll be thanking me later for encouraging you to speak up. Throughout the whole ordeal of the hd100's setbacks, many have been in my opinion overly dosile, and has allowed JVC to walk all over the consumer. They have made efforts to appease complaints, but too little too late in my opinon. I knew a recall like this was inevitable, and for you naysayers who justified the disregard for us as professionals, I hate to say it but....nah forget it, I'm above making juvenile comments like "I told you so." Or maybe not.

The lens is what you pay for, low quality for low price. Better lens, batteries, mic and VF would make this camera more expensive, out of the price range where JVC whants to keep it. I'd also like it to have better lens and mic, but at least I was able to afford it.

Albert, the lens is as fast as practical. Lenses faster than 1.4 are rare, expensive, and very heavy as they have a lot of large elements in them.

Making it faster than 1.4 would make it more expensive on a exponential scale.

Albert, while you may see using the HD100 as an "ordeal", I think most of the professionals here see it much differently. Terms like "naysayers" and "docile" and frankly your entire post make no sense. There's been a very active and constructive dialogue here since the camera was introduced. The level of professionalism and the quality of input has been exemplary which is also a credit to the way Chris manages the site.

Finger pointing and self-congratulations are unnecessary and rumours about upgraded lenses might eliminate SSE don't add to the debate either. If you're truly interested in JVC listening to your concerns, you might try toning down your rhetoric. You've certainy lost my interest because of it.

Geez... that does it. There has been no recall. There is a tremendous difference between a product recall and a product upgrade. I'm not sure whether your problem is that you simply can't comprehend what that difference is, or whether you're just axe grinding like there's no tomorrow. Either way, I've had it with your rhetoric. Post that garbage somewhere else... I'm really tired of that kind of tone. It's entirely inappropriate here. As far as the lens goes, Nate and Diogo said it best.

Kudos to Jim for keeping cooler than I could. Thanks guys,

I have received an official response from JVC_Hagemeyer the Australian distributors.

To paraphrase (because it was quite long and specific), they won't be doing the upgrade due to "handling logistics and man hours" - in essence they will only fix if it's broke. But they are not going to time restrict it.

So if you are experiencing the mode changing problem (which incidentally isn't mentioned in the upgrade notice) they will fix that. If you bought an DR-HD100 or and Anton BAuer battery mount from an authorised Australian or NZ dealer they will upgrade your firmware.

What do others think of this - I think it's a reasonable compromise, if not as good as the US experience. Or should the pressure be put on them to match the US upgrade offer?

I think "handling logistics" says it best. You can drive a delivery truck over most of North America, but not over most of Oceania. You need a big, fast boat for that. Much more expensive than a truck.

This is Australia and New Zealand only - separate dealer offices in each country. Perhaps you were referring to Tasmania?

No "recall", just JVC's normal firmware updates.
 

Hi Chris, long time no post. Too many irons in the fire, sorry :)

You are 100% correct. To call the current firmware update to the HD-100 a "recall" is to not understand the basic differences in the design philosophy of JVC versus other camera manufactures.

JVC pro series cameras are all firmware (software) driven (a good thing), as the camera can be easily updated and most issues resolved by simply updating the OS on the camera.

It was the same approach they adopted for the GY-DV500/5000 series, so it's just "business as usual" for JVC and the way they normally operate (the DV-500 had several firmware updates over it's lifetime).

This JVC design philosophy is what endures their cameras to the broadcast industry, and will (hopefully) eventually be followed by all the other major camera manufactures as well.

As I free up some time, I will post our experiences with deciding on a new "B" cam for broadcast purposes. We did about 50 hours each of actual "in the field" testing with the new generation small cams (Panasonic AG-HVX200, Canon XL H1, JVC GY-HD100, and Sony HVR-Z1). All the cameras were great, and for the price, give really solid performance. but for our use, the HD-100 was a little bit "greater" than the others.

We used about a half a dozen HD-100 cameras at the AMPAS (Oscar) awards early this month as "floaters" (quick run backups to our red carpet DigiBeta units). Two of the HD-100 cams were mounted on Steadicam "Flyer" rigs. The Steadicam rigs worked great and were a fast working/handling combo. Lack of a good follow focus was the only problem, but one we will eventually solve.

This is the rig we have tentatively standardized on: http://www.tv-wire.com/hd100.html

More to follow...

Progress report.

Camera was recieved by JVC today and it's now in the system. I sent the camera out on Monday from the Chicago area (USPS Priority w/insurance) and they've input it into the system today. I also ordered the confirmation on when the camera was recieved from the USPS, however I have not received the confirmation yet.

BTW: When they recieve your camera they link you to an "accessory" page which offers a $2200 lens option. Is that the stock lens??? Click here The lens part number is LW30610-001B.

PS I haven't got a clue how the site sometimes double post messages. Administratively, is there any way to delete your own post?

Another progress update:

Took my camera in this Monday and was able to pick it up today. It has the "A" sticker under the serial number. I have the core sitting at work, so I haven't been able to check out anything with it, but I'll run through it tonight.

Well if it's the 13x wide angle they're gonna sell a ton of them <g>.

Hmm. They've had my camera since last Friday. It still just says "received". What's up with that?

No specs...how do you tell what lens it is?

Enzo, how did you attach the Sennheiser receiver to the bracket? Any chance that you could upload a detailed photo? I have the IDX system and Sennheiser ew100, which is not the same but the IDX bracket also has threaded holes that could work for attaching the wireless receiver.

Overall it looks great! Really nicely equipped unit. What rain covers are you using? Thanks.

Jiri, the AB battery adapter plate has room on the inside unlike the IDX adapter. I noticed it after using the AB configuration on our previous HD100 and then just yesterday receiving our IDX kit for this new camera. I like that extra space on the AB... but you can't argue with the price of the IDX/JVC promotion either. ;)

If you figure out a good solution for the EW100 let me know, we have a few Senneiser kits as well. If nothing is out there my brother can CnC a few custom adapter plates for this, but it would take a few orders for him to bother with it.

Oh... and I like how he used the plastic piece that you remove to install the adapter plate, ours is sitting on my desk just begging to be lost forever. Enzo has the right idea, put that little bugger to work.

Any word from of the "A" owners on whether any of our "wishlist" items are in the revision? Things like more scene files available on the SD card and LCD/Viewfinder displaying at the same time?

Sorry Stephen. I think it's a no on both. Just checked my camera for the simultaneous vf/LCD and it's a no on that. When I checked my scene files on Friday, I didn't notice anymore than before. The only thing that seems different is the audio level meters on the vf/lcd. Don't remember seeing that before.

They were always available...it's one of the options in the LCD/VF menu.

Jiri, will do as soon as I get back from Vancouver (I am wearing my film DP hat right now).

We also have some Sennheiser EW500s (same form factor as the EW100), they work equally as well in the spot Anton so thoughtfully provided. I also have a early production unit of the ABWMK-HD100 clip on bracket, but it's really made for the DR-HD100/Firestore drives. Adds too much bulk for just a wireless receiver. The only IDX equipped unit we have is in Atlanta so I can't advise you on that combo.

Anybody thinking of doing this with a non-metal body receiver should be aware that there is a RF leak from the components plug section of the HD-100 that may interfere with your receiver. We only use metal bodied Senns so it's not a problem, but I did kill the leak by applying heavy plastic covered aluminum tape (as used by body shops) cut to fit to the inside of the plastic covers as an added precaution. Every ENG cam I have ever had has some RF leakage, and some of the prosumer models have enough to come under FCC control, so let's not mention recall :)

We are using the PortaBrace QS-ME/soft lens cap raincover combo modified with a few extra Velcro'd cutouts, as well as an added piece to the rear section to accommodate the Anton HyTRON 50/Dionic 90 form factor -- with a soft neoprene gasket for the antenna. Works with both the stock lens or the 13x3.5mm up.

I'm trying to talk PortaBrace into making a run of HD-100/Anton equipped "Shoulder Case" cam covers for us (with the built in rain cover). No luck so far. They are advising us that the cam is too small: "Shoulder cases for these tiny cameras begin to look like Swiss cheese once you allow for all the switches, etc."

Completely OT:

I have the same combo with the ew100 and use the hot shoe mount for the wireless reciever, however, mounting to the IDX bracket would be better so that a camera light could take it's place on the hot shoe. BTW, I ended up getting Cool-Lux L3000's because the light pattern is perfect for HD. It is D-tap and AC (EU and USA). The only other solution (I've figured) for mounting the ew100 and keeping the hot shoe free is velcro to the endura 7s itself.

Any other ideas

Daniel, you have a VERY sharp eye :)

The Senn receivers fit ALMOST perfect in the spot not occupied by the Anton HyTRON 50/Dionic 90 form factor batteries (any other Anton unit makes the camera too back heavy -- the camera will balance perfectly on your shoulder with the stock lens/Dionic 90 or the 13x3.5/HyTRON 50 combo).

The receivers are mounted securely to the bracket (not the battery!) with Velcro (on the back side only), but there is just a tiny bit of side to side play, so in looking for a slightly angled bracket in my spare parts bin, I came across a bunch of HD-100 stock battery top side brackets, hmmmmm... So I just added a vinyl bumper pad to it, screwed it into the (thoughtfully) provided bottom screw tap, and ended up with a very snug and 100% secure fit.

Necessity is always the mother of invention in this business, and as any working DP can attest to, leads to some great shots (and cam mods).

Mounting the Ultralight 2 so it would never, ever swivel was (as usual) not such an easy fix. Every broadcast outlet I know has had to apply their own fix to this continuing problem, no matter what ENG cam they are using. Nothing like pulling up the cam for a quick red carpet interview only to have the light facing the operator instead of the talent. On that subject, it would be really nice (but I don't think it's doable without adding extra cost to the camera) for the HD-100 to have a camera run circuit tied into the Anton battery tap. It's pretty much an industry standard.

attaching wireless receivers
 

Note: This is in response to Stephen Noe's last post on this thread, though it really probably should be it's own thread since there's little relation to the "upgrade" title of the thread.

I do documentary shooting, usually without a soundman. What I do is have two Lectrosonics UCR 100s mounted to the hotshoe - The first velcroed (Sp?) to a Sennheiser adapter plate, and the second velcroed on top of the first. Both run to the back of the camera into an XLRBP3 Studio 1 passive mixer which is velcroed to the back of my Dionic 90. The mixer runs into one audio channel of the JVC, and the camera mike Sennheiser K6 goes to the other audio channel. Although I don't usually use a camera light, I do have an adapter from Markertek ("Hot shoe Extension" RYC-037303 - $25) that allows both the camera light and the Sennheiser adapter to fit on the JVC shoe.

Feature upgrade as "recall", huh? (long)
 

OK, to get back on topic, I did a Google this morning on the HD-100 and was amazed to see how much buzz there is on the HD-100 "recall". I am sure that JVC is pretty distressed at having a positive feature of their cameras (a simple upgrade path designed in via firmware patches) named a recall instead of the feature upgrade it is.

I'm not a great overall fan of JVC (my past experiences have been truly 1st class professional cams with no better than bottom rung prosumer support), and no, we don't get free or reduced price cameras from them, but I have to say that from an engineering standpoint, the HD-100 is indeed a standout. This was confirmed by Canon Optical in Japan when I was inquiring about any possible 1/3" HD lenses they had in the works. The head design engineer there said he was pretty sure that JVC was not making much if any profit on the camera, and that they (Canon) probably couldn't produce it at that end user price. Hahaha, he was definitely an admirer.

Sure it has some problems, but I don't know of any video cam that doesn't, and that includes our $50K (without lens or accessories) Sony DVW-790WS units.

Yes the lens breathes a bit on focus rack, but so do almost all under $20K ENG lenses. The more expensive ($20 - $40K) lenses have a cammed floater optical block that adjusts for (moves with) the movement of the focus block group to keep the image size constant. Easy to design and relativily cheap to add to a built in non-removable lens, too expensive and weight adding to design into a lower price interchangeable lens designed for a light-in-weight cam. Also, no HD lenses we use (including our 2/3" & 1/2" units) are without some degree of CA. Seems to be the nature of the beast at the current stage of HD lens development. The stock HD-100 lens is about average in this regard.

SSE seems to be another big buzz word. Out of the dozen or so HD-100 units we have, only one has a slight case of SSE (being calibrated at JVC right now -- and when I dropped it off, the tech there was very courteous, friendly, and well informed, so I may have to reassess my future opinion of their tech support philosophy). None of our other units have the problem at all.

JVC had to go all out to design a camera with full native resolution chips, and the heat a full on one piece CCD block would have generated was a problem they overcame by splitting the block. I think it's a pretty amazing design feat, not a defect. The SSE phenomenon (in non well calibrated cameras) is just a trade-off to the excellent image/price point you get. They could have designed a built in fix for it by adding a continuing self adjusting balancing circuit, but not at the price point the camera is selling at. Nine of our cams are out on loan right now to CNN and Fox News crews, and no one I have talked to has complained about any SSE problems or zoom shift to me.

In the future, I hope that JVC makes the upgrade path a self-install end user feature. It's very easy to do via the SD card and the top level service menu, but I can also see why they wouldn't want to. The engineering time that goes into issuing an upgrade is worth something. It's unreasonable to expect JVC or any other camera manufacturer to keep adding features to an already purchased product without some financial compensation or incentive to do so.

Anyway, when I get our first camera back I will note the pre vs. post upgrade differences here. All our HD-100s will eventually go in for the "A" upgrade but it's mainly for the addition of the Anton Bauer "real time" display in the VF we are used to (which, as far as I can determine, no camera without the upgrade was able to do). There are also some hidden menu tweaks to the Anton real time display settings that Anton tech shared with me. I will ask Anton if it is OK to post them public.

And, OT again for a sec, has anybody else noticed that most of the high end 1080i capable HDTV (plasma and LCD) set instructions recommend running their displays in 720p mode?

Progress report.

I sent an HD-100 last monday (March 20) and now it's exactly 7 days later and they've updated the camera on their website and "dispatched" it via UPS today. The tracking number and UPS information states the camera should be delivered on the 31st. If that holds true then the entire process takes 12 days when the camera is sent from Chicago...

Update turn-around time
 

All:

Please remember that the stated 3 day turn-around goal is only if the unit is sent to the Cypress, CA facility, as the website states. If you send it to another JVC Pro service facility, it may take longer. Also, if there are any other issues that you ask to be looked at, it will take longer.

Also, remember shipping transit time to & from JVC.

Regards, Carl

Well, i just got my cam back from Cypress. There's 2 new menu items now, one about battery display in LCD/VF menu (page 2), and one about how the rec trigger in the firewire stream is timed vs. the tape mech.

For curiosity's sake, here's the numbers:

sys cpu c1590 v0401
cam cpu c1591 v0203
vtr cpu c1594 v0120
enc cpu L1187 v0108

package c1615 v0202
fpga2 c1595 v0202
fpga3 c1596 v0101
fpga4 c1597 v0106

Almost all the numbers in the "V" column have incremented compared to other numbers posted on the board here. I myself wouldn't freak out if you get your camera back and have different numbers than I, I guarantee that there's more to know about this than just simply "my numbers are different, they must have screwed up".

Just FYI...

[update: I just found by holding STOP and MENU down for 5secs you can access a menu to adjust Anton Bauer battery voltage cutoffs.]

Thanks Nate, I hope more people post the new firmware numbers as well.

I have been holding back from sending our camera in. I need to wait until I know we can be without, for a weeks time. Besides, none of the issues that the firmware fixes are criticle for us right now, or so I hope.

Do we have a solid list of everything that this update fixes / adds, like your new found menu items?

Firmware versions
 

Keep in mind that depending on when your GYHD100U was built, there are various combinations of hardware and firmware that will be installed to accomplish "A" upgrades. So, even after everyone's "A" upgrades are done, the firmware versions may not match exactly.

The goal is for everyone to have the full functionality of the "A" version, whatever that takes.

Carl