FAQ it
 

Any good HD100 FAQs?

This place could sure use one for questions like
which tape do I use? is SSE fixed? does HDV suck? etc etc.

1) You can use any DV tape. The data stream is actually smaller in HDV mode than SD. You don't need special tape unless you really feel you need it.

2) All HD-100's produce SSE under extreme conditions (i.e. 18db gain in low light). It is a design drawback used to make the camera energy effecient and cost effective.

3) HDV doesn't suck. It does however allow for High Definition recording on standard DV tapes with cameras that cost less than 10K.

They were actually rhetorical questions. the REAL question was the location of a good FAQ and am implied jab at the site for not having one.

great suggestion bruce - as a new owner, I'd love to have a user generated practical FAQ...

to address issues, suggest accessories, suggest cheaper alternatives...

1) Cheap additional battery
2) What to check for when the camera arrives (check for "A" nameplate...etc)
3) Best post production workflow
- If you use Vegas - do this
- If you use Premier Do this...

maybe some sort of wiki.... (idea bulb) maybe I'll install wiki in my server...

This place is what you guys make it. If you want a FAQ here, just start one here. I'm sure Tim and Nate (our forum moderators) will be all over that idea.

Ok Here is it - its up an running

http://snipurl.com/HDcamWiki

I have updated it with the following questions:

1. My Camera just arrived, what to check for?
2. I thought JVC fixed the SSE issue, my camera still shows split screen at 0db, what to do?
3. I edit in Sony Vegas - what are my options?
4. I edit in Adobe Premier Pro - What are my options?
5. What exactly does Connect HD and Aspect HD do?
6. Under water housing?
7. A good case/bag under $500?
8. Can I flip the LCD with magnets?
9. Which Tape to use?
10. Excellent low cost shotgun microphone?
11. How good is the $500 WA Adapter?
12. Any good windows intermediate codec besides Cineform?
13. Any good list of accessories available for my HD100?

Yeah - that would be great - I wish DVinfo had a wiki page....

okay, so how about let's start to make a list of questions. here goes:

1) What is SSE?
2) Can it be fixed?
3) Which type/brand of mini dv tape is best suited for the camera?
4) Is Jvc's brand of HDV unique?
5) What's the difference between the 100 and 100"A"?
6) What are some of the battery options?
7) What is Chromatic Abberation?
8) What are the best editing solutions?
9) What are the analog "outs" for?
10) What is a good camera bag for the camera?

There's ten, maybe they're not the greatest questions, but it's an official start...

And a well needed jab. I have been working on one, and intended to post it months ago. We even had a thread going with FAQ suggestions.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=57175

My biggest problem is that my completely nutty schedule (combined with my type A personality,) has prevented me from posting an incomplete FAQ. I'd prefer to post a FAQ that is complete, accurate, and objective with all the goodies the "official" documents don't talk about.

JVC has a couple FAQs for the HD100, but keep in mind most were written by marketing.
http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/...faq/index.html

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/f...&feature_id=13

Tim's nutty schedule gives me a little time to implement our CMS / wiki component!

It's coming; it's just late, like everything else.

Thanks Ram!
 

Great job putting that Wiki page together, I'm sure it will serve the community well. Kudos!

-sam

Better to hold off on the kudos until it's actually delivered! Heh.

Here's a wiki that's been up for a while too: http://showiki.com/wiki/Equipment_InfoBase

should we try and consolodate these various faqs?

suggestions?

I think you should. I just looked at two. Sure I can add information but how many came one person do. Can't find them all.

It is easier if there were here. Just my opinion.

And the idea of the wiki is that the information can be edited/altered. But by whom and is it correct. Here there is a moderator.

Hi Ken,

I've been working on the FAQ for ages now, and will post it soon.

I invite everyone to add new questions to our original thread and a dvinfo FAQ will be created.

All questions are welcome.

Tim

I have to agree with Ken, but then I usually agree with Ken anyway. Adam Craig has done a terrific job with his FAQ, I like it a lot, but if we're talking about a H/DV Info Net wiki, then it's going to be a H/DV Info Net thing. Meaning we'll host it here, and manage it from here. The primary idea being to keep everything under one roof and have a one-stop destination.

I love Wikipedia and reference it all the time, but I think it can sometimes have inaccurate "opinion" injected as fact.
Every FAQ should do its best to separate opinion from fact. As a community we can be as objective as possible and discuss accuracy and make changes to our own FAQ for the benefit of all.

We have a big responsibility to provide a complete and accurate document now that we seem to be the #1 destination for HD100 information on the internet!

very true - i had to edit out commercial solicitation from the wiki page today...

http://snipurl.com/HD100Wiki

For example, the wiki discussed here says the CCDs are split down the middle. They are not. I offered a correction which seems to have been deleted.

So how does one address that.

I added to one that if a camera is sent in for SSE work you should specify information such as frame rate, gain, iris settings, and coloration if possible. This is very valid and helpful to the service center but I see it has been deleted.

I fail to see the value of something that can so easily be incorrect.

This is why I think JVC engineers should offer the proper information in white papers that people can reference. Wiki is often not a good source for specifics and is more of a general resource (as you point out). I know JVC personel are participating more with the web (which is good) but for product specific information like you mention, engineering white papers and service guides are the best method of reference.

Good points, Stephen -- at the same time though, if we did a wiki or something similar here at H/DV Info Net then I would hope that Ken and others from JVC will contribute to it. I guarantee anything that Ken Freed submits will *not* get deleted, as he is "the source" for JVC as long as I've known him.

Now I understand where the confusion came about - that FAQ u edited in "showiki" was replicated from my site - So I rerouted it back to mysite (which didnt have ur edits) - so when u checked back, it seemed to have dissappeared.

I went back to showiki to fish out your edits, and updated my wiki with it. Feel free to edit it - you have the last word in HD100 *smile*
(http://www.ofview.com/wiki/index.php..._what_to_do.3F)

ram

To be fair, i wasn't the person that added the FAQ to the wiki.

I got an auto e-mail after it was added and cleaned it up a bit.

Yeah I wish jvc would issue a definitive policy on SSE, I have a new 100A that has SSE. I haven't fully tested the camera to see how bad it is and how often it appears but it almost sounds (going by some of the comments here) like a properly calibrated HD100A should not have any SSe whatsoever. The SSE threshold is not clear to me, I'm willing to live with a certain amount of SSE but now it's starting to sound like any SSE should be adjusted out.

My camera is coming tomorrow and I am really scared.

IMHO when everyone is rushing to congratulate JVC on Perfect Experience Policy - they tend to overlook the sloppy QA/Testing that they are doing on SSE and immediate badpixels (yeah i know every camera has badpixels, but none immediately after use)

Seems I have to earmark $60 for shipping charges... seems inevitable....

Once calibrated (usually from the Factory) it should be fine. SSE will always show under extreme conditions because you have two processors doing the work. It's very easy to see it appear and vanish as the two processors get in sync.

To view SSE: Put the camera on full auto, then take a black piece of paper and put it right in front of the lens while looking at the LCD. As soon as you put the paper (essentially making it very dark to the camera) you should see the SSE appear but leave the paper there and in a few seconds you will see the SSE vanish. This is because it takes a second for the camera to sync the two chips.

perhaps mine should be sent in because my SSe lasts for a few minutes when i test it with the lens cap on.

You can send it to be calibrated. Tell them the frame rate, gain setting, iris conditions and any colorization if any is seen. They should be able to improve it.

If you need an address, email me. kfreed@jvc.com

Do you know if the JVC center in the philippines can calibrate? Mine is a US model but i had it shipped here to the philippines so I'll have to pay out of pocket I know.