HD1 Defective Rate at DVinfo.net

Jason Kan · July 31st, 2006, 05:12 PM

I am planning to buy a VPC-HD1. Even the HD1's video quality is only average, I don't see another camcorder better than HD1 and as small as it.

However, there are many people reporting the split screen and blank LCD problems. How many good HD1 units are out there? I know people with good HD1s will not make a post and say my HD1 is working fine. So, we often see more bad news in the forum than good news.

Can we have a poll to see the defective rate?
1) Not problem at all
2) Split Screen problem
3) Blank LCD problem
4) Other problem

Please count the defective ones you returned to the store.

Chris Hurd · July 31st, 2006, 05:50 PM

Sorry but no, I will not conduct such a poll. It wouldn't be anywhere near accurate. It would not serve as any kind of indication as to what your own experience will be. People who have problems tend to hang out on the net; people who don't have problems just use it and tend not to report. Just buy it from a reputable dealer; test it right away and if you have problems then return it within the allowed time window. It's a fairly simple process.

Carlos Barbino · July 31st, 2006, 11:31 PM

here's my experience:

1st hd1 order from amazon was sent back because it had a material defect upon arrival.

the hd1 that was sent as a replacement frooze up while in record mode. i.e. it would not record video and none of the buttons would respond to pressing.

sent that one back as well for a full refund. i'd rather not do the "third time's a charm" dance.

at this point, i'm saving my money up for the upcoming panasonic avchd unit. its form factor should be similar to the hd1 but it will likely have 3ccds plus other goodies.

bad sanyo. bad.

Pierre Barberis · August 1st, 2006, 10:32 AM

May be the new HD1a is only intented to fix (some) bugs.
Has some one some experience of this ?

Peter Solmssen · August 1st, 2006, 07:33 PM

Carlos -- Although I have had very good luck with the Sanyo HD1, I think my ideal would be the Panasonic SDR S100 updated with AVCHD. Do you know something we don't know, or are you also into wishful thinking?

Graham Jones · August 4th, 2006, 02:45 AM

Jason - buy a HD1a.

I'm not saying it will be a perfect camera, far from it!

But it's quite likely that many of the glitches in the HD1 will have been tweaked or eliminated.

Mike Lewis · August 4th, 2006, 04:47 AM

I've just bought an HD1 from Pixmania: couldn't wait till October! It's come with a sticker on the box 'New! 3 Year warranty!'. So I've filled the form in at sanyo.de.

The serial number is 3950001 so it's possibly a new batch. As others have commented it's a pity that there seems to be no way of determining the firmware level: I've not carried out any truly scientific tests, but there are some jaggies visible on my experiments so far, which seem a bit more pronounced than those displayed in some of the clips on this site.

Jason Kan · August 4th, 2006, 08:34 AM

I wish I could wait for the HD1a but I need one now (baby is due in 4 weeks). HD1 does seem to have a design or production problem. Chris is right that, people who have problems tend to hang out on the net. However, we have to admit that there are more HD1 problems reported than other camcorders in the market. The new Canon HV10 is a good alternative but it is not available until Sept.

Carlos Barbino · August 4th, 2006, 06:46 PM

Peter:
I am not privy to any insider information but I'll bet two goose and a chicken that Panasonic's quality control and electronics design is several notches above Sanyo's.

Jason:
I would strongly recommend AGAINST the HD1 for video taping your newborn, unless you intend to place your precious in bright sunlight most of the time.

Speaking from experience (I have been videotaping my niece who is a toddler), the HD1 is close to unusable indoors. Since infants should be indoors most of the time, you will not be getting much usable footage from the HD1.

I would recommend you get one of the Sony/Canon standard def units. I have a Sony MiniDV unit and the results between the Sony versus the Sanyo indoors is night and day. The Sony wins hands down.

Don't be seduced by the small design of the HD1. This device is wrought with FLAWS and the output is not High Def. in most situations.

Jason Kan · August 4th, 2006, 09:24 PM

Carlos, thanks for your advices. I will get a SD camcorder for now then a Canon HV10 when it becomes available.

July 31st, 2006, 05:12 PM	#1
Jason Kan New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 9	HD1 Defective Rate I am planning to buy a VPC-HD1. Even the HD1's video quality is only average, I don't see another camcorder better than HD1 and as small as it. However, there are many people reporting the split screen and blank LCD problems. How many good HD1 units are out there? I know people with good HD1s will not make a post and say my HD1 is working fine. So, we often see more bad news in the forum than good news. Can we have a poll to see the defective rate? 1) Not problem at all 2) Split Screen problem 3) Blank LCD problem 4) Other problem Please count the defective ones you returned to the store.

July 31st, 2006, 05:50 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Sorry but no, I will not conduct such a poll. It wouldn't be anywhere near accurate. It would not serve as any kind of indication as to what your own experience will be. People who have problems tend to hang out on the net; people who don't have problems just use it and tend not to report. Just buy it from a reputable dealer; test it right away and if you have problems then return it within the allowed time window. It's a fairly simple process. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 31st, 2006, 11:31 PM	#3
Carlos Barbino New Boot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Bruno, CA Posts: 23	Two defective HD1's here's my experience: 1st hd1 order from amazon was sent back because it had a material defect upon arrival. the hd1 that was sent as a replacement frooze up while in record mode. i.e. it would not record video and none of the buttons would respond to pressing. sent that one back as well for a full refund. i'd rather not do the "third time's a charm" dance. at this point, i'm saving my money up for the upcoming panasonic avchd unit. its form factor should be similar to the hd1 but it will likely have 3ccds plus other goodies. bad sanyo. bad.

August 4th, 2006, 02:45 AM	#6
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	Jason - buy a HD1a. I'm not saying it will be a perfect camera, far from it! But it's quite likely that many of the glitches in the HD1 will have been tweaked or eliminated. __________________ www.irishfilmmaker.com

August 4th, 2006, 04:47 AM	#7
Mike Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cheshire UK Posts: 96	New Batch? I've just bought an HD1 from Pixmania: couldn't wait till October! It's come with a sticker on the box 'New! 3 Year warranty!'. So I've filled the form in at sanyo.de. The serial number is 3950001 so it's possibly a new batch. As others have commented it's a pity that there seems to be no way of determining the firmware level: I've not carried out any truly scientific tests, but there are some jaggies visible on my experiments so far, which seem a bit more pronounced than those displayed in some of the clips on this site.

August 1st, 2006, 10:32 AM	#4
Pierre Barberis Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MANILA Philippines Posts: 117	May be the new HD1a is only intented to fix (some) bugs. Has some one some experience of this ?

August 1st, 2006, 07:33 PM	#5
Peter Solmssen Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 133	Carlos -- Although I have had very good luck with the Sanyo HD1, I think my ideal would be the Panasonic SDR S100 updated with AVCHD. Do you know something we don't know, or are you also into wishful thinking?

August 4th, 2006, 08:34 AM	#8
Jason Kan New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 9	I wish I could wait for the HD1a but I need one now (baby is due in 4 weeks). HD1 does seem to have a design or production problem. Chris is right that, people who have problems tend to hang out on the net. However, we have to admit that there are more HD1 problems reported than other camcorders in the market. The new Canon HV10 is a good alternative but it is not available until Sept.

August 4th, 2006, 06:46 PM	#9
Carlos Barbino New Boot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Bruno, CA Posts: 23	Peter: I am not privy to any insider information but I'll bet two goose and a chicken that Panasonic's quality control and electronics design is several notches above Sanyo's. Jason: I would strongly recommend AGAINST the HD1 for video taping your newborn, unless you intend to place your precious in bright sunlight most of the time. Speaking from experience (I have been videotaping my niece who is a toddler), the HD1 is close to unusable indoors. Since infants should be indoors most of the time, you will not be getting much usable footage from the HD1. I would recommend you get one of the Sony/Canon standard def units. I have a Sony MiniDV unit and the results between the Sony versus the Sanyo indoors is night and day. The Sony wins hands down. Don't be seduced by the small design of the HD1. This device is wrought with FLAWS and the output is not High Def. in most situations.

August 4th, 2006, 09:24 PM	#10
Jason Kan New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 9	Carlos, thanks for your advices. I will get a SD camcorder for now then a Canon HV10 when it becomes available.