Panasonic AG-HMC152EN - feedback on some issues

[donnyyeo]

My feedbacks on AG-HMC152EN

Problem 1: Multicam TC sync is not accurate. Connected two HMC152EN (different firmware version) and TC synced them. One master and one slave. Set the Timecode to Free Run. Recorded with both cameras while counting and clapping. Load it the Edius Pro 5.5 (trial) and sync the two clips with Timecode sync. When playback in multicam view, the two clips are not sync properly. The two clips are 5 frames out of sync. Other NLEs, officially do not support AVCCAM format if you want to use TC sync for multicam editing. :A
See image: Timecode Sync not aligned (Edius 5.5 trial)


Problem 2: Super slow for parts to arrive. When I received the HMC152 unit and tested it in the shop, the CCD outputs a black/no signal to the LCD and viewfinder. The mode was in Auto and the seller (ex-videographer) was puzzled with it. After 15 min with ON-OFF-ON cycle, the CCD outputs the correct video feed. My unit was sent to Panasonic for inspection. No parts. I had to wait for 2 months for the parts to arrive from Japan. :L

Problem 3: No lock switch to prevent accidental pressing of the REC button. E.g. The Canon XM2 record button is surrounded by a rotating standby / lock switch.
See photo: Canon XM2/GL2 Standby-Lock Switch


Problem 4: Audio gets cut. During continuous recording, there is no audio for 11 frames at the end of each clips (4 GB limit).
See image: No audio for 11 frames (Sony Vegas Pro 9.0e Trial)

 

[azman]

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Hi Donny,

Apart form Problem 2, have you managed to devise a method to overcome the rest of the problems ?

I have not encountered any of problems before because

1 - I have not shot using multiple cams and
4 - my clips have not reached 4GB per clip before.

As to problem 3, I seldom use the REC button at the ON/OFF switch. I tend to use the one on the handle.

I'll take note of them on my next shoots. Thanks for the "heads up"

How is your camera now ? Have the parts arrived from Japan yet ?
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[Bamboopictures]

Problem 4, according to a creativecow forummer, is a problem with the NLE. He recommends using Sony Vegas Pro "Device Explorer" to transfer separate clips on the SD card as one giant file to eliminate the drop-outs completely.

 

[jaegersing]

Vegas has the same audio problem with HDV clips. I would try another NLE and see if it helps.

The record button lock is not really a camera issue, it is more of a personal preference. Canon actually removed this from the XH-A1 series (S version) because many users reported locking the record function accidentally.

 

[shafiems]

Hi Bros...I might get HMC152E soon..
Went over to The Panasonic main dist...located at Bukit batok
I really need feedback...should i get this one?
since I read reviews are not so encouraging?
Tkz a lot in advance..

 

[Bamboopictures]

The problems in this thread are mostly NLE related and of course, Panasonic's legendary bad service. The camera itself is superb.

 

[shafiems]

well I am not sure if you guyz familiar with cyberlink...
Now with Cyberlink9...it is for HD and BRay too..

 

[tommytang]

Vegas has the same audio problem with HDV clips. I would try another NLE and see if it helps.

The record button lock is not really a camera issue, it is more of a personal preference. Canon actually removed this from the XH-A1 series (S version) because many users reported locking the record function accidentally.

My company is using HMC152 and Vegas Pro 9 64bit.

Yes the audio gets lost on those long clips towards the last quarter. It doesn't matter what CODEC or format you recorded in.

I use a software to extract the sound from the clip into a wave file then in vegas I just replace the audio track.

No problem for clips under 5 minutes. Same problem when I record into my Datavideo recorders in SD or HDV modes.

As long you have the RAW files, the sound is not lost.

Hope the fix that in Vegas Pro 10 if not we have to go back to FCP (it sucks).

 

[Bamboopictures]

Anyone ever get video drop outs on their HMC 152 footage? I bought a secondhand one and there are intermittent glitches on a few frames here and there.

 

[azman]

Anyone ever get video drop outs on their HMC 152 footage? I bought a secondhand one and there are intermittent glitches on a few frames here and there.

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During a wedding shoot about a year ago, I encountered green flickers and stuttering in the footage during playback and after uploading them to the computer. This phenomenon can be seen in all the clips I shot that evening; sometimes for a few seconds on and off but most of the time occurring once in the clip and that's it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvbflDQo3QM

I asked the experts in dvxuser.com and some of them say it was due to a faulty SD card. I shot with the camera the next day with a different card and all clips that day are ok.

Strangely, till today I am still not able to replicate the fault and I'm still using the HMC152 and the alleged faulty card.

Therefore, it is still a big question mark :dunno:
Perhaps the card was not formatted properly, I don't know.
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[Bamboopictures]

Azman, thanks for sharing. I hope you don't get the same fault again. I will have to shoot more and monitor the situation.

 

[azman]

... I hope you don't get the same fault again...

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Thanks.
Now I always bring a spare camera, spare cards & spare batteries with me during shoots, just in case
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[kelvintwt]

strangely tho i get these green flickers with my HD1000P on HDV tapes...