X-Augustus
Imported Account
May 25, 2004, 2:00 PM
Post #1 of 1
(606 views)
Shortcut
|
|
SONY PD-170 OWNERS: BE WARE, HUM PROBLEM !
|
Can't Post
|
|
I can't believe that Sony screw up again. They had a problem with the first PD-150s and now this:
I bought my PD-170 camcorder from a local supplier and I had a two day shoot over the weekend covering a conference. I was not sure if what I was hearing was a slight hum coming from the room or from the camera. At that time I assumed it was from the room.
Today, I was trying to do some tests and to my surprise I discovered that there was a slight buzz (or hum as it is acknowledged in the website I am referring here later). This slight hum or buzzing sound happens when the flip out screen is out. When you close the LCD screen the hum dissapears and the sound is clean as it should always be.
I talked to Sony Rep. David, Professional Division, in Georgia, and he said that this is indeed a problem that Sony acknowledges. He issued a repair order for me. Sony is fixing this problem on a complaint basis and it is done at no charge.
To find out if you have the problem, do this test.
1. Detach all microphones connected to your camcorder.
2. Slide the volume control of the LCD all the way up (it is not caused by this volume control by any means ).
3. Monitor the sound with headphones having the LCD screen closed. The sound should be very clean.
4. Now flip out the LCD screen and see if there is any hum, slight or quite noticeable. If there is then you have a problem PD-170.
5. To reconfirm, connect your camera mic, the hum will still be there when the LCD is out.
This hum is not acceptable if you are doing serious corporate/broadcast production. If you are doing just events, it may be just fine since it can get hidden with the background sound & ambience and your audience is usally more forgiving.
The problem may also be found in SONY VX2100s. Do a test and see if it happens. However, it is unlikely that Sony will fix this for you since this is considered a consumer model and has less stringent specs than its industrial brother.
This problem seems widespread because of this: I bought my PD170 in the middle of May in Northern California. A friend of mine who has bought the camera from B&H last week has the same problem.
In this link, it says that the problem is only for the first PD170 camcorders which were shipped in January. I do not believe this. It seems that it is more widespread than it is originally thought.
If you own a PD-170, it will be quite interesting to find out how many people have the same problem.
Here is the link:
http://www.global-dvc.org/images/html/PD170.asp
|
