I'm a Bone-Head at DVinfo.net

Mark Moore · August 25th, 2003, 08:01 PM

Ok. I'm down in Marshville, NC preparing to shoot on a documentary I'm working on. I put my tripod plate on the GL1, place it on a stool and start working on the Bogen when right before my eyes, the camera rolls and hits the CEMENT floor, lens first (sunshade, actually). An approximately three-foot drop. My heart skipped several beats and I couldn't move.

I picked up the cam, checked the lens - not a scratch (but the sunshade is pretty scratched on the side). No other visible damage except to the "mode wheel", which is scratched.

I tested the cassette eject - worked fine. I ran 45 seconds of video, tested the zoom and manual settings - all fine. I put it in VCR mode and played the 45 seconds back - no apparent problems!

Now I know I'm either extremely blessed or lucky (or both). My rather long-winded question: What problems (if any) could I expect from this? Is there potential problem I should look for?

PS: I swear, it was sitting on the middle of the stool, very stable. I don't know what caused it to lean, but I won't make that mistake ever again.

Thanks in advance.

Frank Granovski · August 25th, 2003, 08:14 PM

From the sound of it, your cam survived---but you won't really know until after you've used it for a while.

Mark Moore · August 25th, 2003, 08:19 PM

Thanks. Makes me feel like I have a timed detonator on my camera and at any time it can just "POP"!

My biggest fear was that the heads became misalligned and I would have pixelation everywhere. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for the info.

Rob Wilson · August 25th, 2003, 08:35 PM

Mark,

Similar experience, except it fell out of a saddle bag on the horse I was riding at a full gallop. Same luck, it's contined to work fine and that was 10 months ago. Not sure the Optical Image Stabilization is working well (anyone know of a good way to test it?). I sure was impressed when I dusted it off and saw that it still worked fine.

Mark Moore · August 25th, 2003, 08:43 PM

At least you could blame a galloping horse to shake your cam loose. My mishap was caused by the ever-menacing bar stool!

Glad to hear it still works, though. It gives me hope! Thanks for the info.

Ken Tanaka · August 25th, 2003, 09:47 PM

You're a lucky fellow. The lens hood is actually designed to absorb a certain amount of shock. If the camera had landed flatter on its side the results might have been different. Keep an eye on your tape transport (play, record, rewind, ff) for a while, particularly the record. It's possible that you knocked a head out of alignment but if it's not already apparent (i.e. streaky or blocky video) the chances are that it's ok.

Mark Moore · August 26th, 2003, 10:37 AM

Thanks Ken. I'll do that. That was my biggest fear, the allignment. I'm going to hold my breath. I still have three months of shooting to go!

Don Palomaki · August 26th, 2003, 10:47 AM

Test head alignment by playing some old recordings to see if they track OK.

Mark Moore · August 26th, 2003, 03:51 PM

Thanks, Don. I'll do that.

August 25th, 2003, 08:01 PM	#1
Mark Moore Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 301	I'm a Bone-Head Ok. I'm down in Marshville, NC preparing to shoot on a documentary I'm working on. I put my tripod plate on the GL1, place it on a stool and start working on the Bogen when right before my eyes, the camera rolls and hits the CEMENT floor, lens first (sunshade, actually). An approximately three-foot drop. My heart skipped several beats and I couldn't move. I picked up the cam, checked the lens - not a scratch (but the sunshade is pretty scratched on the side). No other visible damage except to the "mode wheel", which is scratched. I tested the cassette eject - worked fine. I ran 45 seconds of video, tested the zoom and manual settings - all fine. I put it in VCR mode and played the 45 seconds back - no apparent problems! Now I know I'm either extremely blessed or lucky (or both). My rather long-winded question: What problems (if any) could I expect from this? Is there potential problem I should look for? PS: I swear, it was sitting on the middle of the stool, very stable. I don't know what caused it to lean, but I won't make that mistake ever again. Thanks in advance. __________________ Mark Moore Sugar Free Productions

August 25th, 2003, 08:19 PM	#3
Mark Moore Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 301	Thanks. Makes me feel like I have a timed detonator on my camera and at any time it can just "POP"! My biggest fear was that the heads became misalligned and I would have pixelation everywhere. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for the info. __________________ Mark Moore Sugar Free Productions

August 25th, 2003, 08:43 PM	#5
Mark Moore Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 301	At least you could blame a galloping horse to shake your cam loose. My mishap was caused by the ever-menacing bar stool! Glad to hear it still works, though. It gives me hope! Thanks for the info. __________________ Mark Moore Sugar Free Productions

August 25th, 2003, 09:47 PM	#6
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	You're a lucky fellow. The lens hood is actually designed to absorb a certain amount of shock. If the camera had landed flatter on its side the results might have been different. Keep an eye on your tape transport (play, record, rewind, ff) for a while, particularly the record. It's possible that you knocked a head out of alignment but if it's not already apparent (i.e. streaky or blocky video) the chances are that it's ok. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

August 26th, 2003, 10:37 AM	#7
Mark Moore Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 301	Thanks Ken. I'll do that. That was my biggest fear, the allignment. I'm going to hold my breath. I still have three months of shooting to go! __________________ Mark Moore Sugar Free Productions

August 25th, 2003, 08:14 PM	#2
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	From the sound of it, your cam survived---but you won't really know until after you've used it for a while.

August 25th, 2003, 08:35 PM	#4
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Mark, Similar experience, except it fell out of a saddle bag on the horse I was riding at a full gallop. Same luck, it's contined to work fine and that was 10 months ago. Not sure the Optical Image Stabilization is working well (anyone know of a good way to test it?). I sure was impressed when I dusted it off and saw that it still worked fine.

August 26th, 2003, 10:47 AM	#8
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Test head alignment by playing some old recordings to see if they track OK. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

August 26th, 2003, 03:51 PM	#9
Mark Moore Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 301	Thanks, Don. I'll do that. __________________ Mark Moore Sugar Free Productions