Crack in Viewfinder

Daniel Patton · May 26th, 2006, 04:12 PM

Joey,

Are you using a matte box or do you have anything attached to the lens anywhere?

Our matte box attached directly to the lens does the same thing, we get better results with it on the end of our wide angle adapter, it's a bit more sturdy like this.

I have the same crack by the way, and our cameras are treated better than our staff. ;)

Stephen L. Noe · June 12th, 2006, 09:00 PM

Did you guys get warranty replacement for the viewfinder assembly? Also I know the standard mic is bad but I have one that pops and hisses. It is worse than bad. I normally use my senn setup but still I'd like the stock mic to work just in case.

Anyone have these items replaced recently?

Daniel Patton · June 12th, 2006, 10:21 PM

Stephen,

I have not requested the new eye piece due to the crack, although we should. Carl? Can we get one sent to us without sending the camera in? I don't have time to send it off even for the "A" upgrade right now. Our deck should get an update as well I understand, but we use both just about every day.

As for the Mic, I have not had that experience. Works as good as expected.

Chad Terpstra · June 13th, 2006, 10:05 PM

Make that one more person with the unfortunate crack....

I didn't even notice it until I brushed against it once and heard a loud pop of it snapping back into place. I feel like if it goes unfixed it could get worse, but right now it doesn't affect anything. Of course for the time being I've been making sure that the viewfinder is all the way retracted when placed in the bag (Petrol PCUB) and that I carry the bag with the other side against my hip. I think using these precautions should keep the problem from happening again in the future ...hopefully.

I didn’t even know you could get a 3rd party viewfinder for this camera. Would the image quality be any better?

Scott Ward · March 2nd, 2007, 08:45 AM

I live in Canada and I have the issue of the crack too. BC is the closest service spot to me. Any others in Canada sent in the Viewfinder for a replacement?

Nick Kesler · March 3rd, 2007, 03:51 PM

Our 1st HD100 got the same viewfinder crack the 1st time we packed it into a car for a road trip. We had it in the Porta Brace CTC-3 case. We figured out that while carrying the camera in the bag (with 2 dionic 90 batteries, a stick mic, an xlr cable, and a few tapes) that just enough pressure was put on the viewfinder from the sides of the bag pulling up and in that the viewfinder cracked. We now take it off every time we put it in the bag. Kind of a pain in the @ss.

We now have 2 HD250's and the CTC-4 bags. They seem to be able to handle the camera much better.

Ted Ramasola · March 3rd, 2007, 08:11 PM

I also have a crack in my VF where the VF is attached to an L-shaped bracket and where the VF rotates. Im out of warranty and was out in the field so i had to check it out. I found out how thin and flimsy the construction is inside. They made thin prodtruding "tongues" that is used to secure the VF onto the bracket and this is made more weaker when they bored holes into it for the screws.
I think this is a design flaw.

Stephen A. George · March 4th, 2007, 05:53 AM

It's been a year since I reported a crack in my viewfinder.
JVC sent me a replacement viewfinder at no cost. Thanks Carl!
So far no problems.

Steve Oakley · March 4th, 2007, 09:10 PM

I also had a crack in the bracket, and fixed it. I took a soldering iron (40W) and remelted the plastic back together again. I've also had the VF apart twice to fix the internal metal bracket being bent. its very very easy to tap the VF and bend/ break it. my plan it to add some additional plastic around this area soon.

John Butler · March 5th, 2007, 10:46 AM

I have a crack in my HD100 viewfinder in the same place. I haven't contacted JVC yet, but I'm interested in what their response to you will be.

Burk Webb · March 5th, 2007, 11:36 AM

Just to chime in - I've got the crack and according to Mary at JVC, it is not considered a design flaw and they are not covering it under warranty. She was very nice and said to send the camera in (the whole camera) and they would take a look at it.

I mentioned the experience people were having on this forum, that the crack was pretty common and people seem to be getting it fixed under warranty.

She told me that the crack would be considered damage and I would probably have to pay to get it fixed. If they checked out the camera and it looked like the crack was a construction flaw and not damage then they would handle it under warranty. Of course I'll have to send it in to find out what they say. I would love to have em' just send me a new fiewfinder like they did with Stephen A. George but I understand if that's not an option.

Stephen A. George · March 7th, 2007, 10:02 PM

Burk,

I'm pleased that JVC replaced my viewfinder free of charge.
I think the replacement was do more to my vendor (Videotex) going to bat for me than JVC considering it a warranty replacement.
Plus the fact that Carl Hicks at JVC is a good guy.
I hope you get the issue resolved to your satisfaction.

Dave Beaty · March 8th, 2008, 08:54 AM

Nick, I'd like to echo your finding here. The CTC-3 case causes cracks in the viewfinder. We have 2 HD-100's and both have those cracks. Also the rotating hinge pops out of it's track at the same time. No one was abusing those items and each time we'd use the bags we'd discover this, even cracking the super glue welds. I think it's the way the bag strap pulls when it's on the shoulder, it must put torque right on that hinge. As you said the HD250 bags do not have this problem.

Dave

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Kesler

Our 1st HD100 got the same viewfinder crack the 1st time we packed it into a car for a road trip. We had it in the Porta Brace CTC-3 case. We figured out that while carrying the camera in the bag (with 2 dionic 90 batteries, a stick mic, an xlr cable, and a few tapes) that just enough pressure was put on the viewfinder from the sides of the bag pulling up and in that the viewfinder cracked. We now take it off every time we put it in the bag. Kind of a pain in the @ss.

We now have 2 HD250's and the CTC-4 bags. They seem to be able to handle the camera much better.

Diogo Athouguia · March 11th, 2008, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Beaty

Nick, I'd like to echo your finding here. The CTC-3 case causes cracks in the viewfinder. We have 2 HD-100's and both have those cracks. Also the rotating hinge pops out of it's track at the same time. No one was abusing those items and each time we'd use the bags we'd discover this, even cracking the super glue welds. I think it's the way the bag strap pulls when it's on the shoulder, it must put torque right on that hinge. As you said the HD250 bags do not have this problem.

Dave

I also have an HD100 and a CTC-3 bag and the same happened to my VF, I sent it to service and they replaced for €250. I also have the HD200 and I use it on the same bag, I need to buy a new one but I think it won't be another CTC. Anyway, the 200 series and the new 110 have a more resistant eye piece, there is a reinforcement on the place they used to brake. I made a ball with paper and tape that I put between the VF and the cameras handle.

David Allen Smith · March 11th, 2008, 12:34 PM

One of mine is cracked also, no ideal how it happened. Everything works fine a little grip tape has reenforced it perfectly.

May 26th, 2006, 04:12 PM	#16
Daniel Patton Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Knoxville TN Posts: 589	Joey, Are you using a matte box or do you have anything attached to the lens anywhere? Our matte box attached directly to the lens does the same thing, we get better results with it on the end of our wide angle adapter, it's a bit more sturdy like this. I have the same crack by the way, and our cameras are treated better than our staff. ;) __________________ Our eyes allow us to see the world - The lens allows others to see the world through our eyes. RED ONE #977

June 12th, 2006, 09:00 PM	#17
Stephen L. Noe Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,214	Did you guys get warranty replacement for the viewfinder assembly? Also I know the standard mic is bad but I have one that pops and hisses. It is worse than bad. I normally use my senn setup but still I'd like the stock mic to work just in case. Anyone have these items replaced recently? __________________ Advanced Avid Liquid Training found Here

June 12th, 2006, 10:21 PM	#18
Daniel Patton Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Knoxville TN Posts: 589	Stephen, I have not requested the new eye piece due to the crack, although we should. Carl? Can we get one sent to us without sending the camera in? I don't have time to send it off even for the "A" upgrade right now. Our deck should get an update as well I understand, but we use both just about every day. As for the Mic, I have not had that experience. Works as good as expected. __________________ Our eyes allow us to see the world - The lens allows others to see the world through our eyes. RED ONE #977

March 2nd, 2007, 08:45 AM	#20
Scott Ward New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 12	HD-100 Viewfinder Crack I live in Canada and I have the issue of the crack too. BC is the closest service spot to me. Any others in Canada sent in the Viewfinder for a replacement?

March 4th, 2007, 05:53 AM	#23
Stephen A. George New Boot Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: USA Posts: 21	one year since crack in viewfinder It's been a year since I reported a crack in my viewfinder. JVC sent me a replacement viewfinder at no cost. Thanks Carl! So far no problems. __________________ Stephen George www.questafilms.com

June 13th, 2006, 10:05 PM	#19
Chad Terpstra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 320	Make that one more person with the unfortunate crack.... I didn't even notice it until I brushed against it once and heard a loud pop of it snapping back into place. I feel like if it goes unfixed it could get worse, but right now it doesn't affect anything. Of course for the time being I've been making sure that the viewfinder is all the way retracted when placed in the bag (Petrol PCUB) and that I carry the bag with the other side against my hip. I think using these precautions should keep the problem from happening again in the future ...hopefully. I didn’t even know you could get a 3rd party viewfinder for this camera. Would the image quality be any better?

March 3rd, 2007, 03:51 PM	#21
Nick Kesler Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 31	Our 1st HD100 got the same viewfinder crack the 1st time we packed it into a car for a road trip. We had it in the Porta Brace CTC-3 case. We figured out that while carrying the camera in the bag (with 2 dionic 90 batteries, a stick mic, an xlr cable, and a few tapes) that just enough pressure was put on the viewfinder from the sides of the bag pulling up and in that the viewfinder cracked. We now take it off every time we put it in the bag. Kind of a pain in the @ss. We now have 2 HD250's and the CTC-4 bags. They seem to be able to handle the camera much better.

March 3rd, 2007, 08:11 PM	#22
Ted Ramasola Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Allen, Texas U.S.A Posts: 1,117	I also have a crack in my VF where the VF is attached to an L-shaped bracket and where the VF rotates. Im out of warranty and was out in the field so i had to check it out. I found out how thin and flimsy the construction is inside. They made thin prodtruding "tongues" that is used to secure the VF onto the bracket and this is made more weaker when they bored holes into it for the screws. I think this is a design flaw.

March 4th, 2007, 09:10 PM	#24
Steve Oakley Trustee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United States Posts: 1,158	I also had a crack in the bracket, and fixed it. I took a soldering iron (40W) and remelted the plastic back together again. I've also had the VF apart twice to fix the internal metal bracket being bent. its very very easy to tap the VF and bend/ break it. my plan it to add some additional plastic around this area soon.

March 5th, 2007, 10:46 AM	#25
John Butler New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: United States Posts: 5	cracked viewfinder I have a crack in my HD100 viewfinder in the same place. I haven't contacted JVC yet, but I'm interested in what their response to you will be.

March 5th, 2007, 11:36 AM	#26
Burk Webb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 249	Just to chime in - I've got the crack and according to Mary at JVC, it is not considered a design flaw and they are not covering it under warranty. She was very nice and said to send the camera in (the whole camera) and they would take a look at it. I mentioned the experience people were having on this forum, that the crack was pretty common and people seem to be getting it fixed under warranty. She told me that the crack would be considered damage and I would probably have to pay to get it fixed. If they checked out the camera and it looked like the crack was a construction flaw and not damage then they would handle it under warranty. Of course I'll have to send it in to find out what they say. I would love to have em' just send me a new fiewfinder like they did with Stephen A. George but I understand if that's not an option.

March 7th, 2007, 10:02 PM	#27
Stephen A. George New Boot Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: USA Posts: 21	viewfinder warranty Burk, I'm pleased that JVC replaced my viewfinder free of charge. I think the replacement was do more to my vendor (Videotex) going to bat for me than JVC considering it a warranty replacement. Plus the fact that Carl Hicks at JVC is a good guy. I hope you get the issue resolved to your satisfaction. __________________ Stephen George www.questafilms.com

March 11th, 2008, 12:34 PM	#30
David Allen Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: FTW Texas Posts: 77	One of mine is cracked also, no ideal how it happened. Everything works fine a little grip tape has reenforced it perfectly.