Panasonic Unveils Pricing And Ship Date For Ag-hmc150

[Nathyn]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANASONIC UNVEILS PRICING AND SHIP DATE FOR ITS NEW
Professional AG-HMC150 AVCCAM HANDHELD CAMCORDER

* Highly-Anticipated Pro AVCHD Handheld Available for Delivery Early October *

SECAUCUS, NJ (July 31, 2008) – Panasonic announced today suggested list pricing and a ship date for its new AG-HMC150 professional handheld AVCCAM camcorder. Based on the proven design and advanced functionality of the highly popular DVX100, this new camcorder will offer both 1080 and 720 HD recording with solid-state SD memory card recording. With an exciting range of professional features, impressive picture quality and a sleek, compact design, the new AVCCAM handheld will be available on Thursday, October 2nd at a suggested list price of $3,995.

The HMC150 represents the next generation in affordable HD video production tools. The new handheld provides professionals and enthusiasts alike the flexibility of high-quality 1080/720 AVCHD recording at bit rates up to 24Mbps and a simple, solid-state SD memory card workflow. AVCHD, the industry’s new MPEG-4 / AVC Hi Profile compression format, provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency with improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression used in HDV formats. As a result, AVCHD recordings made by Panasonic AVCCAM camcorders are crisp and clear, even during fast motion, reducing image degradation or dropouts associated with HDV and other tape or disc-based systems.

“With features such as advanced, full 1920x1080 AVC Hi Profile HD recording, higher professional bit-rates, and an affordable and faster, solid-state SD card workflow, the HMC150 offers a state of the art professional handheld solution for those looking for the highest quality and flexibility at an affordable price,” said Robert Harris, Vice President, Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast. “The AG-HMC150 offers longer recording times and higher recording quality than is possible with current HDV formats.”

The HMC150 features 1/3” 16:9 progressive 3-CCD imagers that improve signal-to-noise ratio and deliver excellent low-light performance. It is equipped with a 13X Leica Dicomar zoom lens system offering an extra-wide 28mm* angle setting (the widest in its class). For stable, precise shooting in any situation, the AVCCAM camcorder features a cam-driven manual zoom ring, auto or manual operation of focus and iris, and optical image stabilization (O.I.S.). The HMC150 offers a host of selectable gamma tools including Cine-like gamma to produce warm film-like images, as well as helpful shooting functions such as a waveform monitor and a vectorscope display, focus assist and Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS).

The HMC150 records in a range of HD formats including 1080/24p, 1080/30p, 1080/60i, 720/24p, 720/30p and 720/60p. The handheld records stunning high definition in four recording modes – the highest quality PH mode (average 21 Mbps/max. 24 Mbps), HA mode (approx.17 Mbps), HG mode (approx.13 Mbps) and HE mode (approx. 6 Mbps). It captures full horizontal resolution 1920x1080 images at its PH, HA and HG recording modes. The camera can also be set to capture 1280x720 images in its PH mode. The recorded AVCHD files can also maintain metadata for individual recorded clips.

With the HMC150, videographers can capitalize on the cost advantages, reliability and widespread availability of SD and SDHC memory cards. Using just one 32GB SDHC memory card, users can record three hours of full pixel 1920x1080 video and audio at PH mode, four hours at HA mode and 5.3 hours at HG mode. In the HE mode, the camera can record up to 12 hours of 1440x1080 HD content – all on a single 32GB SDHC card.

The HMC150 comes standard with interface connections including HDMI out, USB 2.0, HD component out (mini D terminal), composite out as well as jacks to control zoom remotely, focus, iris and start/stop functions. Professional audio connections include XLR two-channel audio input (48V phantom power) with mic/line select, built-in stereo microphone, headphone out, manual two-channel audio level VR and RCA audio out jacks. The camera also offers a time/date stamp for legal depositions or surveillance, histogram display and time code/user bits. Other useful recording functions include pre-record, interval and shot marker, as well as new modes including last-clip delete and Rec check, which allows immediate review of the most-recently recorded clip.

Compact and lightweight, the 3.7-lb. handheld has an easy-to-grip design for balanced, stable shooting in a variety of environments. The camera has a color viewfinder and a 3.5-inch color LCD monitor that displays content in thumbnail images for quick viewing. Other valuable features include SMPTE time code generator/reader, three user buttons with 11 choices for customization, and a high-speed shutter (up to 1/2000 sec.)

For editing or playback, professionals can instantly transfer content from the HMC150 camcorder to Mac or PC computers with an SD/SDHC card reader or by connecting the camcorder directly via its USB 2.0 interface. Unlike HDV tapes, SD cards with AVCHD content can be inserted into and played back on a growing number of affordable playback devices including Blu-ray players (like Panasonic’s DMP-BD30), the Sony PlayStation 3, and some new Panasonic plasma displays, as well as computers with an SD card slot using applications that play AVCHD files. Using NLE software, content can also be edited and rendered in various formats and delivered on a wide range of media.

AVCHD is supported by wide range of editing options including Apple iMovie, Apple Final Cut Pro 6.0.1, Adobe Premier Pro CS3, Grass Valley Edius PRO v4.5, Pinnacle Studio Plus 11, Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 12, Nero7 Premium Reloaded, Ulead Video Studio 11 plus and DVD Movie Factory 6 Plus. In addition, a free transcoder, available for download from the Panasonic Broadcast web site, will convert AVCHD files to DVCPRO HD files for use with most existing professional editing packages.

Panasonic’s AVCCAM camcorder line-up brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Like digital still photography, recording onto SD/SDHC cards offers a fast and simple, file-based workflow with ultra-reliable performance and resistance to shock, vibration and extreme temperatures and weather. SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive, widely available and can be reused repeatedly. Since AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media and transferred to future storage media as technology advances. To backup Panasonic’s claim of solid-state reliability, the HMC150 comes with a three-year limited warranty upon registration. **

The HMC150 will be available on October 2nd, at a suggested list price of $3,995. Panasonic offers a wide section of SD and SDHC cards in 32GB, 16GB, 8GB, 4GB, 2GB and 1GB sizes.***

About Panasonic Broadcast

Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The company is the North American headquarters of Matsushi*a Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Japan, and the hub of its U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, access the company’s web site at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.

*35mm equivalent.

**The 3-year limited warranty includes Panasonic Broadcast’s normal 1-year basic warranty plus an extended warranty for years two and three. Register within 30 days after purchase.

***To record in the high-quality PH mode, an SD card specified at class 4 and higher is required.

[PerroneFord]

I predict they will sell every one they make. Real HD on SDHC for less than DVX original prices.

WOW!

[Aroon_Narayanan]

3-year warranty upon registration? Wow. There's got to be a catch somewhere.

[ZazaCast]

I want one of these... I don't need one...but I want one!

[Jason Ramsey]

I doubt there is a catch on the warranty. it's b/c it doesn't have moving parts like the dvx. The HPX line of cameras carry a 5 year warranty for the same reason.

That's still MSRP. I would imagine final sale price will be cheaper than that... Barry seems to think maybe around 3500ish.

later,
Jason

[John C Lyons]

Hmmmmmmmmmm, it may be time to upgrade the DVX100a..........

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............ .

[AwakenedFilms]

pocket-cam

[Aroon_Narayanan]

I doubt there is a catch on the warranty. it's b/c it doesn't have moving parts like the dvx. The HPX line of cameras carry a 5 year warranty for the same reason.

That's still MSRP. I would imagine final sale price will be cheaper than that... Barry seems to think maybe around 3500ish.

later,
Jason
Nice to know! Especially since I'm heavily considering getting one of these eventually.

[Nathyn]

I think all the hcm150 detractors are going to be eating crow on this one.

-Nate

[SPZ]

HPX170 price and availability(exact date)? Pretty please?

[Mr.Herron]

Looks like its time to start setting aside some money!

[Goldmond]

I need to find out about the HPX170 first...

[Alex.Mitchell]

There's going to have to be some tests performed when this comes out. My prediction? I'd wager that The HMC will at least match the HPX for picture quality in everything but the most demanding situations.

[Richard J. Johnson]

Okay. so why get the HPX170 over this? I have the DVX now so forgive my ignorance on the HD side of things.

[Aroon_Narayanan]

The HPX170 records DVCPRO HD onto P2 cards. DVCPRO HD is generally regarded as a better codec than AVC HD (what the 150 records), seeing as DVCPRO HD compresses intraframe at 100mbps, and AVC HD compresses long-GOP interframe (multiple frames are compressed together, creating issues with motion and editing) at up to 24mpbs. It's somewhat confusing, but the bottom line is that DVCPRO HD handles motion better and is overall an easier codec to work with.

[Richard J. Johnson]

The HPX170 records DVCPRO HD onto P2 cards. DVCPRO HD is generally regarded as a better codec than AVC HD (what the 150 records), seeing as DVCPRO HD compresses intraframe at 100mbps, and AVC HD compresses long-GOP interframe (multiple frames are compressed together, creating issues with motion and editing) at up to 24mpbs. It's somewhat confusing, but the bottom line is that DVCPRO HD handles motion better and is overall an easier codec to work with.

Yes it is confusing. So the picture quality will be the same, but you could run into issues when motion comes into play, like action scenes for instance. I guess I have to make my choice when a trusted source does a comparison. I was planning on getting the HPX170 but with my bills and children (one attending a VERY expensive private school) $1500.00 savings is sounding real good. I just don't want a camera that can't at least compete with the HVX or HPX.

[Aroon_Narayanan]

Sorry 'bout the confusing part. From what I'm hearing, the compression on the HMC150 should come out much better than HDV, so unless you're doing something like Cloverfield, you shouldn't have too many issues with motion artifacts. However, with the HPX170, you'll have almost none.

Bottom line is, if you can't afford the HPX170 (I can't!), the HMC150 will probably be fine for most applications.

[Alex.Mitchell]

All I'm saying is that if XDCAM EX footage holds up for pretty much anything you throw at it then AVC probably won't be too far behind.

[Aroon_Narayanan]

All I'm saying is that if XDCAM EX footage holds up for pretty much anything you throw at it then AVC probably won't be too far behind.
Agreed.

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

What I'd like is an HMC150 that says HPX170 on the side. :)

You know, for clients.

I'm sure the AVCHD will be more than fine. My concern is right now, all the want ads/gigs are for an HVX ... will they now be for HVX, 170's and 150's ... or just for HVX's and 170's, with the 150 seen as not quite pro .... dunno.

[Jason Adams]

Avid can not nativity edit AVCHD - it needs transcoded to DVCPRO HD.

If I did not want variable frame rate I would take this over the the 170. Killer price.

I imagine this could be a good B cam for HPX?????

Time will answer all my questions.

Thanks for the updates.

[Aroon_Narayanan]

What I'd like is an HMC150 that says HPX170 on the side. :)

You know, for clients.

I'm sure the AVCHD will be more than fine. My concern is right now, all the want ads/gigs are for an HVX ... will they now be for HVX, 170's and 150's ... or just for HVX's and 170's, with the 150 seen as not quite pro .... dunno.
I think, or should I say 'hope', that with the addition of more AVC HD camcorders, AVC HD will come to be seen as the replacement for HDV, and will carry the same 'professionalism' that some HDV camcorders do. It can do everything HDV can (compress efficiently, record on cheap media) better. And, the only notable flaws that AVC HD has (long-GOP, motion artifacts) are flaws that HDV shares. All people need to do is recognize that.

[Everts]

Sweet
HDMI is the future

[Richard J. Johnson]

What I'd like is an HMC150 that says HPX170 on the side. :)

You know, for clients.

I'm sure the AVCHD will be more than fine. My concern is right now, all the want ads/gigs are for an HVX ... will they now be for HVX, 170's and 150's ... or just for HVX's and 170's, with the 150 seen as not quite pro .... dunno.

I am not familiar with shooting for clients that ask for a specific camera. They really care about what HD cam you shoot with? I do a lot of rap videos and most of them don't care about anything except how many women I can get them. Usually about 30.

It may be a safer bet for me just to get the 170 and call it a day. The Scarlet looks promising but I just don't know enough about the 2k, 3k, 4k stuff to even know how much more money I would need for the right work flow.

[Barry_Green]

All I'm saying is that if XDCAM EX footage holds up for pretty much anything you throw at it then AVC probably won't be too far behind.
AVC-HD should be ahead of it.

[BobDiaz]

I want one of these... I don't need one...but I want one!

Thanks, that was my inspiration for my own version of what Panasonic's ad should say...

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/KQ6WQ/HMC-150.jpg

Bob Diaz

[Nathyn]

AVC-HD should be ahead of it.
Do you mean in terms of compositing and color correction etc?

-Nate

[PerroneFord]

AVC-HD should be ahead of it.


Depending on the bit rate... (of both). AVCHD is limited to 25MBps, where XDCam EX can push to 70+.

[Barry_Green]

In terms of compression efficiency. AVC is two to 2.5 times more efficient than MPEG-2, so 24mbps of AVC-HD should compare very favorably, and probably exceed, 35mbps of MPEG-2.

[Barry_Green]

where XDCam EX can push to 70+.
Only in the slow-motion mode though. Not during regular recording.

[PerroneFord]

Quite true, which is why I said it depends. I think in time, mpeg4 will supersede mpeg2 for capture, but the AVCHD recording spec needs some revision.


Only in the slow-motion mode though. Not during regular recording.

[Barry_Green]

Quite true, which is why I said it depends. I think in time, mpeg4 will supersede mpeg2 for capture, but the AVCHD recording spec needs some revision.
According to Sony, 9 megabits of AVC already performs comparably to 25 megabits of MPEG-2. 24 megabits should be fantastic.

[PerroneFord]

According to Sony, 9 megabits of AVC already performs comparably to 25 megabits of MPEG-2. 24 megabits should be fantastic.

What I am curious about is if that 25 megabits of Mpeg2 is before or after the codec improvements in Mpeg2 that we've seen recently. I don't think anyone could argue that the latest HDV cameras look a LOT better than the original generation. The codec has been improved markedly. I think that is why the 35 Mbps of XDCam can look as good as it does.

I agree though, 24 Mbps of AVCHD should look fantastic.

[DC]

Avid can not nativity edit AVCHD - it needs transcoded to DVCPRO HD.

Video Tutorial: Panasonic AVCHD with the Avid Media Composer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clfVn6YXnc4

[Barry_Green]

What I am curious about is if that 25 megabits of Mpeg2 is before or after the codec improvements in Mpeg2 that we've seen recently. I don't think anyone could argue that the latest HDV cameras look a LOT better than the original generation. The codec has been improved markedly. I think that is why the 35 Mbps of XDCam can look as good as it does.
It's Sony's claim, so you'd have to ask them.

H.264 is inherently fantastically more efficient than MPEG-2. Whatever improvements MPEG-2 could make, AVC could exceed.

[Nathyn]

It's Sony's claim, so you'd have to ask them.
And we know Sony is the last bastion of truth. LOL. :)

-Nate

[Jason Adams]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jason.adams http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=1359249#post1359249)
Avid can not nativity edit AVCHD - it needs transcoded to DVCPRO HD.

Video Tutorial: Panasonic AVCHD with the Avid Media Composer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clfVn6YXnc4


Thanks for the link DC, but that was what I was getting at. The Transcodes from AVC to DVCPRO HD is about realtime.

SO 4 hours of source material - will take at least 4 hours to transcode.
If Avid starts supporting natively like DVCPRO HD I just might get one of these also.

Appreciate the link to the tutorial.

[Barry_Green]

Avid is listed on their list of companies who will be supporting AVC-HD.
www.avchd-info.org (http://www.avchd-info.org)

[latenightproduction]

is it still true that FCP studio 2 forces a transcode to Pro-res or the like? Or can it finally work with the avc-hd directly? Thanks... I'm on the fence of this and scarlet right now.. trying to put together work-flows for each. Thanks much.

CB

[Attic6]

XD Cam is only HDV on a coctail of uppers and downers. AVC is the way forward. Amusing that they chirp about P2 being old technology when they still flying the HDV Flag. Pity Cannon didn't just make the A1 record onto it's sd card slot... That would have nailed the sony coffin...

[BobDiaz]

For the present, it seems that transcoding is the most reasonable way to work with AVCHD video. That allows today's computers to be fast enough for editing. However, in about 3 years, the fastest computers should be about 4x faster. which will make working directly with AVCHD a lot easier. AVCHD is VERY processor intensive.

There is the other possibility of special video cards being able to take the load off the CPU, but this requires the editing company work with the video card company to take advantage of the additional processing power on the video card.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we see the same issue with HDV when it first came out, the computers weren't fast enough to deal with MPEG-II Compression...

Bob Diaz

[impressive creations]

Quick question. Can you just go out from the HDMI out into your mac pro with a Black - Magic intensity card and capture it in DVCPRo HD?

Thanks all

[seunosewa]

For the present, it seems that transcoding is the most reasonable way to work with AVCHD video.
How fast can one transcode AVCHD? How many frames per second do you get when you do that?

[USLatin]

Ok, so do we have the final specs on the Lens?

And if I understand correctly, you can do 1080p/30fps to SDHC cards, and it will be around 24Mbps compression that will surpass that of all consumer cameras out there... it will look and feel just like the HPX-170, and it will be $3500 with one battery and nothing else, right?

[Barry_Green]

Ok, so do we have the final specs on the Lens?
What specs are you missing? 3.9-51mm 13x zoom, 28mm equivalent, f1.6-3.0, 72mm diameter, and a DVX-compatible bayonet.


And if I understand correctly, you can do 1080p/30fps to SDHC cards, and it will be around 24Mbps compression that will surpass that of all consumer cameras out there...
I think it has 1080/30p, but I'm not sure. And yes, the compression should be much superior to anything else on the market at its price range or below, and (on a recording format basis) it should be better than XDCAM-EX (although the EX will be sharper).


it will look and feel just like the HPX-170, and it will be $3500 with one battery and nothing else, right?
Yep.

[USLatin]

Thanks for the lens specs, I was skimming though and saw that is said 28mm equivalent and I thought that it wasn't know how far it went. What is the 35mm equivalent of the 51mm? That's in the 400mm range right? 13x so it sounds about there... nice lens! Is that the same from the 200a?

I thought of someone that will be all over this camera... people that do fishing shows other outdoors sports where the content is what's important, where DOF isn't necessary and often a burden and where your camera may get destroyed!
:)

I am talking to a few guys we met when scouting in Minnesota who are starting up a fishing tour and filming company... very cool guys, a blast to hang out with, and they are shooting on a PD-150 and a few consumer HD cameras... the guy loves the little HD cameras but he wants the control he gets from the 150... he really didn't know what is out there, but their stuff is great... BIG Muskies, tons of them... they know their spots and they are doing more and more each year... hopefully he'll be able to invest into a good A camera and I think this one will blow them away... they don't need 4:2:2 and the low bit rate really helps them out when editing... I told him about the HV20 but he had just gotten back from like Best Buy with an other camera... he was already setting up stationary cameras off long poles on the boat, so I am thinking a few HV20s or 30s on the poles and one HMC for his A camera and the'll be in fishing heaven!

I can't believe he'll get to shoot into SDHC cards! And good thing they probably float! hahaha!!!
:)

[kurtmo]

HMC150 is for sale on Amazon. The data is not all correct, but they do show DRS in action.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-AG-H...18422&sr =8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-AG-HMC150-AVCHD-24fps-Camcorder/dp/B001DKELYC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1218218422&sr=8-1)

[Calix]

I wonder if artifacting will be a problem with action sports footage...

[R.Lang]

I wonder if artifacting will be a problem with action sports footage...

I need to see some test footage of fast movement before I decide to go with this or an HPX170.

[Calix]

I need to see some test footage of fast movement before I decide to go with this or an HPX170.


haha im in the same boat you are my friend. lets keep our fingers crossed 8 days till we can see some footage! =)

[kurtmo]

haha im in the same boat you are my friend. lets keep our fingers crossed 8 days till we can see some footage! =)

Why 8 days? I thought the release says availability Oct. 2nd.

[AmyO]

Videomaker Magazine has an early release camera and is going to do a "live" test run and post footage for download next week. See their press release in this forum.

I can't wait to see the tests. I want to move into HD, and the price of the HMC-150 is tempting, but the P2 workflow of the HPX-170 seems more solid.

[USLatin]

If a fast frame cross say about 3 seconds from frame in to frame out on the opposite side looks decent at 30p or 60p both at 1/60th then it might be just an amazing camera! Not clean, just decent. Comparisons would be easy to shoot and post.

[seunosewa]

a fast frame cross will never look good at 30p!

[Vladi]

B&H has the HMC150 for 3,495, with a release in September.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/575992-REG/Panasonic_AG_HMC150_AG_HMC150_HD_AVCHD_24P.html

My only question for those who might know will the filter thread size be the same as on the DVX and will it use the same batteries?

Really looking forward to this camera, will be selling alot of my equipment for this thing.

[avenue]

So these are gonna be 72mm thread? like DVX100's... wich would mean the bayo mounts would probably be identical if so I could use one of these on it?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/287631-REG/Century_Precision_Optics_0VS_FE3X_DVX_VS_FE3X_DVX_ 3x_Ultra_Fisheye.html

man for the price I am leaning hard on the AVCHD. Workflow isnt really that bad in my opinion...

[Barry_Green]

Same 72mm filter size. Same lens bayonet. Different batteries.

[avenue]

cool just a though I which 16x9 would make a bayo lense easy on and off :(

[Attic6]

Really bummed about the battery... :-(

[Bucknfl]

Since the HMC150 is 4-2-0 I'm guessing it won't chroma key as well as a HVX200, but maybe as well as an EX-1.

[ilauzirika]

Since the HMC150 is 4-2-0 I'm guessing it won't chroma key as well as a HVX200, but maybe as well as an EX-1.

That's true, But, you could use the hdmi out with something like the blackmagic to capture 4:2:2 direct to computer.

[PerroneFord]

Since the HMC150 is 4-2-0 I'm guessing it won't chroma key as well as a HVX200, but maybe as well as an EX-1.

Why would you think that?

[Vladi]

Yeah the batteries being different is a bummer, Ive got so many I lost count.

Oh well maybe the price might go up a bit with more batteries.

[dvpixl]

yeah well, guess they need to make money on batteries too.

[Barry_Green]

They've kept their batteries compatible for at least 7 years, probably longer. The new camera has an infolithium-style feature for reading out battery capacity to the minute, and that's what's prompted the change.

[dvpixl]

exciting times

[ecking]

They've kept their batteries compatible for at least 7 years, probably longer. The new camera has an infolithium-style feature for reading out battery capacity to the minute, and that's what's prompted the change.

Why didn't they move that battery to the 170? It seems silly to have a new battery type for only one model.

[LloydC]

What's the resolution on the LCD?

will it have the same issues as the HVX with determining focus on its LCD?

[ilauzirika]

What's the resolution on the LCD?

will it have the same issues as the HVX with determining focus on its LCD?

If I remenber well the reslution hasn't increased, but they added three new tools to focus using the screen.

[ulisses]

I read something about a better LCD.

About 4:2:0 and chroma-key, I saw good results from sony's due to the HD / extra resolution.

Ulisses

[ROne]

Hmm, not that I'm in the market for the 150 (We've 2HVXs) but I've had limited results testing AVC-HD (from an SD1) with edius...

I couldn't edit it natively without all sorts of choke-ups, in the end I converted to Canopus HQ (which takes an age) - and then you end up with huge files.

Edius Neo is supposed to be okay with it. I know it's only a matter of time before soft/hardware catches up - but my quick tests with the AVC-HD I found it a bit of an editing come-down from the fluidity of DVCPRO-HD/P2.

[Bucknfl]

Why didn't they move that battery to the 170? It seems silly to have a new battery type for only one model.

My theory is that Panasonic decided that since this camera won't make them any money on p2 cards that they will try to make it on new battery sales. Hopefully someone will offer and adaptor for the dvx/hvx batteries.

[Barry_Green]

Why didn't they move that battery to the 170? It seems silly to have a new battery type for only one model.
Don't know. But I imagine that they figured more 170 customers might be integrating into existing HVX/DVX production bases, so battery compatibility would be a more important factor to those folks than a to-the-minute digital battery readout would be. But for 150 customers they're going after a whole new flood of HD upgraders, and for them the new battery made more sense?

[Barry_Green]

What's the resolution on the LCD?

will it have the same issues as the HVX with determining focus on its LCD?
LCD is the same resolution but it looks 1,000,000,000 times better for determining focus. The image processing is much better. The 150 has three focus assists, the magnified focus, the graph, and the peaking. Between the three of them it's very easy to get perfect focus.

[Barry_Green]

but my quick tests with the AVC-HD I found it a bit of an editing come-down from the fluidity of DVCPRO-HD/P2.
No doubt P2 is way, way ahead in terms of editing implementations.

I've used the Canopus tool to convert files into CanopusHQ, it was quite speedy on my 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo laptop. EDIUS can handle many files natively but not all, not yet. Hopefully the next version will integrate full support.

Adobe, Avid, and Apple have all promised AVC-HD support too.

[Attic6]

They really let the side down with the batteries.

[ROne]

No doubt P2 is way, way ahead in terms of editing implementations.

I've used the Canopus tool to convert files into CanopusHQ, it was quite speedy on my 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo laptop. EDIUS can handle many files natively but not all, not yet. Hopefully the next version will integrate full support.



Hmm, my laptop is 2.0GHZ Core 2 Duo, and I don't remember it being that quick using the convertor- perhaps I've been spoiled by P2 - I'm not a fan of doubling up on footage to edit either.

I got the footage into Edius natively but it choked when I did anything; like everything though progress will take care of it.

P2 is so good, it's difficult for that user base to move to anything else - AVC HD will be great for budget conscious newcomers though.

[Barry_Green]

On my laptop it takes about 0:40 to convert 1:00 of AVC-HD footage. Not instantaneous, but substantially faster than capturing would be.

[ecking]

They really let the side down with the batteries.

Me too, even if what Barry said is the reasoning it's just not good enough for me. The dvx style batteries are great and plentiful, even I've got a few lying around from when I had my dvx. They had long life, good 3rd part ones too and boom, cash grab. I think Bucknfl is right. This keeps people who are gonna use the 150 as a B cam to 170s and 200s (it will happen) from owning only one battery type. Lame.

[adolgin]

I think that the writing is on the wall - they want to go the Sony route, and kill off generics, and make all the money they can on the batteries. The 170 does not have it yet implemented as they just did not have enough time, when they have the "A" version next year, they probably will have it as a new feature... just my take.

[Mark Williams]

Barry, was the transcoding speed you quoted " 0:40 to convert 1:00 of AVC-HD footage" achieved using the Panasonic transcoder utility to DVCPROHD. If so that dosen't sound too bad. I just built a new system using a Q9300 processor which I hope will speed things up.

[Barry_Green]

No, that was the Canopus utility to go to Canopus HQ. I haven't tried the Panasonic utility, but I'll give that a go.

[Barry_Green]

Tried a different clip, a 1080 clip; the Canopus converter took 80 seconds, the Panasonic converter took 120 seconds.

[Mark Williams]

Thanks for doing the test.

[R.Lang]

tomorrow at 2pm eastern VideoMaker Magazine is doing a live test on their website.

[USLatin]

Hey Barry, when are you getting yours? I can't wait to see the article! Do you think it might not be too much for you to include some frames from the motion tests? I would love to see what this thing does with fast moving objects and to get a good idea of a maximum pan speed it there is any limitations at commonly used shutter openings and really to learn more about that sorta thing when you touch on that part of the subject.

[kamau]

Video Maker magazine is doing a live report on the HMC-150 on its web magazine today (August 19, 2008) at 1:00 PM (EST).

Kamau

[kamau]

Here is the link to Video Maker's live report on the HMC-150 today at 1:00 PM (EST):

http://www.videomaker.com/live

Kamau

[shrigg]

Here is the link to Video Maker's live report on the HMC-150 today at 1:00 PM (EST):

http://www.videomaker.com/live

Kamau

It's at 2pm EST, not 1pm

[shrigg]

Tried a different clip, a 1080 clip; the Canopus converter took 80 seconds, the Panasonic converter took 120 seconds.

Barry, according to Grass Valley's own website (http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.com/canopus/technology/codectech.php), Canopus HQ is only 1440x1080. "The HQ codec uses the same resolution found in HDV cameras (1440 x 1080i for example)."

Am I reading this right? I trust that Canopus HQ is full 1920x1080 and that their site just needs to be updated.

EDIT: Upon reviewing the white paper (http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.com/contentfiles/canopus/technology/whitepapers/US_HQ_Software_Codec_NS050906.pdf) I see that it is indeed full 1920. -Shrigg

[kamau]

Sorry, Shrigg is right the Videomaker report will air today at 2:00 PM (EST.

Kamau

[Barry_Green]

Barry, according to Grass Valley's own website (http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.com/canopus/technology/codectech.php), Canopus HQ is only 1440x1080. "The HQ codec uses the same resolution found in HDV cameras (1440 x 1080i for example)."

Am I reading this right? I trust that Canopus HQ is full 1920x1080 and that their site just needs to be updated.

EDIT: Upon reviewing the white paper (http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.com/contentfiles/canopus/technology/whitepapers/US_HQ_Software_Codec_NS050906.pdf) I see that it is indeed full 1920. -Shrigg

Yeah, that's confusing. Apparently the HQ codec supports both profiles, either 1440 or 1920. The files I've converted have all reported that they're a full 1920x1080, or a full 1280x720.

Also, HQ is *really fast*. It's no sweat at all to play full-screen, full-frame rate 1920x1080/60i on my laptop.

[avenue]

do you have to import the video files that they had available as downloads because I downloaded them at work on mac! and I can't see shit! I think I have to import them in FCP when I get home you guys see it yet????