View Full Version : Video review of HPX 301e
philip bloom
02-24-2009, 04:07 PM
I was lucky enough to be invited down to Panasonic HQ today to be given an HPX 301e to play with for a few hours and to shoot a review video on it.
The 301e is the European version of the 300 and luckily for us EU chaps we have an advantage over the former colonists in that our camera is a "world camera", that means it is fully switchable between 50 and 60hz. Perfect for globetrotters like me who will work for anyone and have no loyalty to any country!
First impressions were very positive. Very solid, great ergonomics, amazing flexibility in recording modes, superb LCD screen and EVF. Nice enough lens for the price. light but heavy enough for handheld work and beautifully balance.
Basically this is the Panasonic camera I have been waiting for. Do I wish it was 1/2"? Of course! But at this price point you can only get so much...there have been compromises and some corners cut but nothing major. Just about every feature you want on there is on there (and then some!)
One thing I need to investigate further is I found the image noisier than the EX3. I need to check with Panny to check what their camera details settings were set too as I didn't check.
We shot the review on a 171 and looking at those pictures next to the 301e is like night and day. Almost like looking at SD compared to HD.
I still prefer the SxS workflow as am a macbook pro freak through and through and I hate the dual adapter almost as much as I hate the movie Mamma Mia. Man does it make my mac crash.
Now I have a lot of editing to make my nonsensical gobbledegook comprehensible and of course make sure I get the facts right! I hope to have the video up, with a written review to go with it by the end of the week. As soon as it is ready i will post the link here.
So far...so good!
RichardVClark
02-24-2009, 04:31 PM
You are a very lucky man. Can't wait to see the footage. Did you put the Ultimate on it?
baquajim
02-24-2009, 05:49 PM
I think I read somewhere that the factory setting for master pedestal was like +14 ?!!?
But that might be why the image appeared to be more noisy than one would expect.
Barry_Green
02-24-2009, 07:14 PM
I think I read somewhere that the factory setting for master pedestal was like +14 ?!!?
But that might be why the image appeared to be more noisy than one would expect.
That's exactly what I'd say. I cannot fathom why they'd put the master pedestal up at that level, when the image looks soooo much better if you crank it down some. We routinely used -12 to even -20 in Africa; -20 resulted in some crushed blacks but we loved the contrast it added in the image. And it is like a noise "vacuum", sweeping it away.
philip bloom
02-24-2009, 11:59 PM
am sure that is what it is. Panasonic are calling me today to let me know what the settings are on the camera I used. I never even thought to check as I was only using it for a couple of hours.
I didn't use the Ultimate, just the stock lens. But got some lovely stuff out of it!
n8ture
02-25-2009, 03:41 AM
We just used the P2 Portable on my Mac as a card reader in Africa, or just plugged the camera in directly.
I don't have any plans of picking up a dual adaptor for my Intel Macbook Pro.
When I had the 300 here in Iowa, I just used my P2 Store as a card reader. Worked just fine.
mcgeedigital
02-25-2009, 06:10 AM
I agree, I bought a used P2 Gear for a song and love that little bastard!
philip bloom
02-25-2009, 10:35 AM
the new p2 gear which is coming out shortly is awesome. It kicks the butt of the convergent design box. AVi 100 from any camera? c'mon! that's great AND battery powered AND more importantly over the Convergent design it has an LCD so you know you are recording! Am def getting one of those!
alexdias
02-25-2009, 11:52 AM
...and all of that for as little as U$5K !!!
That's a lot of dough!
philip bloom
02-25-2009, 11:53 AM
...and all of that for as little as U$5K !!!
That's a lot of dough!
yes and no...in the professional market for a recorder capable of that quality it is astonishing. Don't get me wrong. Would love it to be a third of the price but things just aren't like that unfortunately
philip bloom
02-25-2009, 03:18 PM
ok. it's just rendering. Will upload and post a link as soon as possible.
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 01:49 AM
Here is the link
http://philipbloom.co.uk/2009/02/26/here-it-is-the-video-review-of-the-panasonic-hpx-301e/
Terry_Lasater
02-26-2009, 05:02 AM
Nice review, Philip. :thumbsup:
That portable P2 recorder is 5K plus the additional cost of the P2 cards. 2 32gig cards will be more expensive than the upcoming Nanoflash. But if you are commited to P2 workflow, then cool....
MikeDPLD
02-26-2009, 07:20 AM
Philip, what Vinten head and sticks are you using in the pictures. Was it perfect? Or did you
feel like you needed a bigger system? Thanks,
Mike Favazza
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 07:21 AM
Philip, what Vinten head and sticks are you using in the pictures. Was it perfect? Or did you
feel like you needed a bigger system? Thanks,
Mike Favazza
it's a vinten vision 11 with fibertec legs. more than ok for this camera. it can take much much heavier rigs
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 07:23 AM
Nice review, Philip. :thumbsup:
glad someone commented on my Aquaman T-SHIRT. It was a toss up between that or my Dr Doom Vs iron Man Tshirt. Thought my one with smurfette on with the slogan "I love blondes" wasn't appropriate!
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 07:26 AM
That portable P2 recorder is 5K plus the additional cost of the P2 cards. 2 32gig cards will be more expensive than the upcoming Nanoflash. But if you are commited to P2 workflow, then cool....
the nanoflash looks wicked. It just needs a way of properly knowing your stuff is recorded on there without having a monitor plugged into it...the cool thing about p2 gear thingy. but yes, the box plus p2 media= mega bucks...but still way cheaper recording method than a full deck!
EC Junior
02-26-2009, 07:44 AM
Thanks for the video review Philip! It's more entertaining than what we got from our Panasonic training. I hope our rep doesn't see this post haha :). Ofcourse our training is more thorough and technical and hey it is training!
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 07:46 AM
Thanks for the video review Philip! It's more entertaining than what we got from our Panasonic training. I hope our rep doesn't see this post haha :). Ofcourse our training is more thorough and technical and hey it is training!
Panasonic will be putting it on their website which is cool! I have never been the most technically minded cameraman, I always skew my reviews more to actually using them...
EC Junior
02-26-2009, 08:04 AM
Panasonic will be putting it on their website which is cool! I have never been the most technically minded cameraman, I always skew my reviews more to actually using them...
It was a nice review! And panasonic is planning put your review on their website!
I rather not see your reviews go too technical. Personally I like reviews on "how to use them" and workflows. In my opinion, I think if customers are looking for complete specs and more technical information, the best place to find it is from someone in the manufacturer's or dealer's engineering department, a camera engineer and the manufacturer's website.
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 08:06 AM
thanks, my brain goes to mush when it goes too technical! I can count to ten very well, after that I get confused!
David S.
02-26-2009, 09:58 AM
Phil:
did you test for issues with rolling shutter?
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 11:12 AM
Phil:
did you test for issues with rolling shutter?
No i didn't...have you seen the Zacuto video on vimeo? Doesn't look like the 300 deals with rolling shutter very well. But I have almost never had a problem with the ex rolling shutter and am sure I won't with the Panny. I am saving up to buy a 301 to compliment my EX3.
Thanks Phil... enjoyed watching ....
Cheers
David S.
02-26-2009, 12:30 PM
No i didn't...have you seen the Zacuto video on vimeo? Doesn't look like the 300 deals with rolling shutter very well. But I have almost never had a problem with the ex rolling shutter and am sure I won't with the Panny. I am saving up to buy a 301 to compliment my EX3.
Yes I did see the Zacuto vimeo video.
Could you, when you have the opportunity, detail what you do to minimize the issue when shooting any action/pan/zoom etc. footage.
That's alot to ask, but it is the one issue I am concerned with.
Thanks
philip bloom
02-26-2009, 01:15 PM
i have never really had an issue with my ex1/3...and i dont have the panny anymore.
it really is a minor issue for most things, some things like flash photography arent great but most things are fine.
alpi69
02-28-2009, 02:54 AM
Nice review. Will you ever use the EX-3 now? I doubt it, if you have the EX-1 as Letus-cam. The DOF is probably a problem with the small chip, also the color-rendition is usually lacking on those 1/3 chips. How did you see the skintones and color in general?
philip bloom
02-28-2009, 03:48 PM
Nice review. Will you ever use the EX-3 now? I doubt it, if you have the EX-1 as Letus-cam. The DOF is probably a problem with the small chip, also the color-rendition is usually lacking on those 1/3 chips. How did you see the skintones and color in general?
The EX3 is my number one camera, mainly for 35mm adaptor stuff but it's a great all purpose camera.
The skintones and colour were great on the 301. also low light was surprisingly good
So, Philip, would you say, from the camera you tested (preproduction 300) that it has a worse rolling shutter than the EX3? Would this mean a more limited shooting style than the EX3? I ask this because if Panasonic still can make something about it, it better knows that we know somethings can be improved, at least to match the competition in certain fundamental fields. I'm not a fan of Sony cameras, but i remember the complete pummeling it got over here concerning Rolling Shutter, and it would be a shame if Panasonic, the company that so strongly carried the flag of no Cmos, when it went to this technology, underperformed. We, the costumers, should have access to this information- and demand improvements!
philip bloom
03-01-2009, 05:41 AM
So, Philip, would you say, from the camera you tested (preproduction 300) that it has a worse rolling shutter than the EX3? Would this mean a more limited shooting style than the EX3? I ask this because if Panasonic still can make something about it, it better knows that we know somethings can be improved, at least to match the competition in certain fundamental fields. I'm not a fan of Sony cameras, but i remember the complete pummeling it got over here concerning Rolling Shutter, and it would be a shame if Panasonic, the company that so strongly carried the flag of no Cmos, when it went to this technology, underperformed. We, the costumers, should have access to this information- and demand improvements!
yes the Pre production model Panny suffers more than the EX3...there is no doubt. I am certain the production model will perform much better.
SimonMW
03-01-2009, 06:10 AM
For me the rolling shutter is a non issue. If you whip pan a lot or like moving the camera back and forth, or have a really lightweight tripod and like doing extreme telephoto shots with it then yes, rolling shutter might be an issue.
But otherwise I wouldn't be too concerned about it. The 300 is a camera made to a price point, and like all cameras that are made like that you need to shoot with the limitations in mind. Just as you wouldn't buy a stock Ford Fiesta 1.1 and take it to a track day and expect it to beat the Ferrari 430 that some guy has taken out, you need to realise that the 300 takes a lot of the features you have been wanting for ages in this price range, and gives them to you. Its just that along the way comes some other limitations. We don't live within the Star Trek universe, yet ;)
MichaelGrugal
03-01-2009, 10:18 AM
Philip Bloom I was wondering if you could share with us a little bit further about copying card data over USB.
How safe is it?
How fast is it?
Can you continue to shoot on one card while the other is being copied?
Thank you!
Carlos Corral
03-01-2009, 12:37 PM
Philip Bloom I was wondering if you could share with us a little bit further about copying card data over USB.
How safe is it?
How fast is it?
Can you continue to shoot on one card while the other is being copied?
Thank you!
Great Review Phil! This is also something I was wondering about as well. You mentioned that the USB HOST port on the HPX300 can record the proxy files but also the FULL HIGH RES media as well.
Correct me if my assumption is wrong but...Could you use say an 8GB or 16GB Flash Drive as the main recorder? Say I don't have a p2 Card in the camera. Will the camera record to USB only? If yes, whats the max file size that can be transfered.
Or, is the USB HOST used more as a means of dumping. Let's say I have a 16GB USB Flash Drive and 1 16GB p2 card. Can I dump the footage from the 16GB p2 card and take the USB Stick a laptop and dump the footage then simply format the p2 card without changing my setup or buying a p2 card reader/duel adapter?
Sorry for all the questions, but this part of your review really intrigued me and I wish I knew more details about it. :dankk2:
philip bloom
03-01-2009, 12:47 PM
we don't live in the Star Trek universe, yet ;)
we don't?
I have been living in the holodeck every weekend! Must have been LSD.
philip bloom
03-01-2009, 12:49 PM
Great Review Phil! This is also something I was wondering about as well. You mentioned that the USB HOST port on the HPX300 can record the proxy files but also the FULL HIGH RES media as well.
Correct me if my assumption is wrong but...Could you use say an 8GB or 16GB Flash Drive as the main recorder? Say I don't have a p2 Card in the camera. Will the camera record to USB only? If yes, whats the max file size that can be transfered.
Or, is the USB HOST used more as a means of dumping. Let's say I have a 16GB USB Flash Drive and 1 16GB p2 card. Can I dump the footage from the 16GB p2 card and take the USB Stick a laptop and dump the footage then simply format the p2 card without changing my setup or buying a p2 card reader/duel adapter?
Sorry for all the questions, but this part of your review really intrigued me and I wish I knew more details about it. :dankk2:
it's not a substitute for a p2 card. it's not fast enough even if it was a feature...it's for connecting usb sticks, usb hard drives etc in the field for dumping off easily. You can't dump off one card whilst continuing to shoot with the other unfortunately.
Yes you can do what you suggest but you may aswell just take the p2 card out, stick it into your laptop as it is there and dump that way. Otherwise you are transferring twice!
kevinM
03-01-2009, 02:02 PM
Does the USB port deliver enough power to run a small USB powered hard drive or does the drive need to have its own power?
philip bloom
03-01-2009, 03:18 PM
Does the USB port deliver enough power to run a small USB powered hard drive or does the drive need to have its own power?
Nope. Wish it did, then you could use the Lacie Ruggeds with it...or charge up your iphone! I tried, and failed!
Carlos Corral
03-01-2009, 04:15 PM
Nope. Wish it did, then you could use the Lacie Ruggeds with it...or charge up your iphone! I tried, and failed!
I think if Panasonic had done that, then everyone would stop buying p2 cards :beer:
joe 1008
03-01-2009, 04:29 PM
Philip, you already held the 1/2" relay lens from Letus for the EX3 in your hands. Are they cooking something for the 300, too? Is your guess that the 300 with a relay lens is as fast as the EX3 with a similar setup?
yes the Pre production model Panny suffers more than the EX3...there is no doubt. I am certain the production model will perform much better.
Thanks Phillip. Lets hope Panasonic is hearing, and they really do something for the final build.
Jan_Crittenden
03-01-2009, 08:21 PM
Does the USB port deliver enough power to run a small USB powered hard drive or does the drive need to have its own power?
Yes it does. You do need to go into a menu and turn the USB Host mode on but yes it does. It powered my 360GB Seagate, no problemo.
Best,
Jan
Jan_Crittenden
03-01-2009, 08:24 PM
Thanks Phillip. Lets hope Panasonic is hearing, and they really do something for the final build.
I am sure that the build that Philip was working with is not the current version. It is the problem with putting prototypes out there before image quality is finished. There is no serial number on the unit.
Best,
Jan
I am sure that the build that Philip was working with is not the current version. It is the problem with putting prototypes out there before image quality is finished. There is no serial number on the unit.
Best,
Jan
Thanks, Jan. I'm certain you guys will at least match the EX3 in performance. I'm more tha happy with that performance...
Erik Olson
03-01-2009, 09:10 PM
+14 is the MP setting on the camera we used last week too.
e
Carlos Corral
03-01-2009, 09:10 PM
Yes it does. You do need to go into a menu and turn the USB Host mode on but yes it does. It powered my 360GB Seagate, no problemo.
Best,
Jan
I think an angel just got its wings :love4:
alpi69
03-01-2009, 11:38 PM
So I can use a normal 2,5" drive and offload from cam without a special USB-OTG disk with battery?
philip bloom
03-02-2009, 04:41 AM
Yes it does. You do need to go into a menu and turn the USB Host mode on but yes it does. It powered my 360GB Seagate, no problemo.
Best,
Jan
wow that's good news
philip bloom
03-02-2009, 04:43 AM
Philip, you already held the 1/2" relay lens from Letus for the EX3 in your hands. Are they cooking something for the 300, too? Is your guess that the 300 with a relay lens is as fast as the EX3 with a similar setup?
yes i believe they are and it will be f1.5 too
Barry_Green
03-02-2009, 06:02 AM
So I can use a normal 2,5" drive and offload from cam without a special USB-OTG disk with battery?
Correct.
David S.
03-02-2009, 09:08 AM
But again, you have to stop shooting
No simultaneous offload from one card while recording to the other?
Barry_Green
03-02-2009, 09:26 AM
Hmmm. I don't think it can do that but frankly I'm not sure. The 300 is designed more like the bigger cameras (2000-3700) in that regard; it doesn't have to go into different "modes" for playback and recording, so I guess there's a possibility. But I would doubt it.
Jan_Crittenden
03-02-2009, 05:09 PM
The camera can either offload, or record, it can't do them both at the same time. But you know, there are breaks when the reset is happening, Craft services shows up, make-up break. There are lots of opportunties for an offload.
Best,
Jan
philip bloom
03-02-2009, 07:44 PM
am in USA land, just arrived. Am converting down a montage of some shots I banged off at the weekend with the 301 and the stock lens. Will have a link up asap.
You can get great images out of this camera without a 35mm adaptor! promise!
philip bloom
03-02-2009, 08:38 PM
Here we are...not the most exciting thing I have done but the image is pretty gorgeous never the less!
http://philipbloom.co.uk/2009/03/03/shooting-with-the-panasonic-hpx-301e/
Carlos Corral
03-02-2009, 09:10 PM
Beautiful Stuff Phil!
guillaum972
03-02-2009, 09:17 PM
Thank you so much for the 1080p footage. we are waiting for this.
You have shot some great images. "Georgeous" is the word.
Hope CA will be resolved with final model.
Thanks again.
No pans or tilts :(
Beautiful short, tough!
philip bloom
03-03-2009, 04:38 AM
No pans or tilts :(
Beautiful short, tough!
pan at end!
Cees Mutsaers
03-03-2009, 12:32 PM
Philip it seems to me looking at your HPX301 footage that if you keep the cam stationary that the RS artifacts are not visible even if there is a considerable movement in the frame, am I right? Just wonder what the water footage would look like with slow to moderated panns?
I really like the resolution and colour of this cam and also hope like the rest that future firmware updates will reduce RS issues.
philip bloom
03-03-2009, 12:35 PM
there are issues on the end of the lens with movement, but this was a pre production cam and it will be ironed out before release am assured. I do have one on order so am putting my money where my mouth is!
alexdias
03-03-2009, 01:13 PM
Good to hear.
We hope you'll get your money's worth, for our sake :)
aclpro
03-04-2009, 12:34 AM
Thanks for the post. I wish you would actually pan the camera (last one doesnt really count in my opinion) on some kind of moving action. Cant really tell much, seems like a bunch of moving still photos. How about shooting a moving car on the street? Anything really except locked off shots. Nice music choice.
philip bloom
03-04-2009, 03:58 AM
Thanks for the post. I wish you would actually pan the camera (last one doesnt really count in my opinion) on some kind of moving action. Cant really tell much, seems like a bunch of moving still photos. How about shooting a moving car on the street? Anything really except locked off shots. Nice music choice.
look at the movement and detail in the water. i have shot street scenes and all find, just not got enough to edit into anything quality.
alexreina
05-04-2009, 08:55 AM
Hi, we just received 2 HPH 301's and found a serious problem with them.
We went shooting this morning, at 1080i recording to 25pn, and the result was so much noise in blacks and grays as I never saw in any camera before, even comparing with my old 200 in 1080p. with AVCi 100.
We tried different settings, all 1080i, but the result was really bad. Do you know what heppens with this?? We had very good reports and images from that camera, we alreadysaw images at Panasonic suite at the London Broadcast show, but in practice the camera is almost non usable in all 1080 resolutions.
any answer about it, any clue??
best,
Alexandre Reina - Bebop - Lisbon/Portugal
Giuseppe Pugliese
05-04-2009, 09:13 AM
Hi, we just received 2 HPH 301's and found a serious problem with them.
We went shooting this morning, at 1080i recording to 25pn, and the result was so much noise in blacks and grays as I never saw in any camera before, even comparing with my old 200 in 1080p. with AVCi 100.
We tried different settings, all 1080i, but the result was really bad. Do you know what heppens with this?? We had very good reports and images from that camera, we alreadysaw images at Panasonic suite at the London Broadcast show, but in practice the camera is almost non usable in all 1080 resolutions.
any answer about it, any clue??
best,
Alexandre Reina - Bebop - Lisbon/Portugal
This is one of the biggest problems with this camera... I keep seeing people post this, and NO on replying to it... This really needs to be addressed. That was my whole argument in some of my other posts.
Jan, is there any info on people at Panasonic looking into the noise issue? I know we have tried to speak about this before, but this is the 3rd person I have seen a posting saying that the camera is "unusable" because of the noise issue.
Stijn
05-04-2009, 12:55 PM
I find this really weird. When i see the images from video reviews and footage from philip bloom i find it very nice....