So does having a Tape Drive mean Panasonic don't trust their coveted P2??

[ShannonRawls]

Just curious..... I mean, all the fuss over P2 THIS, and new way to work THAT, and its the future THIS, and tape must die THAT.....just to find out it has a tape drive ALSO????

Why not pure P2?? why bother with a tape drive?? What happened to the "No moving parts???" speil??

I mean I surely hope it has a tape drive and I surely hope I can record HD on that tape (at least 720p) ...and I will be a sure buyer when it comes out because the specs on this camera is unbeatable and the price is EXTREMELY INEXPENSIVE for what it offers (only if it records HD to tape that is). To argue that would be utter stupidity......... but my question is....... why does it have tape at all?? What?? Panasonic don't trust their P2 technology?
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Sidenote: its funny to see how people quickly change their views/beliefs and blindly ride the bandwagon on certain things. I mean, stand up for what you say in here. Barry Green does. John Hudson does. Hyperbolic does. Mike Tiffee and Luis does. I do. A few others do. But I am noticing many people are all of a sudden "OK" with things they weren't ok with last week. It's like 2 weeks ago you'll be arguing one point with me, and then all of a sudden TODAY it's ALL GOOD.
For instance, TAPE MUST DIE you said last week....now...you're happy that it got a tape transport.
For instance, ITS GONNA BE A GORGEOUS CAMERA....now....your singing the "Looks aren't everything" song. Because face it...that is one ugly ass camera, you gotta admit. lol
and just a few other tid bits, Ya know?? Anyhow, i digress, the internet makes people bold i suppose.
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Back to the topic......

Why the tape transport?? Why not stand behind P2 and drop Tape all together? Gives me that "you don't trust your own stuff" feeling.
I for one am HAPPY that it has TAPE. P2 just doesn't seem feasible for Indie moviemaking, in my humble opinion.

Your thoughts guys?

- Shannon W. Rawls

Sorry, I couldnt make it to NAB to meet all the wonderful people I have been speaking with in emails and on these forums who I previously said I would like to meet. I am on set shooting a film called "SPENT" today thru Wednesday. You know how it goes.....*smile*

- ShannonRawls.com

[reservoir]

Simply because we are in a transitional period. This camera was pretty much a *shoe-in* to have a tape drive.

The next generation of HVX will be 100% tape free. That is a solid bet. But the tape drive is there to help ease the transition to P2 and HD.

I don't think it means "Panasonic is unsure" or anything like that.


~reservoir~

[ShannonRawls]

Simply because we are in a transitional period. the tape drive is there to help ease the transition to P2 and HD.
~reservoir~

Hmmm, I didn't look at it like that Reservoir...good point.

- ShannonRawls.com

[J.R. Hudson]

LOL

I'm glad it has tape; I can't afford P2 right now; hell, I can't afford this camera right now. I don't think it's because the tech is lacking; I think it's a great marketing decision; if I could afford the camera I'd be hard-pressed to convince my wife I need a few P2 cards on top of it! Barry illustrated this point a few threads back and I'm buying the logic. Technology is changing (Solid State) but not that quick.

And yeah; this is one peculiar looking camera; as is the DVX. I have always said the Canon XL models were sexy. I read once where someone suggested they design one of these DV cameras to look and feel like a film camera' ergo style. I suppose slapping on a Mattebox and LCD Hood will help matters; it makes my DVX look better. But..........

If image is everything (Just ask Andre); then let's hope this thing delivers some insane HD-24p; give me the Cinegamma Panasonic!

[Anders Holck]

I'm a little puzzled myself about the tapedrive.
It will only record SD in DV codec, and who will want that when it ships in late 2005 and we are all used to HDV?

I'd much rather have a smaller camera....

[Philipp]

Yeah man! Z1, DVHSCap, Streamclip! That's my confession.
Don't need no 24p ugly gray FisherPrice DVX copy.


O well sorry that was rude. There's still PortaBrace ;-)

[reservoir]

Hmmm, I didn't look at it like that Reservoir...good point.

- ShannonRawls.com

Well..that's my *educated guess* anyway. I think it is Panny's way of helping the skeptical / unsure about P2 folks transition a little easier by giving them a familiar workflow.

But I would stand by my *gut instinct*....that the second generation HVX (HVX200a or HVX300) would be a completely tape free machine. P2 or Hard Drive ONLY. Again, another *educated guess*!!

~reservoir~

[Isaac_Brody]

Also, there are plenty of jobs which won't need or call for HD. From what we know about the camera so far I like the versatility in shooting that it allows. There are times when DV is good enough for the job and where 108024P is overkill. This camera from what we've read is like an all in one solution for shooting jobs.

[Jaime Valles]

Because you can only record MiniDV or DVCPro25 to the tape. You can't record HD of any kind to the tape.

If you want SD, you can record to tape for $5 a pop. If you want HD, you need P2 or a Hard Disk. They're not backing off of their P2 strategy, they're simply offering an option for SD recording. But HD has to be on P2 or HDD.

It's all good. And yes, the camera looks ugly. ;)

[Barry_Green]

Shannon... dude... seriously, sell the Z1 and come over from the dark side. You'll like it over here much better, I promise.

There's no "trust" issue involved. Panasonic is giving us choices. They're giving us DV tape for the work that gets done today, and P2 and hard disk for the HD future. Panasonic's way sold on P2 technology, as will you be if you use it for five minutes. You'll *never* want to see tape again, once you get used to the P2 workflow. It's like the typewriter and the word processor. Tape is familiar, and so was the typewriter. But the word processor blew it away, and that's what P2 (and, to a lesser extent, hard disk) will do to tape.

Now, as for this:

I for one am HAPPY that it has TAPE. P2 just doesn't seem feasible for Indie moviemaking, in my humble opinion.
You just haven't tried it. P2 is *ideal* for indie moviemaking. Far better than tape is. Even at today's limited capacities, P2 is still at least analogous to film magazine's running time. Have you used DV Rack? Imagine DV Rack being basically built into the camera. That's what P2 is.

[Philipp]

It's all good. And yes, the camera looks ugly. ;)


There's one good thing: If you are filming with it, it won't be in the picture. Unless... well, but that won't happen;-)

[Isaac_Brody]

It's definitely a beast. Just hope the pictures it makes are oh so pretty. Maybe the ugliness will force people to focus on their shooting instead of how cool their camera looks.

Who am I kidding? This camera isn't going to get me laid. :cheesy:

[Jaime Valles]

Who am I kidding? This camera isn't going to get me laid. :cheesy:

Yeah, but the images it produces most certainly could! ;)

[pdb]

Very sensible in my opinion: pure economics...want dv?, you can have it for cheap....want HD, well I have to pay off P2 cards so its going to cost you!

[Aaron Koolen]

I guess for me it all hinges on P2 having enough storage on the card to match tape, by the time people are demanding HD. I'm not necessarily talking about the HIGH end guys. But those that shoot weddings, corporate seminars etc. If you're client is wanting long form and HiDef, and P2 can't do the length, then something like an HD100 or Z1 is better. OK, OK, I know about HD's but they are not ideal until they are tiny and just slot into your camera. Passable, but not ideal.


Aaron

[Wadro]

I used to use 2-XL1's . I got the DVX100a for home stuff and love it. I never use the XL1's anymore except for a 2 camera shoot. I was thinking of getting a second DVX. I can now get a HVX200 and record to tape and use it as my second DVX100 and also use it for HD. I'm glad it has a tape frive for this reason alone.

Also a question. Somewhere on this forum I saw that the Varicam features only worked with a P2 card? Can someone explain.

[Anders Holck]

Yes it seems that the variable framerates will only be enabled when it records in 720p, which the camera can only do onto a P2 card or out the firewire bus.

[Shaw]

Question: Do we have any official info on the lens diameter or whether we can record DVCpro50 to tape?

[Wadro]

Yes it seems that the variable framerates will only be enabled when it records in 720p, which the camera can only do onto a P2 card or out the firewire bus.

or out the firewire bus would be great!!