View Full Version : How Panasonic could sell P2 cards...
not5150
04-26-2005, 01:45 AM
After some thought about the P2 card situation and thinking about the comments voiced by some of the readers on this forum... I think that Panasonic could pull off a serious coup.
Let's say that Panasonic sticks with the $5995 MSRP for just the camcorder. They could throw in a 2GB card, just to be nice.
You take the camera home and record DVCPro-HD content, most likely running around the house recording kids or other family members. Sure it only lasts a few minutes, but hey you can't complain because Panasonic gave you the card for free.
You pop the card in your laptop or the P2 store for editing... but before you edit, you play the file, just to see how it looks. Your jaw drops, your wife's jaw drops, your kids faint, etc etc... then the video ends.
You must have more capacity... and fire off your credit card to B and H.
The cigarette companies would be proud.
Think back to when you brought home the new Mini DV camera... didn't the same thing happen with the tapes? You probably bought one tape... shot a few minutes of footage, and then ran out to buy more tapes.
Neil Rowe
04-26-2005, 06:26 AM
..you cant record HD to a 2GB card.. only 4 GB and up.. which is why i think they should include a 4GB :)
I think they should throw in 30 min of P2. They will make up the difference later. Kind of like when you buy a computer and they throw in a free printer. Good deal until your printer runs out of ink and you pay $70 to replace it.
Phooey
04-26-2005, 09:12 AM
Yes, agreed. Include a 4GB P2 card please.
And on that note I still don't get +$4k for (2) 8GB P2 cards with the cam? What kind of deal is that? I thought that I heard from a few reps that the 8GB P2 will be about the same cost as what the 4GB is now. hmmm? $8000 for this package sounds more like it. If the deal is good, you'll sell a lot of them. But +$4k? sheesh. The post gear I can buy for that.
Gary_McClurg
04-26-2005, 09:17 AM
Who knows maybe they'll in the storage back up hard drive for that price. That would push the camera to the top of the market quicker also.
shaftbond
04-26-2005, 10:33 AM
And on that note I still don't get +$4k for (2) 8GB P2 cards with the cam? What kind of deal is that? I thought that I heard from a few reps that the 8GB P2 will be about the same cost as what the 4GB is now. hmmm? $8000 for this package sounds more like it. If the deal is good, you'll sell a lot of them. But +$4k? sheesh. The post gear I can buy for that.
I'm guessing that the price will be lower than $9,995 when the release date comes OR it will include more than two 8GB P2 cards...
I'm guessing by the time the HVX200 comes out the P2 card will be absolete and will be replaced by a video iPod. I'm sure Steve can come up with a 160GB video iPod for under $500 bucks. Just stream right to the iPod then plug it into your computer.
I'm really kind of tired of hearing about a 4 or 8gb P2 being a great deal for $1700. It's not. It sucks.
The title of the post is how Panasonic could sell the P2 card,,,that easy. Sell them for around $50 for a card that would hold 45 to 60 mins of video. At least 30 of HD.
bilgami
04-26-2005, 01:15 PM
BiLGaMi Video Productions :thumbup:
If an ipod can be made with 160g why is it hard to come up a 160g p2 card whats the difference.
bilgami@hotmail.com
http://www.bilgamivideo.com (http://www.bilgamivideo.com/)
William_Robinette
04-26-2005, 01:56 PM
BiLGaMi Video Productions :thumbup:
If an ipod can be made with 160g why is it hard to come up a 160g p2 card whats the difference.
bilgami@hotmail.com
http://www.bilgamivideo.com (http://www.bilgamivideo.com/)
iPods use a HDD and P2 uses solid state memory.
But why does that cost so much more?
Isn't Hard Disk speed or power (say 10,000 RMPs in a seagate raid set-up the best) the problem? Does an i-Pod record/player disk run at 100 megs a second?
mikkowilson
04-26-2005, 03:35 PM
Well here's a quick round of math (based on prices from B&H for the SD cards, and a bit of speculation)
2GB SD card $199
Therefore the cost of 4 cards is $800
Raid controlers and hardware (production cost) probably about $200
plus casing etc, negligable.
So really i think that it woudl cost Panny about $1000 to produce a 8GB P2 card..
Ad the Panny logo - another $100
Well, when you then put factory markup of 15% then you are at ~$1250. add wholesale markup (15%) $~1400. then one more 15% to get to street price. $1550.
That's just for production costs.. not counting R&D costs...
So really, i'd say that at $2000 it's rather pricy, but i can definatly see why it's hard to get a 8gig P2 card under $1500..
Just some math and thoughts..
- Mikko
soarprod
04-26-2005, 03:41 PM
But a 2GB SD card already has markup - 2GB SD card costs panasonic prolly around $100 - 4 = $400, research for raid, actual controller and stuff ~ $400 = $800 ~ $1000 = I would think that $1200 for a 8GB card is reasonable.
From what I understand the HVX can record to any external hard drive through usb or firewire, the only problem with most external drives is the power source (so for run-and-gun it's not so comfortable but for sets it fine)
If I do get this camera, I will use it with an external hard drive, after all, in a year or two you will be able to buy P2 cards that hold 100+GB for less than 500$ (as long as the P2 catches)
what does the SDX-800 ship with?
wabbit
04-27-2005, 12:09 AM
Some of you need to read up on some of the other P2 threads. :)
The P2 cards are able to handle the more than 100mbs that HD needs. An Ipod or standard SD card can not handle that speed.
The SDX does not even ship with a lens. At that level the camera is just the starting cost. Lens, tripod plate, P2 cards, etc make the SDX a closer to $40,000 purchase.
They could ship the the DVX with a P2 card but the price would have to be higher. I assume they figure some will buy the stock SDX and just use the mini-dv tape drive until they can afford the P2 cards. And with time the P2 cards will come down in price. Panasonic has to also make a profit. The R&D and manufactering of this hardware at the start is not cheap. It will get cheaper in time. If you want cutting-edge technology it doesn't come cheap.
I want a 50" plasma but until the price comes down more I will have to wait. If you can't afford the P2 HD price right now, you too will have to wait (stock DVX is still amazingly cheap).