HVX200 only 720p/1080i in Australia?

[Grug]

Hey Guys,

I'm new here. I'm in the process of figuring out which "prosumer" HD camera I'm going to buy (I want something powerful enough to put together a decent portfolio, and big enough that people will take me sort-of seriously). At the moment, my options would seem to be the: Panasonic HVX200, the Canon XH-A1 and the Sony HVR-V1P.

Here in Australia all of these cameras (and every other HD camera going around) are ludicrously over-priced. So I'm afraid I'm probably going to have to buy one from Hong Kong (same cameras, much MUCH cheaper).

The HVX would probably be my first choice (if I can afford the extra $1700 AUD over the Canon, and $900 AUD over the Sony). Except that I've just discovered that everyone selling the HVX here in Australia is saying it only records in 1080i and 720p - not 1080p as everywhere else seems to.

I've looked at a couple of hire-companies that have the HVX and they also advertise it as only outputting 1080i and 720p (all the variable rates in 720, but no progressive 1080).

Can anyone shed some light on this for me? I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,

Mark

[Christopher Barry]

HVX 1080p is progressive scan, stored in 1080i record format. Plays out and reproduced in your NLE timeline as 1080p. You also have 1080i record option for that soap opera/sports event, if you want.

[Grug]

So it's only stored on the p2 card as 1080i, but comes out as proper 1080p when loaded into Final Cut or other editing software?

[hvx_germanboy]

Yes, thats how it works, otherwise you wouldnt be able to playbak the footage on crt-tvs, as they are based on interlaced...so everything is fine here...!

[Grug]

Great, thanks guys - I just found the "hydra" mod thread, so now I REALLY want to get a hvx!

[Barry_Green]

I'm surprised Australian dealers would be perpetuating that myth (that there's no 1080p). I did HVX training seminars up and down the east coast of Aus last year and met with many of the dealers, and I know they all heard clearly how I explained the 1080p thing...

... Panasonic's corporate marketing is partly to blame, they don't really make it clear. But the simple fact is: YES it does 1080p. The Aus version does 1080/25P.