Getting in Contact with GH-1 Team

[e-steve]

Hey guys,

Now I don't want this to turn into a thread that attacks Panasonic for the really bad handling of the release of the GH-1 -- but I think maybe we can find some way to develop a some sort of communication channel with the product team or product manager, if we are nice about it. I'm not sure if anyone has thought of this yet or not, but I believe the product manager for the GH-1 is David Briganti.

Now if we all decide to try to email him and complain about many things, it probably will do us no good, so let's try to maintain some self control even if we're waiting on a camera still, and try to work together to get some meaningful information about the camera's availability as well as plans for firmware updates.

I've been trying to figure out what the panasonic email address format is, so that perhaps we can have a board moderator contact him to get maybe a mini FAQ from the source going. Does anyone know what the Panasonic email format is? I think if we knew what Jan's email address was, we could probably figure out what David's was.

Just an idea -- any thoughts?

It is harder when we just don't know anything about what's going to happen and when we might see the cameras we ordered...

[commanderspike]

Good idea. How did you know about this David Briganti guy?

Anyway...I think we should keep in mind, any argument we put to them has to make business sense for Panasonic otherwise they'll simply ignore it. Yes we could go on about bug fixes...but rather than repeat that until they get fed up, how about repeating theories (in a constructive way) on how it will lose them customers.

[danny dale]

What about trying to contact Jan and ask her? She has done this forum a HUGE service.... maybe she can get David (or whoever the product manager is) to do the same.

[e-steve]

It usually makes good business sense to set consumer expectations rather than to hide -- so at least we know what they are working on, or struggling with, and what the real timeframes are. Right now, everyone just guessing when their camera will arrive I think is worse for their customer morale.

I think if we come to them as an enthusiast community that made the DVX100 even bigger, they can hopefully see the benefit in establishing a strong relationship with us. It really depends on the specific person, and this Briganti guy may not think that way. Who knows.

I don't think Jan is going to jump at the chance to talk about a product line that in some ways competes against hers...but you never know.

I just did a search of Panasonic GH-1 Product Manager, and found David's name associated with a lot of these camera releases. I'm pretty sure he's part of the product management team.

Worst case scenario -- they ignore it. Is that any different than where we are currently?

[commanderspike]

Yep Steve, agree with managing expectations.

Did some 'research', on Google That David guy is a marketing manager. I don't think he has control over a product's development, just a spokesman.

It's bad form from all these big companies - they do ignore the enthusiastic fans of their product and concentrate on the mass market opinions that so shape their consumer products - easy, megapixels, thin, colourful, sexy.

Blah. Gets them nowhere.

[danzig666]

any help?

www.linkedin.com sign up then see below

“Since redefining the traditional DSLR category last year with the LUMIX G1 – which eliminated the internal mirror and thus dramatically reduced size of the camera body and lenses – Panasonic has been working to expand its award-winning LUMIX G Micro Four Thirds System line. Panasonic wants to offer increasingly innovative products and features that make photography fun and easy,” said David Briganti, Senior productm manger, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “The introduction of the LUMIX gh1, allows photographers of all levels to take superior quality photos and shoot HD video with a more compact, easy-to-use camera that provides increased creative capabilities.”
Dave Briganti

Senior Product Manager at Panasonic

http://www.linkedin.com/ppl/webprofi...nk=vw_pprofile

or others, below is just a few, there are loads more


Tom Hantson

Senior National Product Manager at Panasonic


http://www.linkedin.com/profile?view...k=ape_f000001a



Michael Timar

Director of Product and Solutions Development at Panasonic Communications Company of North America



http://www.linkedin.com/profile?view...k=ape_f000001a
Henry Hauser

National Product Manager at Panasonic



http://www.linkedin.com/profile?view...k=ape_f000001a
Erica Martinez

Product Manager at Panasonic


http://www.linkedin.com/profile?view...k=ape_f000001a

[danzig666]

forget that, you have to pay to send mail

[Martti Ekstrand]

FYI: Philip Bloom has made the Lumix GH1 team aware of the bitrate issue already at the European launch where he showed off the demo films he made for Panasonic.

Now I spoke to the main man at Panasonic Lumix division about what I want to see in the camera. I said 24mbps. He said all Panasonic camcorders record at 17mbps due to something about dvd backup for consumers? I said then keep 17mbps and have an HQ mode for pro use of 24mpbs. He said OK and will look into it.

http://philipbloom.co.uk/2009/05/21/...t-joshua-tree/

And Barry Green here has mentioned bringing up this same thing to his connections at Panasonic Broadcast.

[Isaac_Brody]

The word has been put out there and I wrote to David Briganti a few weeks ago. They know about the petition and the grumblings around the bitrate. It's just a wait and see game now.

[Ben_B]

I don't think we should be "attacking" anyone....at least until it's time to get us a firmware update

I've been emailing back and forth with one of the PR people from Panasonic (from the GH1 press releases) and so far I have received polite empathy and answers to most of my inquiries, as far as was known or checkable by the person.

Lets not be attacking people. Thanks.