An open letter to Panasonic

[tacotim]

Not written by me, but I agree with every word.
http://www.eoshd.com/2015/04/my-open...-called-af200/

[combatentropy]

Indeed. That Blackmagic S35 sensor in something like the body of a Canon XA-10 will be the last camera ever made.

[DLD]

A pertinent question here is whether they're just not interested in producing a "true" AF-100 successor or thought the market needed a $5,000 fixed lens camcorder more.

As a side note, I have to congratulate combatentropy for getting "his" global shutter camera (and for a reasonably affordable price too). The voice in the wilderness was heard!

Edit - "not" interested. (+ reply to mcbob's post)

... the form, even the name, seem like very corporate decisions... "People liked the DVX and HVX so much a decade ago.. Now they like this GH4... So what they must really want is a GH4 shaped like a DVX! We can even name it DVX! SUCCESS!!!!!"

Definitely, a corporate decision. But still ... why? What are they protecting? There's nothing above this in the ILC and the only ILC below it is the GH4.

Unless there's GH5 somewhere down the road (with a different/better YAGH)

[mcbob]

Quaint that they believe any of that will be read or considered. It didnt seem to work the past 4 years.

the form, even the name, seem like very corporate decisions... "People liked the DVX and HVX so much a decade ago.. Now they like this GH4... So what they must really want is a GH4 shaped like a DVX! We can even name it DVX! SUCCESS!!!!!"

[mcgeedigital]

That segment of the company went drastically downhill once Jan left.

[Noel Evans]

AF200 isn't coming. We all have to get used to the fact that some cameras aren't and won't ever be aimed at us. Not every camera will suit your needs. In addition we all are becoming small fish compared to the emerging Chinese and Indian markets - these will sell by the container load there. Not saying its not a great little camera either.

[DPStewart]

That segment of the company went drastically downhill once Jan left.

Oh yeah! I forgot about Jan. She was great.

[David W. Jones]

Sorry, but Panasonic doesn't care about open letters.

If they did they would have listened, and given us the camera we were asking for in the first place.

[mcgeedigital]

Sorry, but Panasonic doesn't care about open letters.

If they did they would have listened, and given us the camera we were asking for in the first place.

+1 What he said.

[Paul F]

An open letter is pointless, except perhaps it makes the author feel better expressing their thoughts. But one letter does not make a market. Panasonic is in no financial shape to play in niche markets. The profitability of Panasonic's AV division is pathetic. So there is no money or resources to spend on these smaller markets.