Update to the DVC30?

[Flux]

I'm planning a project in which a small tough camera with a long zoom reach is called for. The DVC30 looks promising, but hasn't received an update for some time. Does anyone have any ideas if/when Panasonic might update this camera?

I also wondered how expensive the P2 element of the HVX camcorder (not the card) is? A tough, tapeless, camcorder in the same mould as the DVC30 would be interesting.

[Barry_Green]

Would you be looking for standard-def or high-def? If you want high-def, there should be some new models out sometime next year based on the new AVC-HD format. Don't know if they'll do anything like the DVC30 in that format or not (I would hope they would!) Sony's first AVC-HD announcements are for decidedly consumerish models, but I would hope Panasonic would aim higher.

For standard-def? No way to tell. Companies typically don't pre-announce new versions of existing models so if there was a replacement or update coming, they wouldn't likely tell us ahead of time (although they did leak the DVX100B months before it was released, so you never know...)

[Flux]

Standard def. is fine, but native 16:9 would be good. I'm planning to make a film about a local nature reserve, and a small robust cam with long range is called for. Many of the shots would be on a tripod, but I expect some of them to be handheld.

So far I've considered:
* DVX100 - great picture quality and supports 25p, but not enough range (teleconvertor is very expensive and still gives less focal length than DVC30), not 16:9, not that small
* HVR-A1 - small HD and 16:9, but low light poor, bottom tape-loading, poor zoom control, lens only 10x (though a 2x teleconvertor is available, and affordable)
* DVC30 - small and robust, 16x lens, nightshot, but 4:3 interlaced SD

None of them are quite what I'm after. The DVC30 seems closest, but if a P2-based cam in the same factor was in the offing that would be ideal, especially if it could do native 16:9.

[David@Leo's Camera]

As much as I love the DVC30 I would suggest checking out the Canon GL2. It has a 20x optical stabilized zoom and true 30p capture.

[Barry_Green]

It's not 30p, it's "frame mode", which is exactly the same thing the DVC30 is doing...

[monkeymeat]

Before buying my dvc30 I looked at the gl2 also. The only + I could see with the gl2 was the 20x zoom. I decided with the 30 due to price and I felt the build quality was better, its very lite and the picture quality is great.