Just returned from a trip to Hong-Kong. I was at the Panasonic Broadcast main Offices in Tsim Sha Tsui, and had the chance to play around with the HVX (NTSC), as well as see how the whole P2 system works. First of all, I have to give my sincere thank you to Marcus Lau, engineer and overall responsible of the HVX product in HK, who was with me during the entire morning testing the various functions of the HVX (and for the excelent "acting"in front of the camera- I know you didn't like to see yourself on camera, Marcus, but it was great! 
) . Also, a very special thank you to Mr. Philip Wu, General Manager for Professional Av. Equipment at Panasonic Hong-Kong. Just for everyone to know, these guys are also readers of the dvxuser forum! Jarred, as you can see, your site is a worldwide dvx and HVX reference!
Anyway, here are my first impressions from testing the camera. Note that there will be many comparisons with the DVX, since I'm a dvx user after all:
Lets start with camera aesthetics and exterior design:
(This is probably well known to user on the USA, due to the camera being available for more than 4 months over there. )
1- The color of the camera is very strange: its neither black or blue, but something in between. It looks blackish. I would have liked it better full black, but it certainly looks better than the "blue" shots we get on the net.
2- The camera is considerably heavier than the DVX. This means steadier shots, but also more fatigue grabbing the machine. Still, handheldable.
3- Sincerely, didn't like the lens cap with the very big "Panasonic" written on it. The lens cap covers the entire lens plus the matte box, and its huge. I would really prefer something similar to the original DVX- Round and "pocketable"
Now, for the button layout:
1-The buttons seem well positioned, displayed very similarly to the DVX. It was very easy to adapt to the few changes of the HVX layout. What this means is that going from the dvx to the HVX is a natural step.
2- I'm probably one of the few people that like the original DVX's "Joystick" control. The new HVX control is situated on top of the camera, and is far less intuitive and responsive. While you could do everything with the dvx's stick, in the HVX, you have to press various combinations of buttons. This is, however, subjective, and definetly not important.
3- The Iris dial is a lot bigger, and feels better than the DVX one. However, its located a bit further than the original dvx position, which made me search for it constantly due to dvx habit. This is something that will bother old DVX users more than new ones, tough.
Camera operation
Like I said before, the camera works very similarly to the DVX. However, there are a few things that I need to point out:
1- Zoom. The manual zoom is a lot thighter than the DVX100a one, which was already an improvement from the original dvx. It doesn't alow the fastest zooms ever like the dvx did ( but can do crash zooms very close nonetherless), but is a LOT more controlable for manual slow to middle speed zooms, something almost impossible with the dvx.
2- Focus- its impossible to focus without the Focus assist- fact. However, while filming Marcus, I could pull precise focus with the focus assist werever I wanted, so this is doable without an external monitor. The lcd monitor, like reported, is Poor. No excuses for its low resolution. The Sony Z1 lcd is better.
The Picture
Now this was the main concern for me, before the test, with all the noise issues and concerns. Here's what I tought of the picture.
1- The Noise is there (like someone said). However, the noise on the HVX is not the noise of the DVX100a. The dvx100a had a big noise problem (at least for me), which led me to always put detail coring up to +6 and detail -2. This would clear the noise but give a picture that, resolution wise, was inferior to the competition (Sony and Canon). However, the color and the gamma was there and could somehow compensate for this in some comercial SD work.
The HVX noise doesn't make the picture feel less solid or more "cheapish and consumerish". Due to the bigger color space (I presume) The image maintains the detail and impressivenes of HD. The noise, like Barry Green said, looks a lot more like film grain. This is definetly not a big problem. I have, however, seen something that can be the "macroblocking issue" that people are talking about while filming a small probably 50 watt yellow light in a dark room. This was a small detail- I've still got this footage and I'll try to get it trough the NLE in order to see if this goes away, like reported, in Editing. Anyway, this is, again, not much of a concern. It is barely noticeable and shouldn't affect the look of your production.
2- Variable frame rates- This is the revolution of this camera. This is a factor that can, by itself, stablish this cam away from the competition. I tried slow motion at 48P in order to emulate what we PAL users are going to get with 50p, and am very happy to report that 48p Slow motion is not a big difference from 60p slow motion. While 60p is indeed a bit smoother than 48p, it is barely noticeable in the majority of recording circunstances. And the SLow motion is simply beautifull... The creative possibilities this can bring us...
I also did (by mistake, some speed up at 60P with a 48p frame rate, which caused a small speed up that was "unnaturally natural"- this should be good for cheesy car chases and fighting scenes...
3- Gamma- The HVX looks a lot more solid than the DVX in therms of picture and colors. Everything just seems more natural. The gamma seems similar, but the extra color space really comes in and gives that extra "Punch" to the footage. Believe me, this camera properly used can very well produce some really impressive films, and I don't mean just documentaries...
P2 workflow:
I tested the camera with a 4gb P2 card. It filled up very rapidly. What I liked:
1- Being able to view the shots I did separated, like viewing pictures on a digital camera. This is great, and no more forward and rewinding (and erasing precious footage by bad memory
2- Viewing the results of undercranking and overcranking immediately. This is amazing, and can help a versatile and creative individual to come with amazing unplaned shots on location.
3- No capture. No explanation needed.
What I didn't like:
1- Small recording times vs cost of the media. This has all being discussed, but I have to agree that its still too much to pay for mere 4gb.
2- Needs at least a 2 card setup for "on the field" recording. And this needs also a p2store- I'm talking about event and "live"coverage. For film production, the P2store might not be needed. (There's also no need for a continuous shoot in this conditions, tough- Yes, you could say "But I want to film Russian Ark 2!", or "What About my Timecode clone project? ".)
3- PRICE!
Anyway, this is just a basic report. I also got news that the PAL camera should be arriving first week of April (shipping end of the Month), and that it SHOULD (enphasys on SHOULD) have higher resolution on the PAL model. There was also some mention of future compatibility with 720p50 in FCP. However, not confirmed.
Anyone wants to know anything more specific please ask. I'm no expert, but I'll try to answer the questions if I know. I'll aslo update this if something else comes along. I'm out of internet untill monday (just moved and have no internet at home, only in the office), so I'll have plenty to think, test and remember on the next post.
Once again, thanks to Shun Hing, Marcus Lau and Philip Wu at Panasonic Broadcast HK- excelent costumer care. Its good to know you guys are listening to the things happening over here!
Spz
) . Also, a very special thank you to Mr. Philip Wu, General Manager for Professional Av. Equipment at Panasonic Hong-Kong. Just for everyone to know, these guys are also readers of the dvxuser forum! Jarred, as you can see, your site is a worldwide dvx and HVX reference! Anyway, here are my first impressions from testing the camera. Note that there will be many comparisons with the DVX, since I'm a dvx user after all:
Lets start with camera aesthetics and exterior design:
(This is probably well known to user on the USA, due to the camera being available for more than 4 months over there. )
1- The color of the camera is very strange: its neither black or blue, but something in between. It looks blackish. I would have liked it better full black, but it certainly looks better than the "blue" shots we get on the net.
2- The camera is considerably heavier than the DVX. This means steadier shots, but also more fatigue grabbing the machine. Still, handheldable.
3- Sincerely, didn't like the lens cap with the very big "Panasonic" written on it. The lens cap covers the entire lens plus the matte box, and its huge. I would really prefer something similar to the original DVX- Round and "pocketable"
Now, for the button layout:
1-The buttons seem well positioned, displayed very similarly to the DVX. It was very easy to adapt to the few changes of the HVX layout. What this means is that going from the dvx to the HVX is a natural step.
2- I'm probably one of the few people that like the original DVX's "Joystick" control. The new HVX control is situated on top of the camera, and is far less intuitive and responsive. While you could do everything with the dvx's stick, in the HVX, you have to press various combinations of buttons. This is, however, subjective, and definetly not important.
3- The Iris dial is a lot bigger, and feels better than the DVX one. However, its located a bit further than the original dvx position, which made me search for it constantly due to dvx habit. This is something that will bother old DVX users more than new ones, tough.
Camera operation
Like I said before, the camera works very similarly to the DVX. However, there are a few things that I need to point out:
1- Zoom. The manual zoom is a lot thighter than the DVX100a one, which was already an improvement from the original dvx. It doesn't alow the fastest zooms ever like the dvx did ( but can do crash zooms very close nonetherless), but is a LOT more controlable for manual slow to middle speed zooms, something almost impossible with the dvx.
2- Focus- its impossible to focus without the Focus assist- fact. However, while filming Marcus, I could pull precise focus with the focus assist werever I wanted, so this is doable without an external monitor. The lcd monitor, like reported, is Poor. No excuses for its low resolution. The Sony Z1 lcd is better.
The Picture
Now this was the main concern for me, before the test, with all the noise issues and concerns. Here's what I tought of the picture.
1- The Noise is there (like someone said). However, the noise on the HVX is not the noise of the DVX100a. The dvx100a had a big noise problem (at least for me), which led me to always put detail coring up to +6 and detail -2. This would clear the noise but give a picture that, resolution wise, was inferior to the competition (Sony and Canon). However, the color and the gamma was there and could somehow compensate for this in some comercial SD work.
The HVX noise doesn't make the picture feel less solid or more "cheapish and consumerish". Due to the bigger color space (I presume) The image maintains the detail and impressivenes of HD. The noise, like Barry Green said, looks a lot more like film grain. This is definetly not a big problem. I have, however, seen something that can be the "macroblocking issue" that people are talking about while filming a small probably 50 watt yellow light in a dark room. This was a small detail- I've still got this footage and I'll try to get it trough the NLE in order to see if this goes away, like reported, in Editing. Anyway, this is, again, not much of a concern. It is barely noticeable and shouldn't affect the look of your production.
2- Variable frame rates- This is the revolution of this camera. This is a factor that can, by itself, stablish this cam away from the competition. I tried slow motion at 48P in order to emulate what we PAL users are going to get with 50p, and am very happy to report that 48p Slow motion is not a big difference from 60p slow motion. While 60p is indeed a bit smoother than 48p, it is barely noticeable in the majority of recording circunstances. And the SLow motion is simply beautifull... The creative possibilities this can bring us...
I also did (by mistake, some speed up at 60P with a 48p frame rate, which caused a small speed up that was "unnaturally natural"- this should be good for cheesy car chases and fighting scenes...
3- Gamma- The HVX looks a lot more solid than the DVX in therms of picture and colors. Everything just seems more natural. The gamma seems similar, but the extra color space really comes in and gives that extra "Punch" to the footage. Believe me, this camera properly used can very well produce some really impressive films, and I don't mean just documentaries...
P2 workflow:
I tested the camera with a 4gb P2 card. It filled up very rapidly. What I liked:
1- Being able to view the shots I did separated, like viewing pictures on a digital camera. This is great, and no more forward and rewinding (and erasing precious footage by bad memory
2- Viewing the results of undercranking and overcranking immediately. This is amazing, and can help a versatile and creative individual to come with amazing unplaned shots on location.
3- No capture. No explanation needed.
What I didn't like:
1- Small recording times vs cost of the media. This has all being discussed, but I have to agree that its still too much to pay for mere 4gb.
2- Needs at least a 2 card setup for "on the field" recording. And this needs also a p2store- I'm talking about event and "live"coverage. For film production, the P2store might not be needed. (There's also no need for a continuous shoot in this conditions, tough- Yes, you could say "But I want to film Russian Ark 2!", or "What About my Timecode clone project? ".)
3- PRICE!
Anyway, this is just a basic report. I also got news that the PAL camera should be arriving first week of April (shipping end of the Month), and that it SHOULD (enphasys on SHOULD) have higher resolution on the PAL model. There was also some mention of future compatibility with 720p50 in FCP. However, not confirmed.
Anyone wants to know anything more specific please ask. I'm no expert, but I'll try to answer the questions if I know. I'll aslo update this if something else comes along. I'm out of internet untill monday (just moved and have no internet at home, only in the office), so I'll have plenty to think, test and remember on the next post.
Once again, thanks to Shun Hing, Marcus Lau and Philip Wu at Panasonic Broadcast HK- excelent costumer care. Its good to know you guys are listening to the things happening over here!
Spz
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