Panasonic Announces 64GB P2 Card

I don't know. I mean, the only thing I've ever heard even speculated upon as to why it's fixed at 60GB is because that was the size of the Toughbook drive that they used in it, and it's the biggest they could make a single-platter drive. I have no idea if this is true, or maybe it *was* true but isn't true any longer, etc.

As P2 Stores start to become relegated to the back shelf due to P2 card size capacity increases, I bet we'll see more people willing to open up the box and try upgrading. No idea if they'll be successful though.

I think the P2 Gear pretty much represents Panasonic's opinion on the future of the P2 Store. Why continue with a fixed-size, fixed-capacity unit when you can get a portable, monitor-based field unit that can take *any* drive? (of course, I can think of 3,995 reasons why some people might not embrace the P2 Gear, but... seriously, $1800 for a 60GB drive or $3995 for an HD-SDI-outputting, monitor-based, field-offloading, bus-power-supplying, HD-recording, infinitely-extendable unit? I'd be betting the P2 Store has no future.)
 
Those 3, 995 reasons do weight a tiny "bit". :)

Drop it to p2store price, and its a no brainer...
 
Barry. Are you referring to that IO system? That does look really sweet and I saw that Sonnet just made an external bus powered SATA raided system to work with that one.


So cool.. Are you going to NAB this year? I'm hoping to be able to finally travel those hallowed exhibits halls.. if the wife let's me do it. Afterall it's Vegas too.
 
SPZ said:
Those 3, 995 reasons do weight a tiny "bit". :)

Drop it to p2store price, and its a no brainer...
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Agreed. But it does a LOT more than the P2 Store ever thought about doing. Did you see my article on it? It's really a very cool little toy.
 
Barry_Green said:
Agreed. But it does a LOT more than the P2 Store ever thought about doing. Did you see my article on it? It's really a very cool little toy.
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Yes, it was a fantastic article.:)

The built in waveform and HD-SDI out are fantastic features. it could work well as a "directors monitor" in certain situations...

But honestly speaking, HD-SDI should not count much since it should've been in the camera in the first place (contrary to the filmsy d-terminal component it has), and the fact that it doesn't have a built in hot swapable hard disk drive does require the user to use cables and portable HDD's, making the whole package less portable than a P2store for on the field, run and gun, documentary, etc. shooting. Of course its doable, and seeing how current P2 card capacities have evolved, the P2store design looks more and more obsolete and not needed, but, then again, the P2 gear, while something that makes more sense for the current p2 workflow, just doesn't feel right on its current price point- at least for me.
 
SPZ said:
and the fact that it doesn't have a built in hot swapable hard disk drive
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Y'know, I thought about that a lot, and I've come to the conclusion that there's no way in hell that Panasonic would ever offer that. I mean, think about it: the whole POINT of P2 is indestructible solid-state reliable recording. The concept that they would want users handling bare hard disks in the field? Inconceivable.

No, instead they chose to let you use prepackaged hard disks that are already protected from the elements. I think it's easily the better choice. I'd much, much rather pick up a hard disk at Best Buy on the way to the shoot, offload to it, and hand it to the client... than try to be handling bare hard disks in static bags. No way is that appealing.

but, then again, the P2 gear, while something that makes more sense for the current p2 workflow, just doesn't feel right on its current price point- at least for me.
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Me too. I think it's a killer box, but I don't see spending $4,000 out of my own wallet for it. I'm sure for many people they wouldn't blink at that price, but I don't need it enough to justify the expense.
 
Barry_Green said:
No, instead they chose to let you use prepackaged hard disks that are already protected from the elements. I think it's easily the better choice. I'd much, much rather pick up a hard disk at Best Buy on the way to the shoot, offload to it, and hand it to the client... than try to be handling bare hard disks in static bags. No way is that appealing.


Me too. I think it's a killer box, but I don't see spending $4,000 out of my own wallet for it. I'm sure for many people they wouldn't blink at that price, but I don't need it enough to justify the expense.
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Now that you say it, it does make more "protected" sense. But it certainly makes it less "portable", or, in other words, more clumsy for certain situations where the old P2 store shined... Then again, this type of usage is probably not needed anymore with the new high capacity p2's, so the P2 gear concept does make more sense for the current and future P2 workflow... Great thinking. Bad pricing :)

I would certainly like one... If I stick with P2 on my next camera purchase :) (yes, I want a killer HVX sucessor! )
 
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This is most excelent news!

What's the price point?

Never mind, I'm spendin money like I have it :)
 
SPZ said:
But it certainly makes it less "portable", or, in other words, more clumsy for certain situations where the old P2 store shined...
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The P2 Gear is way bigger than the P2 Store ever was. Way. It's already much bulkier. But velcro'ing an external 2.5" hard disk to it wouldn't make it any clumsier than it by itself.
 
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