Live from the Panasonic Press Conference at NAB 2008
- Thread starter Barry_Green
- Start date
k2director
Well-known member
So the HPX 2700 looks interesting to me. It's the real successor to the Varicam, in my mind, because it can do variable frame rates up to 60 (instead of 30 on the HPX3700, which means no slow mo), and it's got the Varicam's Film Rec mode.
I wonder what the price will be? Hopefully, the same price as the HPX2000, which will therefore get cheaper in the Fall.
I wonder what the price will be? Hopefully, the same price as the HPX2000, which will therefore get cheaper in the Fall.
New_Zealand
Veteran
Ahhhhh sure wish I was down there checking this out for myself but maybe it is good that I'm not. Wife might kill me for spending more $$$$$ than what I'm alot for 
Armstrongfilms
Active member
Ok.....my 1st post here, after owning a DVX (a model bought 2 weeks after release), then an HVX (bought within a month of release), i CANNOT believe that panasonic is still messing around with 1/3" ccd's.....and to have SO many options in a camera lineup to choose from with 1/3" imagers seems idiotic and may be a shot in the foot. at the very LEAST they could offer removable lenses in the 1/3" lineup, then there would finally be something to talk about. new codecs and small improvements to a 1/3" sensor are just not exciting until they quit pixel shifting with offset chips and cheating the bitrates. if this is all the hype this year at NAB08 i dont even have a reason to visit their booth. i would opt for 2/3" hpx500 over ANY of the new prosumer cameras. and do NOT kid yourselves folks, if the sensor is less than 1/2" you are prosumer, not professional.....the entire term was branded from the original 3ccd canons and sony's, which.....10 years ago.....were 1/4 and 1/3" ccds........time for them to get rid of them by putting them in 4 cameras priced from 3k-6k
my 2c
my 2c
If you want larger CCDs then you'll have to get a shouldermount, but handheld cameras are practical in a whole range of situations that big shouldermounts aren't. And at this stage technology isn't able to put 1/2" CCDs in small handheld cameras and still have them priced under 6K. In a few years quite possibly but for now 1/3" is the best we will get.
So if you want the benefits from the small size of handheld HD cameras, you are going to have to either put up with average low light performance/grain/soft image OR all the problems that occur with a rolling shutter. In the end it comes down to what will effect you the least, its as simple as that.
thematthewbone
Well-known member
i'm kind of surprised no one is very excited about the HMC coming in at 4500 dollars.
i wish we could get a price estimate of the HPX. i think Panasonic outdid themselves.
i wish we could get a price estimate of the HPX. i think Panasonic outdid themselves.
TheMusician
Well-known member
Barry, I am not trying to stir the pot, just have a curiosity question. Do you know if the chipsets in the 170 and the HVX200A are still going to be pixel-shifted, or have they gone full 1920x1080? I have been admiring the images coming from the EX-1 for the past couple of months, but I have always loved Panasonic colors and fear rolling shutter situations. Any information is much appreciated.
Andrew McCarrick
Carbonite Member
If they were 1920 x 1080 CCDs they'd be absolutely pathetic in low light. More pixels, on same size sensor = smaller pixels = need more light. That's why I was hoping for 720 (with pixel-shifting to 1080) on 1/2" CCDs to keep just about the same (if not bigger) pixel size, but more of them.
TheMusician
Well-known member
Andrew, I am sure that you are probably right - they are most likely pixel-shifted to get good low-light capabilities from the larger pixels. Barry did mention that the 170 and 200A have new chipsets with much lower noise, but didn't elaborate on the known details of the chips. Looking forward to hearing about it.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Of course it does 1080/24P. Exactly like the HVX does.
Barry_Green
Moderator
They said "less than $4500." I read that the same way they said the HVX200 would be "less than $10,000." I still predict the HMC150 will carry a $3995 MSRP (same as the DVX100 had before its big price drop) and a street price of $3495.
As for the HPX170 -- no firm pricing. I believe it will not be more than the HVX200 because the model number is lower. I'll bet on $5795 MSRP, with hoping that it's $5495.
But the dollar/yen thing is not helping our cause much over here in the states, and I am more than a little sure that the reason they didn't announce firm pricing is because the dollar/yen ratio is so bad right now and the cams aren't due out for six months, so they're probably going to wait closer to the day of release so they know what they can realistically price it at.
Barry_Green
Moderator
No mention either way. I'll get a chance to play with an HVX200A soon so I should know. Frankly I'd bet on them using the same spatial offset technique. Manufacturing just doesn't allow for a 1920x1080 CCD any smaller than 2/3" right now. If you wanted 1920x1080 in a 1/2" or 1/3" unit, your only choice would be CMOS. Since these are CCD, I don't think they'll be 1920x1080 unless there's been some major breakthrough in manufacturing.
Barry_Green
Moderator
I told you all the "known details" that there are.
That's what they said, so that's what I reported. No further information was offered.
ecking
Veteran
I hope you're right because that SDI port is scaring me into thinking the price will be jacked up.
That said why wouldn't they rebrand the hvx as the hpx200a? And bring it more in line with their other stuff. HMC and HPX seem to be their two product lines, the hvx's name was obviously a sign of the times, it's time to fix that.
Depending on how sharp the final cam looks I may sell my A1 and hope back to panny cam for the hpx170 if the price is right. Come on panasonic!
Luis Caffesse
Admin
Probably a safe bet.
Not only would they probably be pushing "higher res chips" if they actually were...
They're actually touting "lower noise" and "more sensitivity."
Seems like it would be hard to achieve both of those advancements AND have higher res chips while keeping at 1/3 inch.
That's a long way to say I'm pretty certain the chipset if probably the same res-wise.
But I'm just guessing here.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Because it has a DV tape drive. The "V" in the product name means DV tape (like the DVX100 and DVC80 before it).
joe 1008
Veteran
Barry, do you think the HVX200a has a longer life despite the appearance of the HPX170? Or is it just a short shot to counterattack other companie's new cameras on the market until the release of the completely new model? As I red in the Panasonic press release, the lens and the chipset are identical to the HPX170. (Red it yesterday, checked it again today, but the press release - a sumup of the whole Panasonic releases - isn´t there anymore...)
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Barry_Green
Moderator
Well, I don't know how the lenses could be identical since the 170 is 72mm and the 200A is 82mm. I'd question the veracity of that press release.
The 200A is the "transition" product for people moving up from DV who still need DV tape. If you're already committed to an all-P2 workflow, the 170 looks like the more attractive unit, assuming it does everything the 200A does. I won't know the full answer to that for another couple of hours when the show floor opens.
The 200A is the "transition" product for people moving up from DV who still need DV tape. If you're already committed to an all-P2 workflow, the 170 looks like the more attractive unit, assuming it does everything the 200A does. I won't know the full answer to that for another couple of hours when the show floor opens.
ecking
Veteran
I see said the blind man.