AG-HPX170 - Is It Real

[Kholi]

Well, I was thinkin' more along the lines of Shooting 4:3 (which, from what I understand, is an High Quality -- cause you can't really say HD -- 4:3 pre-cropped out of the 720 or 1080 frame) with the HPX170 and adding a 35mm adapter with Anamorphic Primes (Lomos come to mind. Where's IAN D AT!?!).

I might have this completely backward, you shoot 4:3 cropped out of the 1080 mode and with your adapter + anamorphic setup and then conform it to a 2.35:1 ratio, it should work properly.

The only thing is that you're stretching pixels as well so who knows what the quality will look like? I'd surmise you'd have to apply some post sharpening because of the softness.

This is all theory, though. Not sure if that actually works.

 

[Zander]

Same here
:thumbsup:

Me 3.

Will 170 flip the image playback or the actual recorded footage?

 

[Luis Caffesse]

The flip is only for monitoring as far as I know.
The image will still be recorded upside down if using a nonflipping adapter.

 

[cici]

I can't seem to find the standard brochure for the HPX170 (as we do have for the HVX200A already) - doesn't it exist yet or did I miss it?

 

[John Godden]

Barry:

So the 170 eliminates the tape mechanism, and drops some weight, and stays the same price as the HVX200a?

Not certain how that falls in the marketing scheme?

I for one find a smaller/lighter "HVX" to be EXTREMELY interesting. The size/weight/awkwardness of the HVX was one of my main beefs. Made for a cam that wasn't really backpack/hiking friendly. Besides, WTF would anyone shoot to tape in 2008? The 170 may not be the ideal hiking cam but it's a hellofa big step in the right direction................... IMHO.

JohnG

 

[John Godden]

it is still 7 months to go so they might implement it later. I would pay 300 USD more for the 170 if they would do it !!!!!

I would be absolutely stunned to see Pani release this new cam in 2009 with that same crappy LCD display. I'm sure (???) Pani will not do such a lame thing. :grin:

JohnG

 

[Barry_Green]

So the 170 eliminates the tape mechanism, and drops some weight, and stays the same price as the HVX200a?

Actually a little bit less expensive, I believe. And adds a lot more features too.

Not certain how that falls in the marketing scheme?

By my guess, the HPX170 becomes the new "it" camera. The HVX200A becomes a niche product for those transitioning customers who absolutely must have tape. For them, the HVX200A soldiers on, largely unchanged, but improved with the better chipset. But for those who are ready to commit to totally tapeless P2, the 170 just pours on the goodness, giving you everything the 200 was, plus lighter, sleeker, and lots more features, for less money.

 

[Barry_Green]

All true Brad, but it's eight months out or so.

Not necessarily. I pressed for a time frame, and I got someone high up to say "September". That would put it at five months out.

 

[Barry_Green]

last note: I am not sure if the 200a has additional frame rates but the 170 definitely does.

Depends on what you mean by "has". :evil:

The frame rate hack works on the HVX200A, so all told, the HVX200A has (I think) 36 different frame rates. You just have to edit the scene files to get at them.

 

[Barry_Green]

Yeah, I only wish they'd stuck with the 82mm lens.

Are you sure about that? Come to NAB and put this thing in your hands, and you may change your mind.

It's a pound and a half lighter! That's a massive difference. And I think much of that is attributable to the smaller lens. With all that glass in all those elements, I'm pretty sure that much of the weight loss could be attributed to using smaller glass throughout.

Anyway, you have to hand-hold this thing to believe just how much nicer it is than an HVX200. It's almost like using the DVX again.

If I were a betting man I'd say the 200a is probably the last HVX we'll see.
Of course it's way too early to know for certain.

I'd agree; tape is dwindling to nothing. The HVX200A is a transitionary camera for those who still need tape (and hey, it's not like it's exactly a red-headed stepchild, we're talking about a better HVX than anyone here has ever used! ) but yeah, I don't see why they'd continue on with the tape. This will probably be the last of the DV tape cameras introduced.

 

[Barry_Green]

I can't seem to find the standard brochure for the HPX170 (as we do have for the HVX200A already) - doesn't it exist yet or did I miss it?

I don't know what may be online, but there's a one-sheet (a single page, double-sided) that they're distributing at the show.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Are you sure about that? Come to NAB and put this thing in your hands, and you may change your mind.

Oh don't get me wrong - I'm pretty much already in love with this camera.
The only reason I made that comment about the 82mm lens is because I have a lot of 82mm screw mount filters I don't want to replace.



EDITED TO ADD:
And don't tease me about going to NAB.
Trust me, if I could be there - I would.

 

[Kholi]

Oh, and aside from the HDMI question, did anyone comment on the 4:3 mode thing?

Is it only for SD or can you shoot a cropped 4:3 in HD modes (Although it's not an HD resolution) ?

 

[Barry_Green]

The only reason I made that comment about the 82mm lens is because I have a lot of 82mm screw mount filters I don't want to replace.

72mm->82mm step-up ring. $10. You're set. :thumbsup:

 

[Barry_Green]

Oh, and aside from the HDMI question, did anyone comment on the 4:3 mode thing?

Is it only for SD or can you shoot a cropped 4:3 in HD modes (Although it's not an HD resolution) ?

I tried to follow what you were talking about, but it's all greek to me. There's no 4:3 mode for anything HD, it's only for SD. Why do you think there'd be a 4:3 mode in HD?

 

[Kholi]

I tried to follow what you were talking about, but it's all greek to me. There's no 4:3 mode for anything HD, it's only for SD. Why do you think there'd be a 4:3 mode in HD?

I thought someone said that you could actually shoot a pre-cropped 4:3 (similar to shooting pre-cropped 16:9 in SD) straight to card. It sounded weird but not impossible! Although there is a 4:3 guide you can switch on the HVX, maybe that's what they were talkin' about?

I forgot where I read it, I think it was Camcorder info the day of release? And someone on the boards followed it up with saying that.

Of course NOW I want to know how you'd get Anamorphic footage out of an adapter + 170.

The RED Anamorphic stuff looks incredible.

 

[Derrick_SA]

If they say september that would be great, and I really hope it is so. I'm just aksing, but is Panasonic not notorius for- not releasing there products at announced times?

- Derrick

ps. I guess I'm preparing myself for the worst...

 

[Professorx55]

:angry:

I can't believe this. I JUST purchased an HVX200A not a week ago and ALREADY there is a brand new camera on the market that shoots 1080p!

Am I wrong in thinking that the HPX170 shoots to 1080p?

I doubt that Panasonic will honor a trade in system like apple did with the iPhone?

Here's hoping!!

 

[cici]

:angry:

I can't believe this. I JUST purchased an HVX200A not a week ago and ALREADY there is a brand new camera on the market that shoots 1080p!

Am I wrong in thinking that the HPX170 shoots to 1080p?

I have a surprise for you: your HVX shoots 1080p too!!! - YES!!! It's TRUE!!

And perhaps another surprise: your HVX can shoot in SD OR in HD!! On cassette OR on P2-card!

For 1080p just search the menu, read the .... manual or Barry's book.

 

[David Saraceno]

And perhaps another surprise: your HVX can shoot in SD OR in HD!! On cassette OR on P2-card!

I THINK you are saying that the HVX can shoot SD to tape of p2. But not HD to tape.