Press Release: HMC150, "the new DVX"

Well, in their defense . . they didn't say they are "shipping" the camera . . only "accepting orders" :o) So anyone buying from them shouldn't really expect to "receive the camera" only a confirmation that their order has been accepted :o)
 
Yeah, but -- point is, the price hasn't even been announced yet. How crunchy are you gonna feel if you order it from AVAlive at $4395, and then Panasonic announces an MSRP of, say, $4195?

Like I say, it seems a bit premature to be accepting orders right now...
 
Release date?

Release date?

I apologize if this has been covered already (I didn't find anything with a search). I was wondering if there has been a more specific release date announcement? I notice on BobDiaz's site that October is the assumed (confirmed?) earliest date. Some posts suggest a possible Sept release. Can anyone tell me what the latest greatest is on this?
 
AT NAB, I heard the month of October, BUT that information could be off. It could be anywhere from September to November 2008. I posted October, because it sits in the middle of that range and fits what I first heard at NAB.

It may well be the September date is for the 170.

Sorry, I can't be more exact, but I'll bet even if Panasonic had a fixed date, it is possible it could slip.


Best Wishes,

Bob Diaz
 
Thanks Bob

Thanks Bob

Thanks for confirming. I figured the dates were still fluid. I just didn't know whether I missed a more specific official announcement. I can't wait for this camera!
 
What are the chances that the HMC150 will be sharper/more resolute than the HPX170?

Humor me.

I ask because the HF10 is one hell of a sharp image, and it resolves detail like nobody's business. Is it because of AVC-HD?
 
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The 150 and the 170 both have the same CCD and the same lens, so at that end, the sharpness should be the same.

HOWEVER, the 170 does record in DVCPRO HD, which sub-samples 1920h x 1080v --> 1280h x 1080v and the 1280h x 720v --> 960h x 720v. So, due to the sub-sampling there may be a slight difference in the horizontal resolution, but there should not be any in the vertical resolution.


Bob Diaz
 
Hi.

I hope I'm not interrrupting this high tech discusion with a my simple question. But..I'm debating between the 150 and 170.

I'll like to know what is the computer requirement to edit native avchd? let's say FCP includes avchd native...what computer I need to do this job? will a laptop be able to?

just trying to get the total cost of this new set up.

I read here all the time...thanks for this.

OT
 
milleto said:
. . . I'll like to know what is the computer requirement to edit native avchd? let's say FCP includes avchd native...what computer I need to do this job? will a laptop be able to? . . . OT
Click to expand...

I know from my conversations with Panasonic that the HPX170 uses P2 and P2 works fine on FCP from all those that I've worked with as far as the 150, the AVCHD we worked with from an S9 I think the camera was it didn't give us any fits. We even used it on Pinnacle Studio 11. I don't really like the AVCHD material I worked with just because of the blur on motion, pans, and close up small moves, but that's just us.

Whoooopeeee. We get our HVX200A Thursday and will be using it the next day for a two day shoot. I hope it's better than the 200 in low light . . banking on it ! ! ! :o)
 
thanks drdimento. thanks for info.

I'm still looking for some answers on computer not format... I was saying..IF fcp accepted native avchd...what computer will I need as a minimum to work with it...also...will a laptop be capable? if sort of, how bad? this are just one of the questions I have deciding BT 150/170.

Thanks
OT
 
milleto said:
. . . I'm still looking for some answers on computer not format... I was saying..IF fcp accepted native avchd...what computer will I need as a minimum to work with it...also...will a laptop be capable? if sort of, how bad? this are just one of the questions I have deciding BT 150/170. Thanks OT
Click to expand...

Maybe Bob Diaz could jump in here on that cause he's a big mac'er. Or hit hm with a PM I'm sure he can help on this. We switched to PC's and there we can help. When we had mac's I'm pretty sure that a mac laptop could handle it though cause it reduces the process to mpeg or QT as I recall and that is pretty easy stuff to work with, even our old AMD 1600 FSB less than 2GHz will work with compressed QT.
 
A Macbrook Pro with 4 Gigs of Ram can handle 1k RED proxies and MAYBE 2k with the newest Macbook Pro's decked out. Truly handling RED footage is best left up to coked-out Mac Pro's of the Quad and Octo-Flavor.
 
I'll like to know what is the computer requirement to edit native avchd? let's say FCP includes avchd native...what computer I need to do this job? will a laptop be able to?
Click to expand...

First to edit native on any computer takes A LOT of processing power. My understanding of the requirement is a minimum of a Quad Core running 2.66 GHz (or higher). This is what I remember, so my infomration could be wrong. You would need to check with each software company to see their minimum requirements.

Both FCP (Final Cut Pro) and FCE (Final Cut Express) take the AVCHD file and convert it to Pro Res (FCP) or AIC (FCE) for editing. While this does add a generation to our digital, it is NOT a bad hit, because the bit rate is very high and the amount of compression noise added is very small. By doing this, we can use a less powerful computer and mix multiple sources (AVCHD, HDV, ...) without problems.

Both FCP and FCE transcode the files to Pro Res and AIC, neither package works in native mode.

I have not checked out all the software for the MAC, but here's the list I have so far:

Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 $799, $1699 premium
Apple Final Cut Express $199
Apple Final Cut Pro $1299
Avid Media Composer $2,495
Boris FX Media 100 $995, $1495 (Suite)

Now, I have not looked at every software package to see if the all support AVCHD or if any of them support AVCHD native.

I understand the Edius Pro and Broadcast does support AVCHD Native editing, BUT is only supported on a PC.


Bob Diaz
 
P.s.

P.s.

P.S.

As for DVCPRO HD, a computer does NOT require as much processing power as AVCHD to edit native.

You are more likely to see more support for DVCPRO HD, than for AVCHD.

I believe that, Avid Media Composer does support native support for DVCPRO HD. Also, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 does provide native support for DVCPRO HD. Please be sure to double check that, because I'm not 100% sure.

IF native editing is really important to you, the 170 is a better selection. The CODEC on the 170 is better designed for native editing and takes less processing power than native AVCHD editing.


Bob Diaz
 
BobDiaz said:
First to edit native on any computer takes A LOT of processing power. My understanding of the requirement is a minimum of a Quad Core running 2.66 GHz (or higher). This is what I remember, so my information could be wrong. You would need to check with each software company to see their minimum requirements.
Click to expand...
This is what Pinnacle Studio 11 has been stating is needed to edit AVCHD natively at 1920x1080. Not sure if this will be standard or if it is specific to their software. Suposely you can get by with a bit less (dual core) at lower resolutions (even 1440x1080). They have one of the few solutions that can edit natively right now. Edius is another, but haven't heard as many testimonials from that product. By the time the 150 comes out, that processor will be a lot cheaper (the intels aren't too bad right now and are very overclockable) and hopefully we start seeing support from other NLEs. In the meantime, transcoding makes sense unless you have a beast computer and can give up your NLE. P2 was in the same spot when the HVX came out, just have to give it time.

Premiere Pro CS3.1 does do DVCPRO HD, still no word on AVCHD.
 
Thanks a lot for all responses. appreciated a lot.

mcsmooth...thanks for making it very clear. Looks like my ppc G5 dual core 2.0GHz is getting old already.
I was going to add a MBP laptop to my set up but it looks like I might need to go for a Mac Pro since I can't get both....while I wait for what is going to be my first HD camera...150/170 or both who knows...

Thanks a lot
OT
 
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BobDiaz said:
Both FCP (Final Cut Pro) and FCE (Final Cut Express) take the AVCHD file and convert it to Pro Res (FCP) or AIC (FCE) for editing. While this does add a generation to our digital, it is NOT a bad hit, because the bit rate is very high and the amount of compression noise added is very small. By doing this, we can use a less powerful computer and mix multiple sources (AVCHD, HDV, ...) without problems.

Bob Diaz
Click to expand...

I can live with a loss of a generation as everything I shoot will go either to plain ol' DVD or compressed HD to the web, and anything else I shoot in HD with this cam will probably be a B or C cam.
 
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