HPX170 First Look

Dxmetal said:
Jan, I understand the issue but Sony with the EX1 and all of the Canon HDV cams (h1, a1, g1) are capable of 50/60hz switchable (canon facotry upgrades).

Furthermore, B&H a Panasonic dealer is selling 60hz PAL dvx, hvx and other camcorders right under the nose of Panasonic America for years.

The hpx 170 is a PERFECT companion to the hpx 500 as a smaller B cam, crash cam, underwater cam and it is a mighty shame if those two cant be perfectly coupled up due to 50/60hz switchable option.
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Let me try again. Support for warranty service is expensive. Each country has to support their own warranty service centers, personell, equipment building space, etc. Each is a cost center. If every European customer decided to purchase their camera in the US because the taxes and duties and exchange rate for Euro not only paid for the camera but the holiday to go and get it, well there wouldn't be any money in the coffers in Europe to pay for warranty service area. It is especially prevalent in the smaller cameras. The PAL cameras that B & H sells are more expensive than the NTSC ones. This is not an easy issue to deal with and yes, it is a problem for those other guys as well. It is because we have been watching what is happening to them that we are carefully studying the possible solutions.

I know why we want it, trust me, I really do understand this, it is just how do we do this so that we do not have the world buying their cameras from the US. A little different from gray, but I do know how it feels to tell a customer that his warranty is in Japan and not in the US. It is not a pleasant conversation.

Thanks,

Jan
 
Butcher said:
I know the camera is still 4 months from the projected release, but is there a projected date to announce the MSRP? We're seriously looking at going P2 (I'd prefer sooner than later), and having a price would help us plan.

Look forward to your 2nd review Barry.
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Consider it in around the same price as the HVX.

Thanks,

Jan
 
SPZ said:
Looks like the HPX is the DVXUSER wishlist answer from Panasonic.

Better LCD? YES!

Now, Barry, the only concern I have is... the lens. I'm really curious to see the bigger lens vs the smaller lens (HVX200a vs 170) and what that means in overal quality of the images...
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I can try to test some side by sides, but you have to keep in mind that this is a prototype, so any findings that get reported are preliminary and subject to change. No guarantees, one way or another; they might improve or change anything between now and the final release.

The LCD's peaking/EVF DTL is so much better it's startling. It's way, way easier to see focus on the 170. I mean, the 200A has about half as much improvement as the 170 does. The 200A is way better than the 200, and the 170 is way better still, as far as being able to use the LCD to judge focus.
 
Barry_Green said:
I can try to test some side by sides, but you have to keep in mind that this is a prototype, so any findings that get reported are preliminary and subject to change. No guarantees, one way or another; they might improve or change anything between now and the final release.

The LCD's peaking/EVF DTL is so much better it's startling. It's way, way easier to see focus on the 170. I mean, the 200A has about half as much improvement as the 170 does. The 200A is way better than the 200, and the 170 is way better still, as far as being able to use the LCD to judge focus.
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Great, Barry!
Being it a prototype is also good, in that any shortcomings could still be addressed. That side by side would be fantastic. Even for a prototype!
 
Very tiny lil camera. Man, using this thing with a 35mm Adapter is gonna be great. Goin back to the DVX form factor and weight.

Still waiting to hear about these great tid bits that nobody expected.
 
Thanks Jan. What I meant to ask was if the 170 can shoot 1080 Progressive in 24fps native, which isn't an option on the current HVX.

Jan_Crittenden said:
Hi,

It will do 1080, in both 30 frames and 24 frames. In the 24, it has to do a pull-down as it will do progressive frames as a segmented frame recording. No worries there, we have been doing this with the DVX and the HVX for years, they really are progressive frames.

Thansk,

Jan
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David Shawl said:
Thanks Jan. What I meant to ask was if the 170 can shoot 1080 Progressive in 24fps native, which isn't an option on the current HVX.
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Hi, No it doesn't do a native mode in 1080 as that would require and major investment of resources in making a new format within the DVCPRO HD codec and ushering through the SMPTE committee et al. The only codec that does this in a Panasonic camera is the AVC-Intra and that is not on this camera.

And yes this camera will be at HD Expo next week.

Thanks,

Jan
 
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