HPX170 - A Second Look

ok, so there is a good chance that the US guys can have there's switchable, but WHY not the rest of the world?

I mean you first need to have a legitly registered camera before upgrade, that means your local Panasonic importer will know if you bought the camera in your country, thus eliminating grey import.

this is a step in the right direction, so if this is true, panasonic thanks for that, but you need to take another step, we also need access to NTSC/PAL please.

- Derrick
 
Wow, Spec is giving away a free battery too... so you get the 170 + 16GB + Free Battery for the same price! Nice! Best deal on the www so far, and we all know they are completely trust-worthy.
 
Update?I guess I missed a post or two with some actual info on the NTSC/PAL thing? Anyone know what page that post/s is/are on?
 
Update?I guess I missed a post or two with some actual info on the NTSC/PAL thing? Anyone know what page that post/s is/are on?
The update is that the US factory will upgrade a customer's HPX170 to NTSC/PAL switchable for a $300 service fee. The HPX170 costs $300 less than the HVX200A, so basically if you want it switchable, it's $5995; if you don't need switchability you just saved $300.
 
WHOA! Nice Panna!!!
That is sweet news to so many! It is great to know for me too cause I juuuust might end up shooting something in Argentina one day... though I like the idea of having to go shoot something in Europe better :D

Thanks for the info Barry, both here and on the HMC-150 thread too.
:dankk2:
 
Two quick questions about the NTSC/PAL switch.

Say I was from the US, had a client in PAL land that wanted my services. I shoot PAL and can then transfer P2 footage to say Blue-Ray (or something) and deliver PAL footage (sounds easy enough). Would I be able to view these clips within FCP, AXP or on my laptop (mac based)? If I can view in an edit program, could I then take these back to the US and edit and have final delivery in PAL?

Next, are we thinking this is coming in on the first day of availability and only from Pany or we will be able to order from anyone and get it done. Just wondering how this works before placing an order...

Thoughts?

Thanks!
John
 
I just preordered one from Julian Diaz at AVS for less than $4900.00.

I bought my HVX200 from him last year and have been very pleased with the prices and customer service they offer.

AVS is an authorized dealer and he is a great guy. He is an account executive that can offer better than their posted price on their site.

I do not know if it is cool to put contact info for him here. Is it cool?
 
This camera looks pretty cool... I wonder if it meets the specs for primary camera footage on high-def broadcast channels such as Discovery HD, Natl' Geo HD, etc.?
 
This camera looks pretty cool... I wonder if it meets the specs for primary camera footage on high-def broadcast channels such as Discovery HD, Natl' Geo HD, etc.?

Seems as if the specs are kind of in flux from what I have been hearing. There is that new Iditarod show that Barry said Original Productions did completely on HVX-200s that was accepted by Discovery. But I have other friends shooting for them and they are still requiring 2/3" cameras for primary origination.

Guess it depends on who you know over there and what the subject matter of your show is. I would imagine that if you can demonstrate that your show needs to be shot on small cameras because of access/undercover/many cameras used (I think Barry or someone said 23 cameras used for the Iditarod show?) that would sign off. However, if you are shooting a normal, two or three camera coverage show, I wonder if they would accept 1/3" camera?

Dan
 
Discovery did accept HDV from 1/3" for Deadliest Catch :)

I remember reading those about 2-3 months ago and the chip size wasn't mentioned just that they wanted 1080 as opposed to 720, but they allowed lower resolutions in very complex arrangements and lengths... just not bunched up...
I betcha the 1/3" thing only came about if they saw noise... I would guess the 170 and the 200a will be accepted, but like puredrifting said, it still depends on content... Deadliest Catch could have been shot on HV20's and they would have probably still accepted it, and as a matter of fact the Capitan camera was a consumer camera.

Personally, I consider the 200a and 170 equals, other than DOF, to many of the high end big bodies that are still in use al around the country. And just for the sake of mentioning it, the shooter is more important... how many times have you seen crap on TV that was shot on big 150k cameras..? Too often.

Ok... I need to see some footage... Jaaaaaan! Please! I can't take it, be merciful, get us something as soon as you guys are done playing with it.
:D
 
A cable network here in Canada is accepting a show I worked on shot on HVX200. They don't complain about the chip size, but they keep asking for 1080p. I can't figure out why... you can't broadcast it, it's not a standard (yet) but they keep parroting it.

It's an international travel show, and shooting 720 24pN works well. Shooting 1080i would mean another, say, six 16GB cards. That's $5,000 worth of P2 cards, plus all sorts of extra external hard drives to lug around. It's just not practical.

I say, if they want 1080p, just shoot 720p and uprez it. They won't see any difference.
 
HAHAHAA!!! Cassic! Can I put that in my sig?

By all means. As long as you don't tell the network... which is why I never mentioned their name! :evil:

I have actually done tests myself, and you have to look closely to see the difference in still frames. Get lots of movement in there, and it's impossible to tell.

I think it all too often becomes a case of perception vs. reality of actual results when it comes to things like that.
 
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