HP-500 vs HPX502 vs HPX555 -which to buy in Australia?

D

David See

Active member
Hi all,

I guessed this question would have been asked already, but I couldn't find it anywhere with a search, so here goes:

I am in Australia and am considering and HP502. Panasonic in Australia only provide the 502 to its distributors.

Tonight I have found a site that sells the 500 and 555, but not the 502. Could anyone tell me what the differences are between the three, and would I be safe in buying a 555 opposed to a 502, as it would save me around $4000.

I understand the 500 is for the US and the 555 is for Japan, but are there any other differences that will make the 500 or 555 unsuitable for Australian use? I know they ll shoot in PAL and NTSC.

Thanks and regards,

David
 
Hpx 502 v hpx 555

Hpx 502 v hpx 555

Hi David,

As far as I can tell the HPX555 is EXACTLY the same camera as the 502. The only difference is that the 555's warranty will only be honored in Japan, while the 502's warranty will only be honored in Aust.


Regards


George
 
So does that mean the Japanese version (555) has Japanese or English menus on the camera?

HPX-500 $12,650 (globalmediapro.com)

HPX-555 $13,272 (globalmediapro.com)

HPX-502 $15,500 (Australian Reseller)
 
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We just recently purchaced our HPX555 from Global Media Pro as well as the P2 cards. Camera is all English and the Menus are all switchable to English. That Price sure has gone up, Global Media prices vary according to the AUS/YEN and US dollar etc. We purchased a month ago for 10,000 and a month before that it was only $9300!
We took the gamble with the warranty thing but to buy the Aussie 502 here in was just too expensive, the best price I got just for the body was $15,000.
I have a brother inlaw in living in Japan so I guess he could help me out if anything serious went wrong with the camera.

Feel free to send me a private message if you need any more info.

Gary.
 
David, the issue if you buy the Japanese version is your ability to communicate in Japanese if you have a warranty issue. Your first port of call is to make a phone call and I assure you the person on the other end will speak japanese. You may get lucky and have someone who has some English ability.
 
well the specs & ability are all the same for 502 & 555 the prices of hpx555 is lower & it carries only japanese warranty but the camera has japenese book (engligh one is readily downloadable from panny site) though the hpx555 has engllish menus ... what if the camera goes wrong (which shall be a remote possibility) ...

we have bought mostly grey imports as they come cheap & have had NILL probs.
 
i would suggest not buy from globalmediapro... ? lots of mixed opinions, crappy support... don't recommend.
 
David, please see fine print at bottom of page

"All prices exclude any local taxes (such as VAT, GST) and local duties if applicable."

SO add your GST and import duty.
 
So it works out that the GlobalMediaPro camera comes in @ $2087 less than the Australian reseller's quote, when you include the 32gb card that comes free with the Australian camera at the moment.

In the big picture, that is not a lot of money for peace of mind by buying locally.

That said, a wireless microphone kit will save me around $500 if I buy through GMP
 
There are no import duties on this type of equipment from certain local countries around Aus, includes New Zealand, Singapore etc. I made quite a few phone calls to make sure before our purchase. You do have to pay GST (tax) before customs release the import though.

I had no problems with Global Media Pro at all, order arrived within 2 weeks.
I got the 555 and 2 x 32GB cards $14,500 inc GST. Current 502 price here that I have found for the same is around $18,000 to $19,500.

I would have loved nothing more than to purchase the Aussie 502 but our budget was stretched as it was, at least this way I now own the camera outright.

http://www.videoguys.com.au/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=2797
 
Hi Guys
I bought Two LI batteries from GMP and their service was slow, shipping/custom clearance was abismaly slow, by the time I added duty/gst ect, I didn't save much from buying local, and if they are problematic, i'm St*%#d.
Bartter hard with the local dealers, I've since bought from Ambertech and Lemac, they both are great with product/knowledge/service. Price is irrelevant when issues come up..and believe me they do, a colleague had his 502 slots fall over and had to be sent for major service.
If you do buy "Grey" do it face to face from someone here in OZ they are out there. Hard to swim the "ditch" to get satisfaction if you cam goes down.
Cheers
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
Of course my hpx comes from Japan so it is a 555. Ive never had so much as a burp from my camera. But as Tom says, you just never know.
 
Hi Noel,
They all come from Japan, But not all dealers will give you good support when it goes "Pear Shaped".
I'd look at a EX Olympics camera if I were buying one at this point in time. Mine (SPX800) was a EX winter Olympics cam , it was tested / set-up , and has not missed a beat. and was a great $$ buy too.
Cheers
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
We were in the same boat when we bought our 502. The price differance was not that big when you considered that GST and postage still had to be added to the price. Add to that the fact that the 5 year warranty only covered the nation of purchase and the decision was alot easier.
Yes we paid a little more but every time we needed support it was fixed in a day instead of a month.
 
Hi David,

If you want local support from Panasonic and our delaers I would urge you not to buy from a Grey Importer. Please feel free to send me a pm if you would like me to see if there is anything we can do to convince you to buy locally.
 
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Tom 4 said:
Hi Noel,
They all come from Japan, But not all dealers will give you good support when it goes "Pear Shaped".
Click to expand...

Very true, but I was in Japan almost 4 years, thus why i got my HPX there, not much choice really for me.
 
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