filmguy123
Veteran
Yes, venting does make people feel better. Just like when you have a crappy day at work and have a beer and vent about your boss. It doesn't fix it, but it does make you feel better.
"forum'ers" are merely a representation of a demographic. Panasonic is made up of marketing and advertising and consumer research divisions as well - not just sales and engineering. It is a companies responsibility to figure out what their customers want, and companies vigorously pursue this. I have been approached by Panasonic as they scour vimeo to find footage shot on their cameras to promote on their websites because they wanted to showcase it. I have participated in market research groups from various companies paying hundreds of dollars just to get consumer opinions. You can bet very well they read forums and blogs and comments listen to customers at booths, etc. Jan used to hunt these forums and even ask threads "what do you want to see in AF100" etc. There have been no shortage of people saying that they want - a midrange $5-$8k interchangeable offering from Panasonic. M4/3 makes sense, an S35 would have been cool too - but for years they have delivered neither. And yes, I have talked to Panasonic reps directly and many others have as well. Forums is the 2015 version of where MANY companies go for feedback - it's total, brutal honest conversations and arguing. Companies would have paid thousands for this sort of market research only 20 years ago.
Brands should take it as a compliment when their users get pissed. It means their users are invested and care about their products. I believe Panny gave us what their interpretation of what people are asking for - a GH4 suited for more run and gun work. My take is, they made the assumption that run and gun users are only using interchangeable lenses because they had to, and overlooked the possibility that perhaps they have grown to WANT to. From observing their marketing on this, it does seem they were trying to appeal to the group of people asking for an AF200/run'n'gun styled GH4. If this is true, they missed the boat for many people. No doubt it will hit it for some.
Maybe their business guys know best, and business is business. But as Panny and other companies show us every year, the business guys don't always know best. If they did, there would never be flops would there be? I hope the DVX200 succeeds for the people who dig it, but either way, I'm butt hurt that my favorite camera company didn't produce for the 4th year in a row what many of us want.
"forum'ers" are merely a representation of a demographic. Panasonic is made up of marketing and advertising and consumer research divisions as well - not just sales and engineering. It is a companies responsibility to figure out what their customers want, and companies vigorously pursue this. I have been approached by Panasonic as they scour vimeo to find footage shot on their cameras to promote on their websites because they wanted to showcase it. I have participated in market research groups from various companies paying hundreds of dollars just to get consumer opinions. You can bet very well they read forums and blogs and comments listen to customers at booths, etc. Jan used to hunt these forums and even ask threads "what do you want to see in AF100" etc. There have been no shortage of people saying that they want - a midrange $5-$8k interchangeable offering from Panasonic. M4/3 makes sense, an S35 would have been cool too - but for years they have delivered neither. And yes, I have talked to Panasonic reps directly and many others have as well. Forums is the 2015 version of where MANY companies go for feedback - it's total, brutal honest conversations and arguing. Companies would have paid thousands for this sort of market research only 20 years ago.
Brands should take it as a compliment when their users get pissed. It means their users are invested and care about their products. I believe Panny gave us what their interpretation of what people are asking for - a GH4 suited for more run and gun work. My take is, they made the assumption that run and gun users are only using interchangeable lenses because they had to, and overlooked the possibility that perhaps they have grown to WANT to. From observing their marketing on this, it does seem they were trying to appeal to the group of people asking for an AF200/run'n'gun styled GH4. If this is true, they missed the boat for many people. No doubt it will hit it for some.
Maybe their business guys know best, and business is business. But as Panny and other companies show us every year, the business guys don't always know best. If they did, there would never be flops would there be? I hope the DVX200 succeeds for the people who dig it, but either way, I'm butt hurt that my favorite camera company didn't produce for the 4th year in a row what many of us want.
