AG-HMC40 Pricing Announced

> It uses the same batteries!

These are the same batteries that all AVCHD (and some older) Panasonic camcorders use. Well, some smaller camcorders accept only the smallest battery like my SD1. I am glad that Panasonic includes the medium-sized battery with this camera.

> The menus are the same and the controls are very similar.

No, the menu and controls are different. The LCD is touch sensitive, and the menu is similar to the one used on the "300" consumer series, not on the HPX-300.

> If the 1/4" 3MOS sensors are scaled down form the HPX-300 1/3" 3MOS sensors,
> it should be pretty good and may have better bright light resolution than the HMC-150.

These are the same sensors as on the on the "300" consumer series.

By the way, does anyone know how EXACTLY the built-in ND filter can be switched on/off? I don't see a dedicated button for it, but I know that the camera has the ND filter.
 
Cranky said:
> It uses the same batteries!
By the way, does anyone know how EXACTLY the built-in ND filter can be switched on/off? I don't see a dedicated button for it, but I know that the camera has the ND filter.
Click to expand...

The brochure says is that it's ND filter is the iris.

Something seems lacking there.
 
Cranky said:
>

No, the menu and controls are different. The LCD is touch sensitive, and the menu is similar to the one used on the "300" consumer series, not on the HPX-300. I have never seen a 300 series menu, maybe it's the same as the 150.
Click to expand...

The menu screens (and menu features) are exactly like on the HMC-150 from the screenshots I have seen.

FYI, the ND Filter is Auto On/Off by IRIS. There is not a selectable switch.
 
> The menu screens (and menu features) are exactly
> like on the HMC-150 from the screenshots I have seen.

Ok, it is a combination. There are features from the 150 in there, but shutter and wb, for example, are controlled the same way as on the TM300. On the preproduction model the menu (what was available of it) looked pretty much as on the TM300.

> FYI, the ND Filter is Auto On/Off by IRIS. There is not a selectable switch.

How it can be auto by something? Is it auto, or is it "by something"?

Umm, I think I understand what they mean: it is similar to the Canon and Sony consumer models, where you adjust exposure, and the camcorder adjusts aperture/shutter/gain/ND for you. If you lock shutter speed, then the camcorder adjusts aperture/ND/gain when you adjust the exposure control. It adds or removes ND filtering to keep the lens at certain ideal aperture, say F4. The HC1/A1U, for example can soak up to 3-1/2 stops in 1/2-stop increments, the Canon camcorders can soak up to 4 stops in 1/4-stop increments. So you increase or decrease exposure and stay at the same F4 or F5.6 for quite a long time, with the ND filters kicking in and out.

Is it the same thing on the HMC40? In this case Panasonic is way behind its competitors, offering a consumer-grade feature on a supposedly prosumer camcorder.

Or is it only one position, ON/OFF, and nothing else? This would be lame.
 
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I agree with Cranky, it's not easy to create a standard across brands... Ultimately the way it has to be done is the good old fashion "side by side" comparison, The only problem with those is the person doing them, They have to be really familiar with all the camera controls and settings (as some cameras have noise reduction and things that help the final image)

I think the HMC40 would be a Fair B-cam for the 150, maybe not the best but it sure helps that is made by the same people! =)
 
AG-HMC40 Pricing Released

AG-HMC40 Pricing Released

Goldenplates said:
Will you put a link to the dealer you ordered from? That price seems very low compared to the original MSRP of $3,195
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http://www.avalive.com/Panasonic/AG-HMC40/65283/productDetail.php

Was told that these will be VERY HARD to get with only 200 or so coming in nationwide first round.

I also ordered the Mic Mount Kit.
http://www.avalive.com/Panasonic/AG-MYA30G/74376/productDetail.php

All came with free shipping FWIW.

Looking forward to it.
 
It seems that Panasonic want's us to think this is a Pro level camera and the brochure touts the high end features like focus graph, etc.

However, there seems to be some stuff that is automatic or we are not sure of just yet. WB (and WB offset) is always a critical feature along with manual exposure, not just an exposure lock. It looks to me a lot of external switches are missing for routinely used functions.

I saw an AGC on the viewfinder, so it has gain. Probably menu adjustable.

Im sure we have lots of good and bad stuff to learn about this camera.
 
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surfeast said:
http://www.avalive.com/Panasonic/AG-HMC40/65283/productDetail.php

Was told that these will be VERY HARD to get with only 200 or so coming in nationwide first round.

I also ordered the Mic Mount Kit.
http://www.avalive.com/Panasonic/AG-MYA30G/74376/productDetail.php

All came with free shipping FWIW.

Looking forward to it.
Click to expand...
Do they really have the cam and the XLR adapter in stock? I've seen mixed opinions about these guys. Please follow up after you receive the camcorder!
 
Cranky said:
Do they really have the cam and the XLR adapter in stock? I've seen mixed opinions about these guys. Please follow up after you receive the camcorder!
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It is a pre order as the website clearly says SHIPPING AUGUST.. I have had no issues in dealing with them for my 2 AG-HMC150's and they shipped the batteries as promised after the camera when they said they would. I think like most dealers they get put into situations from Panasonic's whacky delivery schedules and they were clear only 200 or so nation wide are coming in first round in August so most dealers will only have a few.
 
jeff9329 said:
It seems that Panasonic want's us to this this is a Pro level camera and the brochure touts the high end features like focus graph, etc.

However, there seems to be some stuff that is automatic or we are not sure of just yet. WB (and WB offset) is always a critical feature along with manual exposure, not just an exposure lock. It looks to me a lot of external switches are missing for routinely used functions.
Click to expand...

The camera is what it is.

I don't think for a moment that a 3MOS 1/4 inch chip camera is to be mistaken as "pro level" whatever that means.

If you like how it records video, and your clients do as well, then to me at least, that's all that is important.
 
> It is a pre order as the website clearly says SHIPPING AUGUST.

Yesterday their website did say "in stock". Heck, it still does. One can consider it as misinformation or as a straight out lie. Anyway, thanks for the info. I think I will stick with B&H.

> I don't think for a moment that a 3MOS 1/4 inch chip camera
> is to be mistaken as "pro level" whatever that means.

Can a V1U be mistaken as "pro level"? What about the HM100?

> If you like how it records video, and your clients do as well,
> then to me at least, that's all that is important.

Right. By the way, this is a video shot with the TM300, which has the same sensors (and I think, the same optics) as the HMC40: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luQubVABroQ&fmt=22
 
Panasonic informed us that we will have 10 available to us "to ship in July" and 15 more "to ship in August" (referring to the shipment from them to us btw). My gut tells me to triple check the July thing b/c that just sounds too good to be true. I'll post an update when I have that. In the meantime, feel free to email me (as opposed to pm's) for pricing, or if you have technical questions which remain unanswered.
 
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Shawn is a good man and pleasant to deal with.

In fact, the dvxuser sponsors are among the best I've seen of any web site.
 
I am interested in both the HMC40 and JVC HM100U as a backup cam, since the JVC uses 1/4 inch CCD, so the 1080p resolution is almost certainly achieved by pixel shifting. I seriously doubt the low-light performance of the JVC. Now the HMC40 uses 2M 1/4.1 inch 3MOS, presumably it will have excellent image with enough lighting, but how is the low-light performance? This is a million dollar question w/o answer yet.
If the HMC40 turns out to have good low-light performance, IMHO, it is a far better value than the HM100U despite the CMOS sensor, does anyone know if Panasonic will update the firmware to get rid off flash-banding, like they did to the HPX300 recently? Or they will not do this in order to protect the HPX300, which is a lot more expensive. I don't like the GH1 due to the lack of 60i and 30p at 1080 resolution.
 
Cranky said:
> It is a pre order as the website clearly says SHIPPING AUGUST.

Yesterday their website did say "in stock". Heck, it still does. One can consider it as misinformation or as a straight out lie. Anyway, thanks for the info. I think I will stick with B&H.

> I don't think for a moment that a 3MOS 1/4 inch chip camera
> is to be mistaken as "pro level" whatever that means.

Can a V1U be mistaken as "pro level"? What about the HM100?

> If you like how it records video, and your clients do as well,
> then to me at least, that's all that is important.

Right. By the way, this is a video shot with the TM300, which has the same sensors (and I think, the same optics) as the HMC40: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luQubVABroQ&fmt=22
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I asked why it said in stock and the answer was they have an issue with their database and cart taking an order if the item is not "in stock" They are working on a fix to eliminate this issue on the next program update . I saw clearly shipping August when I ordered so it was no problem. As far as July shipment I think that is wishful thinking since the Panasonic rep confirmed August when I spoke to him.
 
lifepo4 said:
...Or they will not do this in order to protect the HPX300, which is a lot more expensive...
Click to expand...

The HMC40 and HPX300 aren't even in the same sport, let alone league. One is a handheld AVCHD SDHC camera with 1/4.1 chips and a dinky little fixed lens, one is shouldermount AVC-Intra 100 P2 camera with 1/3 chips and a better mechanical lens. People looking at the HPX300 aren't going to give a second thought to the HMC40 instead just because it includes the flash banding update for the CMOS chips (which I would be very surprised if they didn't include it).
 
With all the professional features and capability available to HPX300, it is still a crippled product for the most demanding folks due to the CMOS rolling shutter. Anyway, if Panasonic does provide an update to solve the flash banding, HMC40 is going to be a hit, if it also has similar low-light sensivity as the HMC150.
 
Been shooting with the HPX300 for about a month now.

Mostly action sports.

There is a technique to minimize the shudder, which occurs in a combination of circumstances: full zoom, 1080/24p, etc.

Knowing that, we have yet to have an issue of any significance.
 
Cool,

Cool,

David S. said:
Been shooting with the HPX300 for about a month now.

Mostly action sports.

There is a technique to minimize the shudder, which occurs in a combination of circumstances: full zoom, 1080/24p, etc.

Knowing that, we have yet to have an issue of any significance.
Click to expand...


Wonderful! Can you show any video where you may encounter the limitation of the CMOS sensor, say fast pan, walking around with camera w/o tripod, subject the camera to random vibration (say in a car off the road). I am sure the general video quality of this camera is very very good, but would hate to use it a primamry camera. Thanks a lot!

Regards,

Norman
 
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