Anything earth-shattering camera-wise at NAB 09?

Bryan

Bryan

Well-known member
I'm thinking about buying an HMC-150, but I keep hearing folks say "wait for NAB."

Anyone heard anything about new cameras at this year's conference? I'm doubting it...
 
A few of the big ones are slowing development, and even before that I didn't specifically hear of any that were going to be making a breakthrough there. Even if they were, though, that's not really a reason to not buy he HMC now. It's a great camera no matter what gets shown off in some booth whenever NAB is this year.
 
Keep something else in mind, "announcement date" and "delivery date" are two wildly differing things. The HMC150 was announced at last NAB, but only released in I believe November. So, the camera is still very new. And there's a very good chance some of these companies will announce new gear at NAB that we won't see for months.

If you need a camera now and like the HMC, I'd say wait until the day after NAB and if there's nothing announced and released, buy it, it's a great camera and will likely do great things for you.
 
Last fall (early fall, around August I think? I guess that's actually summer, but oh well), there was a Panasonic rep at a trade show talking specifically about the HMC150. During Q&A I asked a couple of questions. One was "why no dual SDHC card slots?" to which I was told "it's coming...er, um...well, but don't wait for it if you need a camera now....you didn't hear that from me! haha!" So take that however you wish.

After that, I launched straight into "what sort of improvements might we expect on the HMC150A, or the next version?" I got a list of things they supposedly had wanted on the HMC150 but couldn't get done in time. Aside from the dual card slots, there was a desire to add another higher quality level on top of the ones available now. There were a couple of other tweaks he listed, but after those two items I was fairly satisfied with the potential improvements.

So again, take it or leave it, but I would guess there's a chance that the next revision will be announced at NAB because otherwise, there's not another good launch opportunity until April 2010. If HMC150 sales are lagging badly, they'll launch a new revision ASAP. If they like the current sales numbers, they'll likely hold off another year. My hunch is that they see more dollar signs available with a revision.

Just speculation based on one Panasonic guy's talk.
 
If you can wait, it probably doesn't hurt to wait, but there is a good chance that you'll be in the same boat after NAB as you are now.

One thing to consider is I saved $500 from a B&H NAB special and got another $500 rebate from visiting the booths. If not a lot of people are going to be at NAB or spending money at NAB, there is a good chance that there will be bigger offers to people who do want to buy. So waiting a few weeks might save you a few hundred bucks.
 
Earth shattering? Is there ever? But theres some stuff that would very cool to be there for.
 
scapsinger said:
Last fall (early fall, around August I think? I guess that's actually summer, but oh well), there was a Panasonic rep at a trade show talking specifically about the HMC150. During Q&A I asked a couple of questions. One was "why no dual SDHC card slots?" to which I was told "it's coming...er, um...well, but don't wait for it if you need a camera now....you didn't hear that from me! haha!" So take that however you wish.

After that, I launched straight into "what sort of improvements might we expect on the HMC150A, or the next version?" I got a list of things they supposedly had wanted on the HMC150 but couldn't get done in time. Aside from the dual card slots, there was a desire to add another higher quality level on top of the ones available now. There were a couple of other tweaks he listed, but after those two items I was fairly satisfied with the potential improvements.

So again, take it or leave it, but I would guess there's a chance that the next revision will be announced at NAB because otherwise, there's not another good launch opportunity until April 2010. If HMC150 sales are lagging badly, they'll launch a new revision ASAP. If they like the current sales numbers, they'll likely hold off another year. My hunch is that they see more dollar signs available with a revision.

Just speculation based on one Panasonic guy's talk.
Click to expand...

See...now I'm never going to end up buying a camera cause I'll be waiting for this one:grin:.
 
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