Bad time to buy a HPX170?

G

gammalpuma

Member
Merry Christmas guys! Hope you all got big presents this year!

I'm thinking of buying a HPX170 before the end of the year (because of tax issues) and was just thinking, am I doing the right thing rushing to get one? It has been out for a long time so an update should be near, right? And soon will the Scarlet come (maybe). Is this a bad time to buy a HPX170?
 
If a new camera comes out that you want, sell the old one and get the new one. I'm tired of typing out long answers to this, so I'll keep it at that.
 
Cassius said:
If a new camera comes out that you want, sell the old one and get the new one. I'm tired of typing out long answers to this, so I'll keep it at that.
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I'm sorry if I asked a question that is frequently asked, but this is one of those questions that cannot be figured out by searching the forum. I looked back pretty far in the archive and couldn't see any new thread on this topic, so this was the only option I have.

Let me rephrase it:
I'm waiting to buy a new Macbook Pro because the word on the street is that new ones will come in january. Is there any rumors like that when it comes to the HPX170 or cameras that compete with HPX170. I'm really streaching my budget by buying one camera. Paying the difference between the two cameras if I buy yet another one and sell my old will be to much for me.

And again, merry christmas! =)
 
There's always new stuff coming up . The buzz right now seems to be with the DSLRs that can take HD video.
 
gammalpuma said:
Merry Christmas guys! Hope you all got big presents this year!

I'm thinking of buying a HPX170 before the end of the year (because of tax issues) and was just thinking, am I doing the right thing rushing to get one? It has been out for a long time so an update should be near, right? And soon will the Scarlet come (maybe). Is this a bad time to buy a HPX170?
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There was a post, not too long ago, on the DVI Network in reference to that very question. It was replied to by Jan C. of Panasonic who indicated that there were no plans for a HPX170 replacement for a "long time to come." (search that forum and I'm sure you will find the post) Of course, things change rapidly in the world of technology and business decisions can be altered in response to those same changes, but as one poster has already stated, the answer to your question lies in the urgency of your quest. NAB is coming up in a few months and if there is to be a new camera, it will most probably be presented at that time but that said, I find it hard to believe that there would be a CCD replacement for the 170 that would maintain its weight and cost benefits, a CMOS version with full raster? Well, full raster would be nice but not sure I would forgo the advantages of the CCD but that may or may not be relevant depending upon your subject matter.
Good luck with whatever you decide... I personally own a 170 and a 300 and I am very happy with both.
 
I will complete my 170 purchase on Monday. (Texas Media systems) Very excited.. and nothing to shoot yet.

Merry Christmas!
 
is the $500 rebate is still on? specialized c was great with my purchase . extra battery/ white balance card kit. the hpx170 will give you great images. there will be great deals on used ones soon. why not get used ? they have a 5 year warrenty so you can save some $$$. i have a waterhousing left over as well as a century 1.6 telephoto kicking around. I moved on to 5d m2 set up.
 
I think you will really enjoy it. I have had mine since June of this year and am very happy. Sure its not as sharp as the EX1 nor have as long a lens as some others. But you just can't beat the "naturalness of the image you can get with it. I have a theory about why you are seeing diminishing forum entries about the HPX170 over the past several months. Its because owners are happy with them and not having many problems.
 
In my experience, camera life cycles are staggered anyway. Nothing is going to outright replace the HPX, which is still pretty new, and make it obsolete. What's coming out next really shouldn't even be on your mind unless it's been announced for the next couple of weeks. Which nothing has.
 
Mark Williams said:
I think you will really enjoy it. I have had mine since June of this year and am very happy. Sure its not as sharp as the EX1 nor have as long a lens as some others. But you just can't beat the "naturalness of the image you can get with it. I have a theory about why you are seeing diminishing forum entries about the HPX170 over the past several months. Its because owners are happy with them and not having many problems.
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I agree and think that your explanation can be extended to the entire Panasonic P2 line. A quick review of the number of solution seeking & complaint ridden posts on the various other forums, particularly DVInfo, will reveal that the site is inundated with posts to the Sony section while there is a paucity of activity in the Panny section. While this may in part be due to a greater number of Sony user/owners, I suspect that in large part it is a satisfaction issue rather than the former. In addition, with the same thought in mind, a large percentage of the Sony posts address the need for various and sundry accessories that are required to render their cameras usable from many different perspectives, i.e. shoulder mounts, reinforced base-plates, IR filters, Nano Flash units, etc., none of which are needed for the HPX Cameras.
 
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I continue to love my HPX170, it really is a classic, just like the DVX100A was. Not the flashiest or highest specs but it is solid, easy to use and makes outstanding pictures.

Dan
 
Ron777 said:
There was a post, not too long ago, on the DVI Network in reference to that very question. It was replied to by Jan C. of Panasonic who indicated that there were no plans for a HPX170 replacement for a "long time to come." (search that forum and I'm sure you will find the post) Of course, things change rapidly in the world of technology and business decisions can be altered in response to those same changes, but as one poster has already stated, the answer to your question lies in the urgency of your quest. NAB is coming up in a few months and if there is to be a new camera, it will most probably be presented at that time
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Hi Ron777 and thanks a lot for the reply! This was exactly what I was looking for. I will definately check out that post when I finnish editing today.

And very good info to have about NAB. I didn't know that, but now I can make a more informed decision.

jetaddiction@mac.com said:
is the $500 rebate is still on? specialized c was great with my purchase . extra battery/ white balance card kit. the hpx170 will give you great images. there will be great deals on used ones soon. why not get used ? they have a 5 year warrenty so you can save some $$$. i have a waterhousing left over as well as a century 1.6 telephoto kicking around. I moved on to 5d m2 set up.
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I've heard about the $500 rebate, but is that only in the US or world wide? I live in Sweden and haven't seen anything about a rebate here.

Since I'm buying it through my company it's a hassle to buy used items from abroad, and it may cost more with the legal abvice I would need to make it correctly. But on the other hand I only need that advice once and then I know how to do it... The waterhousing sounds interresting. I will PM you and we can talk about it there (and you take on the 5d m2).
 
Mark Williams said:
I have a theory about why you are seeing diminishing forum entries about the HPX170 over the past several months. Its because owners are happy with them and not having many problems.
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that would be me. i bought my hpx back in April or May and havent had any complaints. my images are awesome. i still have the original hvx200 and now use it as a B cam. having both these cameras are nice.
 
none of this matters. and here's why i get so frustrated with these kinds of questions;

there is ALWAYS a new __________ around the corner. if not this year, then definitely in the next 18 months. if you cant pay for a camera with paying jobs in that amount of time, OR if a rebate of $______ is going to decide the go or no go. then you really dont need to make the purchase to begin with.

maybe ive been listening to too much dave ramsey ; )

but as far as the technical goes - the only things that could possibly come out that would "obsolete" an HVX/HPX would be higher res mainstream HD delivery or maybe widespread 3D and neither of those will be happening at the deliverable level within the next 2 (and id predict 5+) years. the red scarlet or a fully video enabled DSLR is about the only thing id see that would effect the HXV/HPX user base - and id bet that it will be late 2010 before people can readily put their hands on either of those anyway.
 
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My speculation is, the next big thing is going to be a full HDSLR video capability on a camcorder body, e.g a full on 35mm 5D sensor or Crop 7D sensor on a XL H1 body. But seeing that a complete Red Scarlet S35mm system would be around 15k - 20k, dont expect anything less than $12k from Canon, JVC, Panasonic or Sony.
 
Panasonic "updates" tend to run on a 3 year cycle. So we should be safe for another 2 years.

It could change at any time but they usually like to make there development dollars back before releasing a "new" camera. As long as sales are steady I have a hard time believing they will break that cycle.
 
Denwa said:
Panasonic "updates" tend to run on a 3 year cycle. So we should be safe for another 2 years.

It could change at any time but they usually like to make there development dollars back before releasing a "new" camera. As long as sales are steady I have a hard time believing they will break that cycle.
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Many thanks Denwa! Once again something I didn't know!

wgzn said:
none of this matters. and here's why i get so frustrated with these kinds of questions;

there is ALWAYS a new __________ around the corner. if not this year, then definitely in the next 18 months. if you cant pay for a camera with paying jobs in that amount of time, OR if a rebate of $______ is going to decide the go or no go. then you really dont need to make the purchase to begin with.

maybe ive been listening to too much dave ramsey ; )

but as far as the technical goes - the only things that could possibly come out that would "obsolete" an HVX/HPX would be higher res mainstream HD delivery or maybe widespread 3D and neither of those will be happening at the deliverable level within the next 2 (and id predict 5+) years. the red scarlet or a fully video enabled DSLR is about the only thing id see that would effect the HXV/HPX user base - and id bet that it will be late 2010 before people can readily put their hands on either of those anyway.
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Hi wgzn! Thanks for the reply!

I don't think you understand what I'm saying. I'm sorry if I have been unclear, I will try to rephrase my question once again.

I would be really mad if I bought a HPX170 two weeks before the HPX171 came out. Especially if I later found out that this was widely known. Then it would have been better to wait, maybe rent a camera for the next job and then buy the HPX171 when that came out.

Same thing if Sony, Red or whatever company was about to release a new camera in the next month. Then I would rather wait and see what they released so I could make an informed decision.

Or if NAB was coming up very soon, and I could get the release dates for the potential new cameras then.

Or if Panasonic has a normal "life cycle" that indicated that a new camera is coming very soon.

Or just another reason that I haven't thought about.

I don't like to rent equipment, but I could do it for some time if that meant that I would get a better camera for about the same price after a few months.

I do agree with you that there will always be something new coming out. But for me it makes a big difference if it is in three months or three years. And I can afford to buy the camera, but for me it's a big investment. That's why I try to collect as much information as possible.



Again a big thanks for all advice! This really helps a lot!
 
I do agree with you that there will always be something new coming out. But for me it makes a big difference if it is in three months or three years. And I can afford to buy the camera, but for me it's a big investment. That's why I try to collect as much information as possible.
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youre asking the right questions. just dont let it become an ulcer-inducing obsession for you ; )
the only big things on the horizon look to be the fixed lens scarlet or a flushed out DSLR and it will be several months to a year on either.
 
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