Besides the ac130/ac160, is there any new Panasonic camera coming out to replace the

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Deer Film

Well-known member
Besides the AC90/ac130/ac160, is there any new Panasonic camera coming out this year or early next year to replace the HMC150.
I was not sold on the AC130 or AC160 for auto focus issues. So I will wait for there next upgrade.
Just curious to see what might be coming out next.

Like when I bought a Nikon D70, it seemed almost every year and a half there would be a newer version coming out.
 
I wish they'd update a newer hmc150 with better LCD, focus in red, and also some of the technology of the ac90, but retain CCDs.
For talking heads and much of the normal type work, the hmc130/160a do fine. But for weddings, action shots, automotive and some other things including steady cam and jib shots, an hmc150 type camera seems to still be the choice, despite it's lower (pixel shift) resolution and sharpness.
I watched the 160/130/250 eagerly since their first announcement, reading everything I could before determining they just can't cut it for the wide array of work we do, and instead bought some new 150s, despite being old models.

I really wish they wouldn't abandon CCD in the low end cameras because even if it can't deliver full raster 1080, it still has several advantages.

Imagine an hmc150a with 16x zoom, CCDs, improved OIS, better LCD, possibly dual recording slots, other ac90 type enhancements(backlit pixel shifted sensors, perhaps), and 1080 60p.. Even if it couldnt deliver full raster sharpness like the 160, it'd be one heck of a camera, especially if the autofocus still worked as good as the 150. Id buy it. No doubt.
 
Sadly Panasonic is a business and needs to make money so they essentially R&D and develop new cameras that they think (or hope) will make them buckets of money. You will probably find that the cost of "upgrading" the HMC150 wouldn't be viable with the AC series already in place.

I doubt whether Jan has access to what her big bosses in Japan are deciding as future cameras (or if she does she isn't allow to tell) The basic structure would be that they keep the 150 in production as long as it is producing justifiable sales. It's all about marketing!! When the HMC40 was released, Panasonic tipped the insides into a bigger box and the HMC80 was born ...Now, I am already on my third pair and I love the HMC80 to bits BUT that doesn't mean that they were a success from a business point of view....the marketing guys will now look at the AC-90 and then, based on whether a shoulder-mount version of the AC-90 will make them tons of money, they will either produce one or won't produce one (Of course I wish they would make an AC-100!!)

It all comes down to marketing and projected sales as to whether a new model or updated model is produced.

Chris
 
I understand the best we can hope for is that the hmc150 remains in production. The bortom line is its all about business, of course. The only way that will happen is if it continues to sell. It's frustrating to the small business guys because there still isn't an HD replacement to what the dvx100 was in the SD world. You just decide which compromises you can handle and go from there. The 150 is still the closest model to filling that bill, despite the newer arrivals.
I'd love a shoulder mount ac90. Or shoulder hmc150 (that will never happen).
I'm a shoulder mount kind of guy but have learned to deal with hand helds.
 
The HMC150 is still current and as long as people are still buying it then Panasonic will still manuafacture it. They would be crazy not to!! However when sales drop down to a trickle then they have to make the decision whether to discontinue production or not. I don't think it's anything to do with newer models coming out but simply a business decision based on sales. Take the new AC-90 ...when that comes out at the end of this month, sales of the HMC40 will still continue as long as there are viable,,however if sales of the older model drop below a predetermined cutoff point the HMC40 will simply cease to be made. The HMC150 is unique and the new 130/160 still cannot replace it so smile!! It should be here for quite a while to come. I'd love newer model shoulder mount too but they isn't going to happen purely because Panasonic already have the AC-7 and the HMC80 out there as SM cameras and a third just wouldn't be justified!!

Chris
 
Deer Film said:
Besides the AC90/ac130/ac160, is there any new Panasonic camera coming out this year or early next year to replace the HMC150.
Click to expand...

What would be the problem for you guys with the AC90? (Lack of ND, 3MOS vs CCD?)
Pros: is very good autofocus , OIS, 1080 60/ 50P 2 sdhc cards, good LCD, really sharp image, good motion, xlr etc.
 
Any new camera will most certainly have 3MOS chips for starters so that's a no brainer...I was sure that the AC-130/160 WAS the new HMC150... 1/3rd chips, external ND's (which I hate!) but still a rotten AF system and a poor autoiris too. If you use your 150 in manual mode exclusively then you already have an updated HMC150! If auto is important then the 90 will work just as well, if not better. At wedding receptions I found that having a 1/3rd chip camera made very little difference!! Dark and dingy is dark and dingy and you have to either go for a DSLR with a huge superfast lens or use a light...I still needed an on camera light with my 130's so for me there was little or no gain there anyway ..For theatre work the 23X zoom is awesome!!!

Chris
 
I agree with your thoughts Firehawk. It is sad that the industry pretty much jumped from SD to 1080p. The thing is, for people who shoot live things, 1080p is limiting due to the Blu-ray spec (1080p24 only). 720p60 is my shooting mode and will be for a long time to come. Imho, the camera industry became more cinema oriented with the HD era compared to its previous video orientation. The history of P2 memory shows this. This also is shown by the 130/130/250 models having a long lens in spite of a properly working Auto focus feature. "Hey, your not supposed to move the camera anyway, right?" A true 720p version of the HMC-150 would be fine but I know CCDs are dead and anything HMC is dead.

The HMC-150 is very useful but it is reaching back in time. For my work, I have invested in Varicam "H" models for most of my work in tripod which have a gorgeous 720p image. I will decide between an AC-160 or the new JVC HM-600 for my little cam. I would buy the HPX-250 in heartbeat if Panasonic had included the AVCHD codec for longer record times. Once again, "why would you need to record more than an hour at a time?"...
 
I'm hoping and wishing that Panasonic is looking to come out with a 1" sensor camcorder, using the new 1 inch sensor developed by Aptina, or perhaps a 1 inch sensor by Sony.

The Sony 1" sensor is producing impressive results with the RX100, and the Aptina sensor is likewise performing very well in the new Nikon 1 cameras.

A 1 " sensor could still fit is a very compact and easy to handhold camcorder. And offer some definite image benefits from its larger sensor. I sure hope that Panasonic is looking into this possibility.

Here is some recent info shared by a Vice President of Aptina about their latest 1" sensor:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/1...w-1-inch-sensors-will-save-the-compact-camera
 
Bassman2003 said:
I agree with your thoughts Firehawk. It is sad that the industry pretty much jumped from SD to 1080p. The thing is, for people who shoot live things, 1080p is limiting due to the Blu-ray spec (1080p24 only). 720p60 is my shooting mode and will be for a long time to come. Imho, the camera industry became more cinema oriented with the HD era compared to its previous video orientation. The history of P2 memory shows this. This also is shown by the 130/130/250 models having a long lens in spite of a properly working Auto focus feature. "Hey, your not supposed to move the camera anyway, right?" A true 720p version of the HMC-150 would be fine but I know CCDs are dead and anything HMC is dead.

The HMC-150 is very useful but it is reaching back in time. For my work, I have invested in Varicam "H" models for most of my work in tripod which have a gorgeous 720p image. I will decide between an AC-160 or the new JVC HM-600 for my little cam. I would buy the HPX-250 in heartbeat if Panasonic had included the AVCHD codec for longer record times. Once again, "why would you need to record more than an hour at a time?"...
Click to expand...

The HPX250 can record 144 minutes with (2) 64Gb P2 cards at 1080i @ 100Mbs/sec. If you you use the AVC intra 50 it will double that time length. You don't really need a 24 Mbs/sec codec for extended recordings.
 
I have shot shows where the 1st Act was almost 144 minutes. A decent American football game can go over 144 minutes. So then I would need three 64GB P2 cards if I wanted 100Mbps. I also do not care for AVC Intra 50 and its anamorphic pixels. P2 is too expensive to be using 4:2:0 Intra 50 for most of the work. AVCHD would need one 64GB P2 card for 6 hours of recording. Then you could use the 100Mbps for scripted work.
 
I agree. That's one reason I did not buy an hpx250.
For shorter scripted corporate work, it's great. Especially with the 4:2:2. But for long event work it becomes a problem. Being able to record AVCHD would solve the problem of having to have several p2 cards and also having to mix avcintra with AVCHD footage in post since my other cameras are AVCHD. It's because of this, and cost, that i am considering buying an ac90 for my next camera.
 
I shot with the HPX250 last week and found it lens and control lacking. Panasonic really needs to put more emphasis on their camera front ends. I realize they have a price point to make. But unhappy users will go elsewhere on their next camera purchase. Right now the JVC HM600 may have the better lens. Although IMO its 35mbs 4:2:0 codec does not meet my needs.
 
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Yes, it seems each 1/3" camera choice has a barb that stops you from really being happy with the purchase. I am used to 2/3" camera servos and I need long record times which makes a smaller camera choice for me quite difficult. I am going to compare the AC-160, HM600 & XF300 when the HM600 comes out to see which one has my vote. The HMC-150 seems like a camera that might not ever get sold it is so useful although a head to head with the AC-90 might be interesting.
 
IMO, without the 720/60, there is no head to head comparisson and that's why i don't even have that camera to consider as a back up to my old HMC150 and AC130, i had decided to go Sony because of the sour deal we got with the AC-130 which panasonic refuses to acknowledge and deal with as Toyota and others do, but save for the good deal i got for a used HMC150 i'm still in the pana camp.
 
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