DVX300 with fixed / interchangeable lens and new sensor ?

It is tough to know when/if they will make an updated version. Seems like a natural progression. They still might announce something or release it in the fall. But in the past, Panasonic has mentioned new cameras at NAB. Last year was pretty slow for cameras.
 
I agree - I'll be watching Panasonic and Blackmagic announcements (if any) closely during NAB. For light-limited scenes, it sounds like the GH5s is superior to the BM Ursa Mini Pro - but I love the UMP camcorder form factor, codecs, NDs and switch controls. That's where I feel a DVX200 + GH5s blend would make for a great camera, but maybe that isn't in the cards. At least NAB isn't far off.
 
I'm not confident we will see a new DVX at NAB (I hope I'm wrong) but with development cycles of two years
unless Panasonic has been working on it since the EVA1 it's unlikely.

My feeling is they threw everything at the EVA1 and made a market decision not to produce a GH5 with a camcorder body.
Will Panasonic produce a great interchangeable MFT Camcorder, probably not, but who knows?
All the signs would point to it being a massive success, but will they risk affecting sales of the EVA1?

Personally, I think it would complement and bolster their cinema line-up if they did.
You cant stop progress, and if the market is moving in this direction it would make
sense to be ahead of the curve.

One thing I am certain of is that if any potential DVX replacement is not an interchangeable camera
they (IMO) will have made a huge mistake.



DVX300.jpg

DVX300 V2.jpg
 
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Why would they make an interchangable lens camera replacement for the DVX200 since they already have the EVA1 and next to that the GH5S. I think there is only room there for a fixed lens, parfocal high zoom range camera with the GH5 or GH5S sensor tech. I have the GH5 and the GH5S do not need another interchangable lens camera but a DVX 200 replacement with a good parfocal long zoom range fixed lens would be of interest to me.
 
I dont think Panasonic will produce an interchangeable DVX based on the GH5 sensor (but I really wish they would)
I think Panasonic has decided on the EVA1 as their interchangeable Cine camera in this price range.
However markets and technology are changing so they may be forced to rethink this.
IMO the GH5/s form factor is not ideal as an A camera for run and gun, event shooting, or even low budget filmmaking. Others may disagree.

So even if they produce a DVX200 replacement (for me) that ship has sailed and my next upgrade
as a DVX200 owner will be an interchangeable camera probably the C200, as I think we will see Canon finally bow
to the immense pressure (Zacuto shootout and online forums, not to mention competition from the EVA1
for internal 4K 10bit 4:2:2)
I will probablly use the new XC20 as my B camera as it should match the C200 nicely and cover 80-90% of my
B-Camera requirements.
So the long and short of it for me is I would have jumped (headfirst) if Panasonic offered an interchangeable
GH5/s in a camcorder body as my primary camera and the GH5/s as my B camera, but for me the
C200- XC20 combination with its dual pixel AF is hard to pass up.
Just my opinion, others may disagree.
 
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I think they do not have many other options than to create a DVX300 and a 1" chip camera at professional/broadcast levels. Imho, the DVX200 is not up to the GH5 let alone the GH5s quality of image level. The GH5 and the EVa have interchangeable options sewed up. There is not much in between. I would like to see a small body DVX300 with a 6 or 8x lens with a constant f2.8 aperture. Like a 24-160mm lens. GH5s sensor with IBIS. That would be a great companion to a GH5 or EVa interchangeable lens camera. I think the 13x lens killed the DVX200. Too much jack of all trades, master of none. Let the 1" chip model have a long zoom range.

If the studied how we make money and how we use these cameras a full line is the best approach. Sometimes you need SDOF and sometimes you need ease of handling in a fast moving environment. But you always want your look to be consistent. It seems money is tight at Panasonic as the models are on a pretty slow pace of release. Fine that they are emphasizing the EVa but not everybody wants or needs that camera.
 
Bassman2003 said:
I think they do not have many other options than to create a DVX300 and a 1" chip camera at professional/broadcast levels. Imho, the DVX200 is not up to the GH5 let alone the GH5s quality of image level...
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I certainly agree with your and Ron Evans' comments. An interchangeable DVX isn't going to happen. A DVX200 update with GH5s sensor, IBIS and the other features already on the DVX platform would still make a heck of a camera and would own that segment. Would that Panasonic felt the same way -
 
No hints that I saw on the Panasonic / NAB2018 page. Lots about the EVA-1 including the new 5.7k raw firmware update.
 
To beat the horse truly to death, there is a post on 43rumors dated 26 March saying "Panasonic will announce new camcorders in April. No info yet if there will be any new MFT mount camcorder (don’t think this will happen)". I won't curse it with further speculation, though next week would be nice.
 
bfjewett said:
No info yet if there will be any new MFT mount camcorder (don’t think this will happen)"
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The problem with a MFT mount camcorder would be the cost of a interchangeable motorized zoom lens, which would likely put the camera in the $8K+ or higher price range. So I don't expect this to ever happen.

But I do expect an upgrade to the DVX200 with a fixed zoom lens at some point. This is what I'm hoping will be announced at NAB 2018.
 
It has been a disappointing NAB for me. I have to decide whether to wait for a maybe-someday dvx200 update, or look elsewhere for something in a camcorder body. A GH5s in a fixed-lens camcorder was perhaps too much to wish for, perhaps Panasonic is ceding this to Sony? Wish the UMP was better in low light. I still have an old DVX100 and would prefer to stick with Panasonic...
 
If Panasonic put the GH5S sensor in the DXX-200 body and included in-camera ProRes Raw, how could that no become a legendary camera? The EVA1 and S35, FF crowd want their large sensors and interchangeable lenses, so Panasonic is safe there. Blackmagic is going to drop their Pocket 4K in a weird camera-style format anyway, so why not capitalize off the DVX-200 chassis and lens and create this near perfect camcorder? I’d definitely pick one up for documentary work and I’m heavily invested in an FS7, lenses, and other Sony cameras and gear.

Panasonic has a chance to take over the camcorder market by putting together Blackmagic quality with Panasonic’s durable all-in-one, full featured camera. Sony is terrified of raw, so they wouldn’t be a competitor. Canon absolutely doesn’t have the balls (or the capability that Panasonic has with their current MFT camera chassis and lens). JVC? Nope. This could be the next classic DVX.
 
I think Panasonic just does not have budget to participate in the camera market like they used to. There are some obvious holes in the camera market if you look beyond all of the large sensor hype. The DVX300 and a 1" chip type camcorder at a PRO level are unique and would be a great tool to make money with. As I have stated before in this thread my choices would be:

DVX300 - GH5s sensor, small body with a 24-160mm constant f2.8 lens
PX-180 - 1" or 2/3" sensor with dual ISO and a 20 or 22x lens

Both with 10bit and 8bit codecs. 4k60p. 120fps continuous mode with audio. IBIS. Great Viewfinder. Price em' where you need to, just make them!
 
Panasonic could get close to this by making a servo zoom lens for MFT. Updating firmware in GH5 and GH5S to manage the lens and they have close to what you want ( and I want !!! ). The cameras have the Lanc control on them, I use that with my Libec controller and Olympus 12-50 power zoom. It is simple speed control though with no ramping for smooth operation but the controls are there a nice lens like the Sony ones for the FS7 would be great. I know it would likely cost as much as the camera but if that is the case the combination of GH5S, lens and XLR unit would still be less than the cost of the DVX200 !!! Why would Panasonic put the power zoom control in the cameras if they were not going to bring out a lens newer than the old ones they have or the Olympus ?
 
Power zoom would be ok but I would guess it would not be as fast or as affordable or as good as a fixed lens. A fixed lens gives them a chance to optimize the lens/camera. Plus, you would need batteries to power the lens if it was sold separately. Either way, give us some servo love.
 
I am sure they could make it as good as the fixed lens but of course that would need integration with the camera firmware which would not make the lens attractive to any other MFT mount camera. I am sure they do that now with all their lenses managing the lens camera performance. The 14-140 for instance is around $500 but I am sure a good power servo zoom version may well be $2000. The Olympus 12-50 I have works fine off the battery and I am sure Panasonic have thought about this too since controls are in the menus both for still use and video. Not as neat a package as on integrated camcorder but with the added flexibility of choice of lens for other uses. Would of course lack ND filters add that to the lens and it would be wonderful !!!
 
AlexLF said:
great fixed lens f2.8 + GH5s sensor (if rumors are true) would be a game changer.

but I like DVX200 size, I easily put it on my shoulder...
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I would also be OK with the same size, or perhaps a little smaller. I don't want something that feels/looks like a toy and that is so small that it is sensitive to the slightest bump.

I would like :
- the GH5s multi-aspect sensor/codec/capabilities, and
- a slightly faster lens (either later transition from 2.8>f4, or constant 2.8), and
- a wider lens possibly with shorter telephoto end.

If I'm allowed to dream more, the BM Ursa Mini Pro layout is idea, to me: Status display, switches, and as few things relegated to a menu system as possible.

I agree with the above thoughts that there really is a market for a really good fixed lens camera. I hope Panasonic sees it that way. I'm leaning towards a GH5s but am reluctant to buy anything until I know what Panasonic is up to next so I can plan on a series of easily color-matched cameras. if I knew an updated DVX was coming, getting a GH5s and waiting on the DVX would be easy. For now, I keep glancing at the UMP but want better low-light flexibility.

But I can't wait much longer.
 
A DVX300 would be 10 bit and with a large (15x?) zoom range, so don't expect a constant f2,8. Maybe f2,8-4,0 will happen. That, paired with a faster, cleaner sensor with improved low light (clean 6400 ISO) and better dynamic range (full 12 stops), and you have a very professional tool. Too professional maybe. So there rest certain doubts that Panasonic is going to pull this off.
 
If Panasonic makes a DVX300 with the equivalent of Canon's Dual Pixel Auto Focus as implemented on the 1DX II, I would buy two of them in a heartbeat.

Throw in the GH5s sensor and internal ProRes RAW recording and you have a legendary camera.
 
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