OTHER: First Look: Panasonic PX270

Hi Barry

first of all I would like to say that it is a real pity you will not write a book on the PX270. I got your book on the AC160 and it helped a lot.

I just got a PX270 and there is one thing I dont understand and I dont find any piece of info about: despite the AC160 which allowed the user to toggle between two different zebra values, it looks like on the PX270 both zebras are being displayed at the same time. But how can you figure out which is which? I haved programmed 80 percent for skin tones and 100 percent zebras for complete overexposure. But how can I find out which is which on the screen?

Heeelp :-)
 
So is the PX270 Panasonic's answer to Sony's EX3 ? I say this because the images ( from what I've seen so far ) are similar... that is, very professional, clean, nice looking... video. It doesn't remind me of film. It's fixed lens also does not inspire me to use it for filmmaking. Even at 10 bit, and with a myriad of tweakable image parameters, the images to me don't look as filmic. In fact , they look a bit flat and artificial ( CMOS in general have this characteristic look ) when compared to the organic look of film. Maybe Panasonic should have stuck with CCDs ? Or maybe filmmakers should be looking elsewhere? ( Perhaps to the successor of the AF100A ? )
 
EDV said:
It doesn't remind me of film. It's fixed lens also does not inspire me to use it for filmmaking. Even at 10 bit, and with a myriad of tweakable image parameters, the images to me don't look as filmic. In fact , they look a bit flat and artificial ( CMOS in general have this characteristic look ) when compared to the organic look of film. Maybe Panasonic should have stuck with CCDs ? Or maybe filmmakers should be looking elsewhere? ( Perhaps to the successor of the AF100A ? )
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What in the world makes you think this camera is a cinema camera? If you want that, you're barking up the wrong tree. You're not even in the right forest. For cinema, you would be better served with a Sony F55. Or an Arri Alexa. Or a Red Epic Dragon. Or any of the other cameras aimed at cinematographers, all the way down to the Sony FS100 and the Blackmagic Design cameras. Something with a single S35 chip, interchangeable lenses (PL mount), 14+ stops of dynamic range, and some variation on s-log, and 12 bit 4:4:4, and an Intraframe CODEC. And that camera is not the AJ-PX270.

You don't want the AJ-PX270. I do. But only if Panasonic finishes developing the darn thing. I want the LongGOP CODECs to be finished and all framerates supported. What the heck would a cinematographer do with a LongGOP CODEC?
 
If you look at the print ads for the PX270, it's definitely aimed at the live events, news market where super fast turnaround and small form factor of the cam are needed. And that particular segment of the production community is not dying at all. Trying to mimic what the PX270 can do on 4K PL cinema style will set you back about $180K just on the 3 zoom PL lenses fr Fujinon & Canon and multiple cam bodies & ops needed. Just not cost-effective nor realistic for today's shrinking budget.
 
I don't have $20 000 + to spend on those high end cameras ( if I did, I'd probably go with the C300 )and I don't want to go 4K. Is it too much to ask for something from Panasonic? I mean, the AF-100 came close, maybe a follow up AF-200 with native 4:2:2 10 bit and P2 recording?
 
EDV said:
I don't have $20 000 + to spend on those high end cameras ( if I did, I'd probably go with the C300 )and I don't want to go 4K. Is it too much to ask for something from Panasonic? I mean, the AF-100 came close, maybe a follow up AF-200 with native 4:2:2 10 bit and P2 recording?
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It is absolutely not too much to ask. I want that too. But... it's not the AJ-PX270.
 
While we're at it, it'd be nice to be able to tweak individual color channels R, G, B , as I believe you can do on the PX270. That is just a total overkill for a news / event cameraman!!
 
EDV said:
While we're at it, it'd be nice to be able to tweak individual color channels R, G, B , as I believe you can do on the PX270. That is just a total overkill for a news / event cameraman!!
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And your point is only cinema people need proper color? That is the main reason I purchased the PX-270 and I do not make movies...
 
Color doesn't seem to matter much to anyone since CMOS sensors took over the world
 
EDV said:
While we're at it, it'd be nice to be able to tweak individual color channels R, G, B , as I believe you can do on the PX270. That is just a total overkill for a news / event cameraman!!
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Not overkill, no. Camera matching is certainly a requirement for broadcast and event coverage. As is baking in a "look". In this market, speed is often a necessity. There's often no time for color grading in post. Indeed, there's often no post at all. This is why the big VariCams have their 12 axis matrix control available. That the AJ-PX270 has this too just shows that its roots are VariCam, not cinema.
 
After searching for weeks for a comprehensive look at the PX270 I come here and get all of my questions answered. After owning the HVX200 for close to ten years I am really in need of an update, just have to assess my needs for AVCI or AVCHD or maybe even the GH4 at this point. For me $7000 is a lot of cash to spend on a cam, and once I do it's going to be another ten years before I update.

EDV said:
I don't have $20 000 + to spend on those high end cameras ( if I did, I'd probably go with the C300 )and I don't want to go 4K. Is it too much to ask for something from Panasonic? I mean, the AF-100 came close, maybe a follow up AF-200 with native 4:2:2 10 bit and P2 recording?
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THIS is what I am really looking for. The AF100 is just too much a quick answer to the Canon C100 and other large format sensor cams. No 10 bit 4:2:2 and not a nice price for the features made it a no go for me. An AF200 with at the very least dual P2 slots and AVCI or Ultra at 100mbps would have me sold.
 
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TertlTank said:
The AF100 is just too much a quick answer to the Canon C100 and other large format sensor cams.
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Huh? The AF100 predates the Canon by three years. It defined the class of camcorder it's in. All the others came later. But this thread is about the AJ-PX270, not about a hoped-for AF100 replacement. These two are not at all the same class of camera.

TertlTank said:
No 10 bit 4:2:2 and not a nice price for the features made it a no go for me.
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Yet, the AJ-PX270 does have 10 bit 4:2:2, and it's the category price leader.
 
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