HMC40 price update $1,995!

Here is an idea: if Panasonic really does not want to, say, push P2 over SDHC, it would be cool to have two versions: P2/DVCPROHD and SDHC/AVCHD.
 
Like an HMC40 version and a HPX170 one. That would be nice too.
No. Everything else is identical but the media and recording format. That would be really cool. But Panasonic will never do that.

OR, another way around. You know like a computer can have a whole bunch of different readers for different cards. The camera can have these too, like CF, SDHC, P2, even Memory Stick, would be fun to take market from Sony, it does not make pro AVCHD camcorders. Or just plain USB socket.
 
This camera looks sweet. I was always a fan of the form factor of Panasonic's DVC-30 (Basically, this camera but MiniDV).
 
Right now I've only seen bits and pieces of the video and those are re-compressed through YouTube and Vimeo. However, even with the extra layer of re-compression added, the video is looking reasonably good considering the price point and the fact that we can't see the source yet.

At around $2,000, Panasonic is going to sell a boatload of these cameras....


Bob Diaz
 
The videos shot with the HMC40 do not seem especially good or noticeably different from videos made with other consumer cameras, which is probably a testament to the quality that an average modern consumer camera puts out, like this one shot with the TM300: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luQubVABroQ&fmt=22

The major difference will be in handling and in features. Comparing the TM300 at about $1,200 and the HMC40 at $2,000 one has to decide whether added manual features like better focus ring, push auto focus button, iris wheel, 720p, native 1080p24, top handle, XLR input, remote controller input, cinegamma, DRS, storable profiles, etc... whether they worth additional $800. I think they are, but I also think that the HMC150 is a much-much better camera, which is why I haven't ordered the HMC40 yet.

I agree that this camera will be a hit. Still, the FX7 has a larger 3.5-inch LCD screen, better peaking and a nice handle with integrated mic, which is, by the way, is of reasonably good quality for an onboard mic. Panasonic's onboard mics, especially on consumer cams, usually are not that good.

I wish someone tested the FX7, the HMC40 and the HMC150 side by side.

The HVR-A1 will be the first victim of the HMC40.
 
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