More power to you! That would be a real selling point if they would upgrade the LCD.
HPX170 First Look
- Thread starter Barry_Green
- Start date
More power to you! That would be a real selling point if they would upgrade the LCD.
brock2621
Well-known member
Ok, so question... is this camera 1080P? I don't see that on any lists but that's what was said. Also, this is a stupid question but can you record 60fps out on SDI out? And if you can, does anybody have a recommendation on what to record onto in the field for SDI out?
Jan_Crittenden
Veteran
Hi Guys and Gals,
Keep in mind there were a number of things that we did not get good explanations of due to language differences and misunderstandings and not enough private time to work the answers out through creative translation. There are a number of things I am expecting on this camera but I did not see as we really didn't get the time to explore the camera deeply.
As an example of the odd communication, one of the guys asked if all three of the focus assist functions had to be on and the answer was yes. But the real answer is no. The gentleman that said yes was responding to my request that all three should be up for the show since they wouldn't let us go into the menus. ;-)
The menu button was totally locked out by virtue of a secret code. Taking that idea and making it a part of the wishlist was where I went with it. I do get the request from the broadcast side that they would like the menus to be a little less available to the shooters.
As far as the LCD, I know you all have requested a better LCD, and we have not gotten it, what I did find is that the thumbnail display is a Standard Def Display, and it would take huge amounts of re-engineering to make them HD, or huge amounts of power to make the conversion to HD. I know that I can focus the HPX500 with the histogram in seconds flat, and I find that to be the victory here, we got the histogram in the focus assist. This does reference the point at the cross hair, but since this camera at NAB was not a fully functioning model that wasn't there. So while we didn't get the better LCD, we got a better focus assist.
I need to point out that the HDSDI is an 8 bit signal, not 10 as some might assume. Keep in mind that either works and for evidence, I point to the fact that the HPX500 is 8 bit on its HDSDI. Would I have preferred 10 bit, yes, did I win that battle, no. Next battle. That is what product development is like, each new feature is a battle, like that locking 6 pin firewire.
Probably the easiest feature that we got the design team to implement was the security cable hole for locking down the camera.
This is a pretty cool little camera, and when we get the next one in come July, I will make sure that Barry gets a chance to take a look. I will probably take pictures even. I didn't this time just because there were things that weren't fully in final design stage, like the hinge on the VF or the audio volume control area. So we were looking at a very first working sample that went back to the factory on Friday.
So when it comes in July we will know more, but in the meantime I really appreciate your interest and commentary.
Hope this helps,
Jan
Keep in mind there were a number of things that we did not get good explanations of due to language differences and misunderstandings and not enough private time to work the answers out through creative translation. There are a number of things I am expecting on this camera but I did not see as we really didn't get the time to explore the camera deeply.
As an example of the odd communication, one of the guys asked if all three of the focus assist functions had to be on and the answer was yes. But the real answer is no. The gentleman that said yes was responding to my request that all three should be up for the show since they wouldn't let us go into the menus. ;-)
The menu button was totally locked out by virtue of a secret code. Taking that idea and making it a part of the wishlist was where I went with it. I do get the request from the broadcast side that they would like the menus to be a little less available to the shooters.
As far as the LCD, I know you all have requested a better LCD, and we have not gotten it, what I did find is that the thumbnail display is a Standard Def Display, and it would take huge amounts of re-engineering to make them HD, or huge amounts of power to make the conversion to HD. I know that I can focus the HPX500 with the histogram in seconds flat, and I find that to be the victory here, we got the histogram in the focus assist. This does reference the point at the cross hair, but since this camera at NAB was not a fully functioning model that wasn't there. So while we didn't get the better LCD, we got a better focus assist.
I need to point out that the HDSDI is an 8 bit signal, not 10 as some might assume. Keep in mind that either works and for evidence, I point to the fact that the HPX500 is 8 bit on its HDSDI. Would I have preferred 10 bit, yes, did I win that battle, no. Next battle. That is what product development is like, each new feature is a battle, like that locking 6 pin firewire.
Probably the easiest feature that we got the design team to implement was the security cable hole for locking down the camera.
This is a pretty cool little camera, and when we get the next one in come July, I will make sure that Barry gets a chance to take a look. I will probably take pictures even. I didn't this time just because there were things that weren't fully in final design stage, like the hinge on the VF or the audio volume control area. So we were looking at a very first working sample that went back to the factory on Friday.
So when it comes in July we will know more, but in the meantime I really appreciate your interest and commentary.
Hope this helps,
Jan
We have a BTLH80 and BTLH1700w coming this week. They'll be a real help when operating the 15' jib. Prior to that, we would often run a second 1354Q SD monitor for that producer / director / rest of crew who always seem to be standing two steps behind you.
The 1700w has both component and HD SDI input without the $600 card required by the BTLH80.
I'll tell you, the more I hear about the 170, the more I believe it will take the front spot as our primary handheld camera. A single BNC running down the jib (instead of three) will play a huge role in reducing weight and wind-up/bind-up.
That is a stack of features that make it an easy choice over the 200a. I'll talk my remaining clients into HD acquisition over tape.
e
joe 1008
Veteran
I think, as far as I know, not even the so much acclaimed EX1 display is HD. Just convince them to put the best possible SD LCD on that tiny sexy beast that the 170 seems to be!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
jan-
it has been said before but i want u to know,
u are a real asset to this community.
and we are all better off for your continued participation.
having owned the dvx100, the hvx200 and even the sony ex1, i'm really looking forward to the 170.
thanks for all of your effort
be well
rob katz
sweet harvest films
it has been said before but i want u to know,
u are a real asset to this community.
and we are all better off for your continued participation.
having owned the dvx100, the hvx200 and even the sony ex1, i'm really looking forward to the 170.
thanks for all of your effort
be well
rob katz
sweet harvest films
Luis Caffesse
Admin
Thanks for clearing that up, Jan.
I figured 10 bit was a bit much to expect.
Can't wait to get my hands on this camera.
-Luis
Jason Ramsey
Admin
Hey, folks. Be sure and vote in this poll if the HPX170 is something that interests you. Panny is debating whether or not to include this feature, so your feedback may help to determine that outcome. thanks a lot.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=132528
later,
Jason
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=132528
later,
Jason
Jan_Crittenden
Veteran
Say what? Not sure which of the three or four posts you are referencing.
Thanks,
Jan
Thanks,
Jan
Barry_Green
Moderator
Yes. So is the HVX200A and the HVX200.
Yes.
Ah, the main question! Recording HD-SDI is no trivial task. Most people attempting it are using a Kona or BlackMagic card in a desktop computer. There's also a portable Wafian recorder and the new Convergent Designs Flash XDR recorder.
Barry_Green
Moderator
It's a hardware function of the LCD panel. The LCD flips, the viewfinder doesn't. At least, that's how it works on the HPX500... not 110% sure about the 170, but I would expect it to be the same.
Think about it this way too: all the text and everything would be flipped, which would be annoying. With it flipping separately, the LCD gets a full-frame flipped display, and the viewfinder shows the regular display including all menus. At least, I think that's the way it works.
Barry_Green
Moderator
There was a big debate on that at the show. Panasonic's brochure said it was switchable, but the factory reps said "no." It appears that it's possible, so as a base of users we need to tell them how important (or not) this feature is, to see if they can (or will) implement it.
[CTRL+ALT+DEL]
Member
did i miss something? is this true 1080p and not an up-res?
Barry_Green
Moderator
None of the HVX/HPX cameras do an "up-res". They do all use a spatial offset technique to optically sample the chips into a 1080P matrix. The result is way higher resolution than the chip pixel count would suggest, but not as sharp as, say, an EX1.