Have spent 3 days shooting in 720P-24PN mode. Small issues:
1) Iris control is a bit sensitive. Fine control not as good/accurate as DVX-100. Makes fine control during shot dangerous as you tend to shift 1-2 stops suddenly instead of a 1/4 stop adjustment that you wanted.
Perhaps fixable with firmware upgrade.
2) First cameras in LA have too small a hole for the standard Sachtler Tripod quick release plate guide pin. Not the 1/4"-20 thread. The guide pin. We bought an extra sachtler plate and filed down the pin.
3) 24PN mode nicely extends record time on the 4gig P2 cards to ten minutes.
4) In 60P- 60 frame mode audio is recorded, but in 24PN- 60frame mode, no audio?
5) Instant on, instant off is nice. Beware hitting the button too fast though, as it may not take the command and you'll be shooting your feet.
6) Workflow of downloading P2 cards still evolving. Had to hire a DIT/AC to do P2 downloading! Recommend having this person on crew!
7) Panasonic needs to clearly post the P2 driver on their website!!!
8) Panasonic needs to make a PLAYER software available for Mac & PC. Only FCP5 will play files and none of our downloaders had it. So, we've got a bunch of footage that we can't get feedback on until it reaches editorial in a few weeks. Scary. Annoying.
9) Hot swapping cards seems to work, but you cannot insert a card without jiggling the camera when you seat the card.
10) Shot in a sandstorm, had no trouble, but as would be expected, lots of grit in the lens focus and zoom barrel. Normal.
11) Would be nice if this camera could output to tape in DVCPro HD & 50 formats.
12) Would be nice if it output a simultaneous signal to DV tape for dailies (with TC).
13) Instant playback from P2 card with no fear of erasing is useful.
14) There are 3 user buttons, but no really useful things to program on those buttons as there are buttons already for most of what you need. Perhaps OIS, Zebra, Shutter could be available on user buttons so you don't have to open the side door.
15) Would be nice if you could program iris control speed, focus enhancement checker duration, auto iris (in 1/3 stop increments) and some other user parameters.
16) Focus enhancement check zoom box while rolling is very useful. Not possible to be confused about framing.
17) Manual Audio control knob placement seemed better on DVX-100 for "one-man band" shooting. Not a big issue.
18) Viewfinder detail needs to be on at all times really while operating. Important to have.
19) I had no problem with the DVX-100 menu control toggle system. Took a day or two to get used to new button menu system on top. Works okay, but why the redesign? More hardy perhaps?
19) 1/4"-20 thread on top handle useful.
20) Could not sync time code via firewire. At least in 24PN mode. Set manually.
21) Freerun Time code drifted between two HVX cameras (and varicam) by about 15-20 seconds per day. However, the time of day clock drifted about 3 seconds in a week. This was true on DVX-100 also.
22) SD card parameter settings should have option of saving all menu settings and white balance (or any combination of menu settings) not just scene files. Nice feature though.
23) True Intervalometer and Variable Frame Rate features on this camera (made possible by P2 cards) are VERY useful. This is a 16mm film killer.
24) Flip out screen flips out more than 90°. Nice.
25) More after viewing footage.
Will there be an HVXuser.com site soon?
1) Iris control is a bit sensitive. Fine control not as good/accurate as DVX-100. Makes fine control during shot dangerous as you tend to shift 1-2 stops suddenly instead of a 1/4 stop adjustment that you wanted.
Perhaps fixable with firmware upgrade.
2) First cameras in LA have too small a hole for the standard Sachtler Tripod quick release plate guide pin. Not the 1/4"-20 thread. The guide pin. We bought an extra sachtler plate and filed down the pin.
3) 24PN mode nicely extends record time on the 4gig P2 cards to ten minutes.
4) In 60P- 60 frame mode audio is recorded, but in 24PN- 60frame mode, no audio?
5) Instant on, instant off is nice. Beware hitting the button too fast though, as it may not take the command and you'll be shooting your feet.
6) Workflow of downloading P2 cards still evolving. Had to hire a DIT/AC to do P2 downloading! Recommend having this person on crew!
7) Panasonic needs to clearly post the P2 driver on their website!!!
8) Panasonic needs to make a PLAYER software available for Mac & PC. Only FCP5 will play files and none of our downloaders had it. So, we've got a bunch of footage that we can't get feedback on until it reaches editorial in a few weeks. Scary. Annoying.
9) Hot swapping cards seems to work, but you cannot insert a card without jiggling the camera when you seat the card.
10) Shot in a sandstorm, had no trouble, but as would be expected, lots of grit in the lens focus and zoom barrel. Normal.
11) Would be nice if this camera could output to tape in DVCPro HD & 50 formats.
12) Would be nice if it output a simultaneous signal to DV tape for dailies (with TC).
13) Instant playback from P2 card with no fear of erasing is useful.
14) There are 3 user buttons, but no really useful things to program on those buttons as there are buttons already for most of what you need. Perhaps OIS, Zebra, Shutter could be available on user buttons so you don't have to open the side door.
15) Would be nice if you could program iris control speed, focus enhancement checker duration, auto iris (in 1/3 stop increments) and some other user parameters.
16) Focus enhancement check zoom box while rolling is very useful. Not possible to be confused about framing.
17) Manual Audio control knob placement seemed better on DVX-100 for "one-man band" shooting. Not a big issue.
18) Viewfinder detail needs to be on at all times really while operating. Important to have.
19) I had no problem with the DVX-100 menu control toggle system. Took a day or two to get used to new button menu system on top. Works okay, but why the redesign? More hardy perhaps?
19) 1/4"-20 thread on top handle useful.
20) Could not sync time code via firewire. At least in 24PN mode. Set manually.
21) Freerun Time code drifted between two HVX cameras (and varicam) by about 15-20 seconds per day. However, the time of day clock drifted about 3 seconds in a week. This was true on DVX-100 also.
22) SD card parameter settings should have option of saving all menu settings and white balance (or any combination of menu settings) not just scene files. Nice feature though.
23) True Intervalometer and Variable Frame Rate features on this camera (made possible by P2 cards) are VERY useful. This is a 16mm film killer.
24) Flip out screen flips out more than 90°. Nice.
25) More after viewing footage.
Will there be an HVXuser.com site soon?