HVX in Europe only with two P2 cards incl.

R

Robert_Niemann

Well-known member
Three days ago a man from Panasonic Broadcast Europe told me, that in Europe the HVX200 will be sold only with two P2 cards à 8 GB inclusive. No chance to get the camera without the two cards. That means, the price, you have to pay for the HVX, will be much higher than in America for instance. Sounds like the camera was built only to push P2. What do You think of that?
 
If that's true, words fail me. However, coming from a Panasonic rep it probably isn't true.

I am considering buying the cam for SD use and then upgrading to P2 HD when the capacity is there for my kind of work.

If the only option is a bundled one with the P2 cards, I wont be buying until capacity is at least 32 gigs. I feel I may not be alone.
 
Robert_Niemann said:
Three days ago a man from Panasonic Broadcast Europe told me, that in Europe the HVX200 will be sold only with two P2 cards à 8 GB inclusive. No chance to get the camera without the two cards. That means, the price, you have to pay for the HVX, will be much higher than in America for instance. Sounds like the camera was built only to push P2. What do You think of that?
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Well, I've always found Panasonic reps to be quite honest. There may be something to this.

The thought of a 2xP2-plus-camera bundle at $10k is much more costly than I had in mind (or than I can afford, frankly). My dealer accepted my camera-only order, though, so maybe I'm okay.

Will check with the dealer and let you know.
 
doolahrock said:
If that's true, words fail me.
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When I was hearing that, I was very "surprised", too. The man told me, that of course some people will try to get a grey import model, but the majority will buy the camera even with the two cards inclusive. There is a lot of advance bookings, so the people at Panasonic Broadcast Europe do not care about the guys, who want to buy the camera only without the two cards. And now it comes: In reality Panasonic is able to produce P2 cards with more than 8 GB long ago, but they want to hijack the market piece by piece. That is ****ing capitalism.
 
Sorry, Robert. I didn't reply to your question.

I've noticed the HVX always appears in the context of Panasonic's P2 literature. The DVD I received this week also sets the HVX firmly in a P2 story, so I think it's fair to say that P2 is the reason for the HVX. Personally, I have an HVX on order so I don't need to be convinced about the concept, except that I wish the HVX could just offer the option of recording HD to mini tape as a back-up feature. It may seem an odd idea, but I figure a DV tape would hold about 15 minutes of HD - which isn't exactly a documentary but would help in a pinch.

Anyhow, I read somewhere in this forum that P2 is having a hard time in Europe. If this is so, is there a chance Panasonic's European marketing wants to raise P2 market numbers by bundling in this way? If the European "bundle" idea proves true, send PM and I'll buy a camera-only here for you.
 
Robert_Niemann said:
When I was hearing that, I was very "surprised", too. The man told me, that of course some people will try to get a grey import model, but the majority will buy the camera even with the two cards inclusive. There are a lot of advance booking, so the people at Panasonic Broadcast Europe do not care about the guys, who want to buy the camera only without the two cards. And now it comes: In reality Panasonic is able to produce P2 cards with more than 8 GB long ago, but they want to hijack the market piece by piece. That is ****ing capitalism.
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Well, not sure about the f**king capitalism comment, but it does seem strange. My dealer isn't open so can't check regarding camera-with-card policy.

The prospect of investing $$$ (or British pounds) in dozens of P2 media seems an easier proposition for a broadcaster or National Geographic than it is for me but I'll give it a go anyway. If no budget at the outset to get into P2 media, camera-only may be the best way.

What's the situation of P2 in Europe? I frankly don't know much about US P2 market share but maybe someone from Panasonic could comment...
 
Well, it has been a rumour at the IBC that you couldn't buy the camera seperately. I thought at that point, yeah whatever, I am sure they are wrong. But now, with another person talking about it, it seems that there might be some truth behind it. It is just another typical play in the industry that I'm not agreeing with, just like the firewire-in issue (we have to pay more to get it!)
I have to go take a shower now, since I feel like I got F*^%* in the ass!
 
i m waiting for this cam for 6 monthes. if they just sell it with p2 cards in europe i will not buy it for sure .... i wanted to use it with a firestore .... i will perhaps go back to jvc or sony .... sad if it s true!
 
It's probably best to wait for an official word instead of jumping to conclusions. It's easy for one person in Broadcast to get the details wrong, especially when we're months from the camera's release. Patience.
 
Dude, you're not from Europe, I just have this bad feeling that it 'might' be true. No offence about the P2, I would still want to buy those for sure, but it would mean a big delay for me to purchase it. €10000 instead of €5000, that's significant.
 
the problem that we all know in europe is that 10000$ for us customers means 11500€ for the hvx200 here (in france), so around 14000$ for the same product. i m ok to buy the cam without p2 for 8000$, that's all .... i will wait until december to make my decision, maybe we ll have more infos ....
 
Not knowing for certain? Just worrying over a rumor? Hey, I spoke to a representative of Panasonic Broadcast Europe! It was a public conversation at a fair!


delaro said:
i wanted to use it with a firestore ....
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Well, that was my intention, too. So I asked the representative about his arguments for P2 (two 8 GB cards will cost more than 3.000 Euro), while the FireStore solution including a 90 GB hard disk drive you will get for around 2.000 Euro. When he heard that, he began to smile (I tell you: That was a smile!) and say: HVX in Europe only with two 8 GB cards inclusive, no other way.
I have just had a look at the press release from Panasonic Broadcast Europe: "The AG-HVX200 will be available in the first quarter of 2006 at suggested list price below 10,000 Euros including 2 8GB P2 cards." No word about a price for the camera itself.


delaro said:
if they just sell it with p2 cards in europe i will not buy it for sure .... [...] i will perhaps go back to jvc or sony ....
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I can really understand that. HVX200 + two P2 cards + FireStore for 12.000 Euro (price excluding value-added tax!) - that is really too heavy.


Isaac_Brody said:
Patience.
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???
 
Well if it's true you better start saving or fly to the US to get a better deal. I say patience because things could change. At this point all you can do is save and have patience.

Or you could hassle Panasonic Broadcast Europe to offer the cam with no P2 cards.
 
Isaac_Brody said:
Well if it's true you better start saving or fly to the US to get a better deal.
Click to expand...

Any problems with 24p (60i) shooting in PAL land? Flickering problems when shooting under fluorescent lights? In affirmative case, is it possible to use a 1/50 shutter to correct this?
 
I know Jan is a US Panasonic representative, but maybe she can
find out if this "rumor" is true.

If not a rumor:

I do hope this is not the plan for USA, this would definately postpone my purchase.

I do plan on buying 1 8GB P2 card when I purchase it, but to be forced into buying 2 is just bad marketing, period!

This seems extremely odd since Panasonic's stance for offering the miniDV drive was for the transistion from this media into P2.

If this plan was to "kick start" P2, somebody needs to do their homework.
This strategy will do just the opposite by losing HVX200 sales, therefore losing on P2 entry market. If Panasonic is trying to compensate for some initial costs, they need to think long term.

Lets face it, P2 media will come down. I can't imagine using tape again after getting a taste of direct memory access. Offering one heck of a camera such as the HVX200 in its price range is going to open the gateway for P2.

Steve
 
Stevet said:
I know Jan is a US Panasonic representative, but maybe she can
find out if this "rumor" is true.
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I'm not sure of that, really Jan? :lipsrseal It is a pity that YOU, Jan Crittenden Livingstone, are not our AG-HVX200 product manager, our European Panasonic Queen :thumbup: !

[the European Panasonic service(s) is :thumbdown bad (PERIOD), unfortunately, Sony rules :cry: ] It's time to change that, don't you MATSUSHITA?! :angry: (In the name of the world greatest market...Sony knows it) :shocked: ]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
«This is not America...this is not» David Bowie, singer, composer, actor, etc.
 
Robert_Niemann said:
I have just had a look at the press release from Panasonic Broadcast Europe: "The AG-HVX200 will be available in the first quarter of 2006 at suggested list price below 10,000 Euros including 2 8GB P2 cards." No word about a price for the camera itself.
QUOTE]

I couldn't find a Panasonic press release on their european web site (got a link?), but elsewhere the Panasonic European web site says the HVX will be available "Fall of 2005"
http://panasonic-broadcast.com/inde...43F16D&pid=11481&classid=69&catid=4285&jump=1

My dealer says December and Robert says a Panasonic press release says "First Quarter, 2006"?? Incidentally, most Japanese companies run on an April-to-March fiscal year, so "First quarter" can mean January - March (calendar) or April - June (fiscal). Someone told me blurring the refrence is sometimes used to obscure product launch slippages.

I wonder exactly how long will I be waiting for the HVX I have on order???
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Emanuel said:
I'm not sure of that, really Jan? :lipsrseal It is a pity that YOU, Jan Crittenden Livingstone, are not our AG-HVX200 product manager, our European Panasonic Queen! :thumbup: [the European Panasonic service(s) is :thumbdown bad (PERIOD), unfortunately, Sony rules :cry: ] It's time to change that, don't you MATSUSHITA?! :angry: (In the name of the world greatest market...Sony knows it)
QUOTE]

Don't know about Europe, but I'm ready for the HVX to kick some US Sony butt.
Click to expand...
 
well if this "rumour" is ture than Panasonic is selling Canons camera now.
for around 10.000 i get the XL-HD1, which is not a bad cam at all.
i love my DVX, but i am not willing to buy two 8GB P2s.
 
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