HVX200 is not recognizing F-Series 64GB Cards

B

Brent Bederka

Member
Please help! I still love my HVX200 cameras. After years of dealing with Firestores and tapes, I can finally afford the larger P2 cards. So I did my research and I read on the Panasonic site that the new F-Series cards are compatible with all P2 Panasonic cameras and devices. I bought two F-Series 64GB P2 cards. I was so excited to try them out. When I inserted them into my HVX200, it would not recognize the cards. I searched the Internet high and low for a firmware update for my HVX200 cameras with no success. I know that I can not be the only one with this issue.
 
Okay. I am furious at Panasonic. I contacted their technical support. First, they said that my camera may not support F-Series Cards. I told them that their website clearly states that the F-Series P2-Cards were compatible with all "existing P2 devices." Then they sent me the link to their latest HVX200 firmware update from 2009 which enabled compatibility with E-Series cards. And I told them that my camera already had this update. Then they said that I may have to send my cameras to them for internal firmware updates that can only be done by them. I told them that this was ridiculous and that their F-Series webpage should state this to inform customers before purchasing. Then they said that it was not the series but the size of the cards. They said that the issue was that HVX200 camera can only support up to 8GB P2-Cards. I replied that this is ridiculously incorrect. Everyone on this forum knows this is info is incorrect. HVX200 owners have been using 64GB P2-Cards for years. Then I was told that because my cameras were the original HVX200P and not the later HVX200A models, that this was the issue. But I have searched the Internet and have found nothing to support this theory. Then they said that my cameras could use the 32GB F-Series cards but not the 64GB cards. I replied that I thought he said that I could not use anything over 8GB. Every response he gave contradicted the one before it. I began to wonder if Panasonic's technical support knows anything about F-Series P2-Cards, P2-Cards, or the HVX200 camera in general. So I am back to square one. They asked me if I would like the upper level technical support to contact me and I said YES — PLEASE! I am awaiting for their upper level support to contact me. Whatever the hell that means.

If anyone knows anything about using F-Series P2-Cards on HVX200 cameras, please advise. Thank you!
 
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Sounds like there was some confusion, yes.

All the P2 cards up to the F series are, I believe, the same physical size. There are newer cards (I think it's the ExpressP2 series) that are physically bigger, so the situation does exist of a bigger card not fitting in an older camera's slot, but I don't believe it affects the 64GB F series.

Whether it's an HVX200 or HVX200A shouldn't make a difference, as far as I know both units use the exact same firmware. The last firmware that was issued was June 9, 2009. There is nothing newer than that. And that firmware was issued for both the HVX200 and HVX200A. Version 4.10-00-0.00. That software version should make your unit compatible with the original 64GB P2 card (part #AJ-P2C064) and the E-series cards (64gb part # AJ-P2E064X).
 
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UPDATE!
I just tried the F-Series cards on another HVX200 camera and they worked! Then I went back and compared settings. I realize now that I had the wrong camera settings set because I had been using Firestore FS-100 recorders.

The 64GB F-Series Cards seem to be working perfectly now with my HVX200P cameras. I will post an update to this post if I see any other issues.
 
I know this is very old thread, BUT I am about to purchase 2 x 64 GB P2 cards series F. We are using 2 HVX 200 E cameras and using 64 GB P2 series E. I am pleased that the F should work BUT is there any update after 2017 ?

And while I am here: There are 256 GB P2 cards. Does anyone knows if they would work on " old" HVXs?

All comments would be appreciated.

BTW: I have asked Panasonic help center more then a months ago and it is so far " All Quiet on the Western Front" ;)
 
I don't know, but FWIW, there's a history of newer, larger capacity cards not working in older cameras (they just never received the updated support they needed after being long gone and discontinued).
 
Thanks for your answer. I guess your reference is not to 64 GB series F, but to the recent 256 GB P2s.
If anyone has an update on 64GB E vs F it would still be appreciated.
 
Oh, yeah, totally skipped that - but the answer applies (or could) to the letters, too (usually referring to the newest models of cards).

Obviously not your camera, but - just to support the entire conversation - I have an ARRI Classic and could only use the lower-capacity SxS cards (A-D) or the 128GB up to D, while the *newest* LF using this media could only use the 256GB (D, E).

It's been a while since I used the HVX200, but I do very vaguely remember having some slight media "trouble" in those final, later years.

Hope you get a clear answer from a current camera user. :)

Media.jpg
 
Thanks again, I have taken a leap of faith and ordered 2 x 64 GB P2 F series (only available used) , I should have them by mid Oct. Once I have tested them, I update here... FYI we are keeping the old HVXs working because they have the best " film look".
 
Those old Panasonics had such beautiful colors, but the resolution wouldn't cut it for most today; just too dated in a world with a very advanced 'film look'...but might be perfect for something more vintage-looking.
 
Be that as it may I have to disagree with you here. It is ALL about lighting. We light between 2.8 and 3.6 F stop color balance for day or night and the resolution is as good as anything else. All these 4 K and 8 K are overblown and studios uses them so they can blow up for SFX or editing to make the image closer. Certainly for a theatrical screen same would apply, the 2K would not cut it today. But for TV streaming ( which we do) the resolution is very compatible to anything modern. Also the " kitchen" or "A bomb" lighting I see on most NON studio streams are ( with a few exceptions) quite atrocious. Who wants to see every micro pimple or short nose hair in 8K..... and so it goes. Maybe old fashioned but very good...
 
The improved resolution from oversampled sensors (even if you're shooting 1080p from a 4K chip), more dynamic range (4-5+ stops than something like an HVX200) and higher-quality color information (422/444 10,12-bit+) is so drastic that I am genuinely jealous you see it that way. lol

Lighting is equally important but at some point the low amount of pixels runs its course for most of the new world, new humans.

I have a lot of nostalgia for those good ole days, love to watch that stuff. But professionally, the footage looks old as heck; no better way to really express it.
 
I guess we agree to disagree , even though " bites and bits" are all Chinese to me. I can "only see what I see":)
 
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