I wish Panasonic would release a large sensor p2 based camcorder

[GaryNattrass]

THe 3100 looks a great camera and I like that it is in the same body as the 370, it's shame it doesn't do varicam mode but I am sure once the 2700 and 3700 are replaced a firmware update will allow this to happen. The 3100 is the camera of choice for the SKY news network her in the UK and it would be my choice if I was getting another 2/3" camera now. But if an HPX600/601 camera out with a 2/3" cmos sensor and the same codecs and capabilities as the 370 then that would be an OK mid range choice if it was sub $15k to compete with the sony 350.

 

[Kolor-Pikker]

THe 3100 looks a great camera and I like that it is in the same body as the 370, it's shame it doesn't do varicam mode but I am sure once the 2700 and 3700 are replaced a firmware update will allow this to happen. The 3100 is the camera of choice for the SKY news network her in the UK and it would be my choice if I was getting another 2/3" camera now. But if an HPX600/601 camera out with a 2/3" cmos sensor and the same codecs and capabilities as the 370 then that would be an OK mid range choice if it was sub $15k to compete with the sony 350.

Looking around, it does seem that there are actually 2/3" CCD camcorders that can do 60 and even 90fps shooting, which is what is used for things like slow-mo sports replays, so it's definitely not beyond reason to expect 1080p60 from CCD tech. Sony and Grass Valley had these for a while now... although I believe they have them priced around 100k, they're also rather old, so it would be great if it were about time for those features to trickle down to something practical. If P2 is fast enough for five simultaneous 1080p streams, it's definitely fast enough to record 4:4:4 or 1080p60 straight to the card... or both at once. Just fantasizing here, but it would definitely send the camcorder market back into the spotlight with that kind of flexibility, even though it would merely put them back on track with what can already be technically done with a RED.

 

[ryaninoz]

Sony has several large sensor cameras out now, Panasonic has the af100 series. I wonder if they will release something at NAB next year ? I agree the 500 is in need of replacing and a 2/3 inch cmos version of the 3100 would do very well. For me I'd love to see a 35 mm sensor panasonic version of the f3 with avc intra so I am holding off on getting the f3 until I see what Panasonic have next year.