Live from the Panasonic NAB press conference...

Oh man, I'm almost too excited to sleep.

My hotel is only half a block from the convention center. Doors open in 8 hours. It's NAB time!


- Mikko
 
The HMC40 sounded interesting, until I read about its minuscule 1/4.1" sensor! It's a big NO NO from me. I was so excited when I read the news about it because the Panasonic guys SPECIFICALLY said in the press conference something about a cheaper hybrid camera indies were dreaming off. This mentality was EXACTLY what I have been burbling about for months now on my blog and elsewhere!

But 1/4.1" sensors and no solid 24 mbps recording again? Even the consumer Canon HF-S10 does better than this $3000 camera in these domains.

I am not buying. And I was in the market for a new camera to replace my HV20. If it had 1/2.0" sensor and solid 24 mbps recording (no VBR), I would have already pre-order it.
 
I am not just interested in low light and less noise, but I am mostly interested in background blur. So no matter if they put 100 of these 1/4.1" sensors in there, I would still need to zoom in to 90% to get some background blur. With my HV20 I need to zoom at around 75% under normal conditions to start getting some. So I just wanted to upgrade to something that's 1/2.0" and so I would "only" need to zoom it at around 50%. Of course these numbers I am mentioning here are just approximations, but the point remains, 1/4.1" is just not good enough for me. It simply doesn't give me the result I want. And I am not even talking about massive background blurs, or crazy lenses and what not. Just little something to keep me shut up. But no... Panasonic had to go ultra cheap here. :(
 
I see your point. I guess its enough for event coverage (or 35mm adapters)

I see potential in it though albeit the shortcomings.
 
Yeah, for events it's just fine. If I was doing weddings and corporate stuff I would definitely get this camera, no questions asked. But for real filmmaking and the abstract atsy things I try to do (well, I try), this ain't what I need. I need a bigger sensor first and foremost.
 
Hi Barry,

Excellent news feed by the way. Can you dig a little deeper to your comment on:

Coming soon: a new customized studio configuration under $10,000.

I'm asking this specifically as I'm about to put together a 4 Camera Channel HD Vision Mix System, using the aformentioned Panasonic Vision Mixer and I was looking at 4 HPX-301's.

Any more information would be appreciated.

Regards

Rich
 
Barry_Green said:
There's going to be a program for people in that predicament. Write to Jan and tell her what you're up against, she might be able to help you out. I don't know all the details but they said there would be some sort of rebate given out for HPX300 buyers who would buy the "E" series cards but can't wait until August to get their cards so they have to buy "A" series now...
Click to expand...

There is a rebate program for folks that want to buy an AG-HPX300 and don't want to wait for the Economy cards. It is a short term program in that we will offer a rebate on the purchase of one of the A or R series cards when purchased with an AG-HPX300, and this is a US only program.

Best,

Jan
 
steadicamsteel said:
Coming soon: a new customized studio configuration under $10,000.

I'm asking this specifically as I'm about to put together a 4 Camera Channel HD Vision Mix System, using the aformentioned Panasonic Vision Mixer and I was looking at 4 HPX-301's.
Click to expand...


This Camera Adapter, Base Station and Remote will come on the market toward the end of the year. We have a sample in the booth but it is still a product under development. This is the second time we have seen it and it looks different this time as well. So the cost of cable will be additional. If you ask specific questions, I can possibly answer.

Best,

Jan
 
Eugenia:

You sound like a candidate for an EOS 5D MKII. Thought about it? Major hassle to work with but would get you that shallow depth of field that you crave and if you are doing artsy things on your own, you may be able to live with the compromises. I don't see any sub $10k cameras having a FF sensor any time soon. Even 1/2" sensors don't really have the capacity for shallow depth of field with a reasonable FOV.

Dan
 
Eugenia, check out the Panasonic GH1. Although it won't have 24 mbps it looks mighty promising. It has basically the specs of the Panasonic HDC HS300 with a much bigger sensor giving you a nice "background blur" look with the big micro 4/3 sensor.
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
There is a rebate program for folks that want to buy an AG-HPX300 and don't want to wait for the Economy cards. It is a short term program in that we will offer a rebate on the purchase of one of the A or R series cards when purchased with an AG-HPX300, and this is a US only program.

Best,

Jan
Click to expand...

Jan,
Is there anything similar for potential HPX170 buyers who can't wait for the Economy cards?

And, will the introduction of the new cards impact the capacity of the card included in the HPX170 box? (i.e, will we start to see 32's instead of 16's?)

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
There is a rebate program for folks that want to buy an AG-HPX300 and don't want to wait for the Economy cards. It is a short term program in that we will offer a rebate on the purchase of one of the A or R series cards when purchased with an AG-HPX300, and this is a US only program.

Best,

Jan
Click to expand...

Jan- Great idea, thanks for that info.

I may have missed this somewhere else, and if so I apologize, but I wanted to ask: Were you able to put together that package for the HPX300 with the AB Hydron batteries & charger?

Thanks again--have a sucsessful show.

David
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
...we will offer a rebate on the purchase of one of the A or R series cards when purchased with an AG-HPX300...
Click to expand...


I guess it sucks to be me.

I paid for two 32GB A's, one 64GB A, and an HPX300 less than a month ago. I would have rented the cards had Panasonic not played these waiting games.
 
TimTyler said:
I guess it sucks to be me.

I paid for two 32GB A's, one 64GB A, and an HPX300 less than a month ago. I would have rented the cards had Panasonic not played these waiting games.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear this, but why would you buy a month before NAB?

Why not rent until NAB?
 
kecorcoran said:
Jan,
Is there anything similar for potential HPX170 buyers who can't wait for the Economy cards?

And, will the introduction of the new cards impact the capacity of the card included in the HPX170 box? (i.e, will we start to see 32's instead of 16's?)

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...

I'm curious about this myself. :beer:
 
DavidNJ said:
There are people with an investment in P2s and rental P2s that now have lost 60% of their value.
Click to expand...

"In other news this morning, wagon wheel repairmen are finding themselves unemployed as fewer and fewer wagons are manufactured in this declining market. More tonight at 11. Up next...where have all the cowboys gone? And a crazy squirrel on water skis that you JUST have to see to believe."

Oh, and whoever posted the badger link...thanks, and here I thought I was gonna get something done today. Instead, I'm waiting on the edge of my seat to see how this badger film is going to end. It's taking forever....not a very good plot, either...needs more character development...
 
Eugenia Loli-Queru said:
But 1/4.1" sensors and no solid 24 mbps recording again? Even the consumer Canon HF-S10 does better than this $3000 camera in these domains.

I am not buying. And I was in the market for a new camera to replace my HV20. If it had 1/2.0" sensor and solid 24 mbps recording (no VBR), I would have already pre-order it.
Click to expand...

The consumer Canons your talking about are indeed VBR, they are "up to" 24mbs. Panasonic just let's you know that while canon does not. Panasonic and Sony were the ones to create AVCHD, not Canon and they've been following the spec that P&S have laid out. Based on my conclusions using both the canons and the hmc150 I've come to realize that AVC as a spec is probably VBR at any rate above 20mbs. But even in a theoretical world where what you say is the true the difference between 21vbr and 24mbs locked would be so nominal that your complaints would make no sense, your talking about 3mbs.

Also the 1/4" sensors shouldn't surprise you, when in the past 5 years has panasonic put out anything non 3 chip? Did you expect 3 1/2" sensors? Even the EX1 has to have those giant heat vents to cool 3 1/2" sensors down. Sensors are only getting as large as they are in the single bayer pattern configuration, something that has not really had wide acceptance for broadcast and pro video yet in much more than red and a few other cameras. The hmc40 more than makes sense for it's intended market(panasonic even lists who that is), sounds like you want a vdslr.
 
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Jan_Crittenden said:
This Camera Adapter, Base Station and Remote will come on the market toward the end of the year. We have a sample in the booth but it is still a product under development. This is the second time we have seen it and it looks different this time as well. So the cost of cable will be additional. If you ask specific questions, I can possibly answer.

Best,

Jan
Click to expand...

Hi Jan,

Can I ask, what kind of Cable will the system be based upon? Is it Triax, Fibre Optic, Multipin or A.N.OTHER?

What will it have head to base unit functionality. (i.e RETURNS, GENLOCKS, TC, COMMS, TALLY's etc etc etc)

Thanks

Rich Steel
 
David S. said:
Why not rent until NAB?
Click to expand...

NAB offers no promises.

I mean - Even the 64 E's are months away and I'm glad I've got 128GB of P2 storage I can work with now because I'm using it, but I need Panasonic to convince me I wasn't suckered.

Sure, maybe my 64GB 'A' card will work just fine after five years, but it will have devalued so much by then that it will not matter.

Buying P2 media should not be like playing the stock market.
 
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