New Panasonic AJ-PX230PJ camcorder

I don't think it replaces the PX270, and the article's choice of the word "successor" was unfortunate. The PX230 is a stripped-down model, very much as the AC130 was to the AC160. I fully expect both will remain available for sale. The PX230 loses the full size P2 slot, networking features, genlock, proxy recording and USB host connector of the PX270 while retaining its lens, sensor, codecs, basic shooting quality, build and features. It would be fine for many ENG applications or would complement a PX270 nicely as a "B" camera.

There's a thread about this over in the "Panasonic - Other" category.

- Greg
 
I wish that Panasonic would improve the optics of these camcorders. It appears that the whole family (AC130, AC160, PX230, PX270, and HPX250) all share the same lens and sensors, which means the IQ is roughly the same for all of them. This is evident to me in the SlashCam review comparisons which include test images.

(compare the AC160 vs. HPX250)
https://www.camcorder-test.com/

I know that 10-bit 4:2:2 AVC-Intra is supposed to look better, but I just don't see it. And considering that the AC130 is half the cost of a HPX250... seems like an easy choice to me. But then I don't deliver footage to the BBC or other networks that have strict acquisition requirements.
 
Ben, I am biased because I use the PX270 but I think it is not part of the AC160/HPX250 family when it comes to image quality. Imho it is a standout. The lens has minimal distortion and the images are very sharp even at both ends.

I would at least try the PX270 before dismissing it as it is a real jem in my book.
 
i thought 270 was 100% successor to the 250?

...which in turn was successor to hpx170/hvx200? all part of the p2/broadcast division family

ac160 etc. part of the consumer division family of cams

thats what someone on here said a while back
 
The AC130/160 and HPX250 were all one "family"; Panasonic Japan referred to them as "the three brothers."

The PX270 is an entirely different beast. It uses the same internal processing engine as the (at the time) $30,000 PX5000 2/3" camera. It is a big upgrade and in my opinion the best 1/3" camera ever made.
 
originalauthor said:
I don't think those other cams have this image quality. It was shot on the 270
Click to expand...

Why did the interior car scenes look so noisy? I'm assuming that the filmmaker under-exposed the image to save some of the exterior highlights and then pushed the shadows in post. I would expect a noisy image from this handling with an 8-bit 4:2:0 codec, but the PX270 record in 10-bit 4:2:2. Shouldn't this be an example of where the PX270's superior codec excels?
 
Barry_Green said:
The AC130/160 and HPX250 were all one "family"; Panasonic Japan referred to them as "the three brothers."

The PX270 is an entirely different beast. It uses the same internal processing engine as the (at the time) $30,000 PX5000 2/3" camera. It is a big upgrade and in my opinion the best 1/3" camera ever made.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that information Barry.

Is it true that the PX270 and the new PX230 use the same optics and sensors as the AC130, AC160, and HPX250? The only difference is the encoding engine?

How much of a difference will the encoding engine make in the IQ? Will it affect sharpness and dynamic range?
 
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