P2 + Tape (New Poll!)

[reservoir]

But Barry wrote: "DVCPRO25 [...] potentially on tape", whereas "DVCPRO50 [...] definitely not on tape".

I think Jan was specifically referring to the DVCPRO-HD heads. It think there are like 16 heads at a cost of $6400. That's what Jan posted. As far as *regular* DVCPRO25 & PRO50....I would assume it would still be too expensive to have that kind of tape transport.

I'd say *if* there is a tape drive, it's going to be DV only. No DVCPRO Tape Drive. DVCPRO to P2 ONLY!! My guess!!

~reservoir~

 

[Phooey]

I'd say you can bet big money on that. Panny is not about to put a DVCPRO tape drive on this thing.

 

[PKraft]

And hopefully no DV drive either. Just plain and simple P2 slots.
remeber: "No moving parts except the lens..."

 

[reservoir]

And hopefully no DV drive either. Just plain and simple P2 slots.
remeber: "No moving parts except the lens..."

I'd like that too. But if it happens, we'll have to listen to everyone ***** about *Why doesn't the HVX have a tape drive...I mean come'on*. And if it does come with a tape drive it'll be *I hate tape. Why did they have to put a tape drive on it? They could have left it off and drove the cost down* or *Ok, so it has a tape drive, but it still can't record DVCPRO25 / 50 / HD to tape....P2 and Firestore only!! This sucks!!*

So anyway the pie is cut, someone will still be bitching!!

Again, I'd like to restate my position:

I WANT the HVX200 to be tape-free. P2 and Firestore ONLY!!

In reality, I think the HVX200 will have tape.....DV ONLY. Absolutely NO DVCPRO!!

In order to wean people off tape, this camera will have both tape and solid state, but look for the next upgrade *HVX200a* or *HVX300* to be completely TAPEFREE!!

~reservoir~

 

[Zim]

It needs to have a tape drive and I hope it does. I was looking at pictures of the mock up over on Chris Hurds board. I was looking to see a tape drive. I didn't see one,,,but then it doesn't show any P2 slots either. Panasonic is going to release what makes them the most money. P2 by itself won't do it,,,unless they have solve the memory problems,,(cost)

 

[Luis Caffesse]

While a tape drive MIGHT be nice, I've been thinking about it and thought, well, if they put a tape drive in it then that means it's taking up quite a bit of the camera body.

A DV tape drive will probably mean less P2 slots.

People are already bitching enough about the record times when it comes to P2.
I for one would prefer the maximum number of P2 slots on this thing, and if that means no tape transport then so be it.

DV is a "me too" format on this camera.... I mean, if you're putting the HVX out, why not throw the DV codec on there while you're at it, right? But if you add a tape drive, then you are conceivably limiting the amount of HD recording you can do at once (by taking up space that could have housed more P2 slots).

This camera is a DVCPro(HD/50/25) camera first, and a DV camera second.
I hope they don't limit the P2 capabilities in order to appease those who still need DV tape.

And the more I think about it, the more I think we won't see a tape drive at all.
I mean, the DVX will still be around...if the HVX has a tape drive, then the DVX seems rather useless. If the HVX does not have a tape drive, then the DVX still has something different to offer consumers.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Luis Caffesse]

I was looking to see a tape drive. I didn't see one,,,but then it doesn't show any P2 slots either.

Something else just occurred to me.
it's safe to say this thing is based on the DVX form factor.
That means it will have a flip out LCD screen.
From the picture the viewfinder seems to be in same location (dead center).
It's probably safe to assume that the battery will connect in the same place it always has (in the back, below the viewfinder).

So....if the LCD is on the left side and the batteries are in the back.....
Where do you think the P2 slots would be?
The obvious location seems to be on the right side, where the tape transport normally goes.

And if there were a tape transport on the right side of that camera body....where would the P2 slots go?


Yeah, I'm pretty sure we won't see any tape on this camera.

 

[reservoir]

And the more I think about it, the more I think we won't see a tape drive at all.
I mean, the DVX will still be around...if the HVX has a tape drive, then the DVX seems rather useless. If the HVX does not have a tape drive, then the DVX still has something different to offer consumers.

EXACT-TA-MUNDO!!

If the HVX still records DV to tape, then what *REAL* reason would there be to still buy a DVX100. You could just buy the HVX for DV but it would be future-proofed with HD as well. I don't know. I wish Monday was here already. I'm bored off my butt with all the speculation.

~reservoir~

 

[Zim]

Something else just occurred to me.
it's safe to say this thing is based on the DVX form factor.
That means it will have a flip out LCD screen.
From the picture the viewfinder seems to be in same location (dead center).
It's probably safe to assume that the battery will connect in the same place it always has (in the back, below the viewfinder).

So....if the LCD is on the left side and the batteries are in the back.....
Where do you think the P2 slots would be?
The obvious location seems to be on the right side, where the tape transport normally goes.

And if there were a tape transport on the right side of that camera body....where would the P2 slots go?


Yeah, I'm pretty sure we won't see any tape on this camera.

Maybe the tape will load from the bottom! There could be room on the side for 2 P2 slots and a tape drive. I wouldn't think two slots would take up much room. But you do make a good point. People are reporting reps as saying it will have tape. We will know in about 4 days.

 

[Zim]

EXACT-TA-MUNDO!!

If the HVX still records DV to tape, then what *REAL* reason would there be to still buy a DVX100. You could just buy the HVX for DV but it would be future-proofed with HD as well. I don't know. I wish Monday was here already. I'm bored off my butt with all the speculation.

~reservoir~

The reason is the HVX will have true 16:9 chips. The DVX doesn't and probably never will. So the only reason to buy a DVX is if you still want 4:3 only.

Panasonic needs a 16:9 DV camera in a DVX form. This would solve that problem

 

[PKraft]

So anyway the pie is cut, someone will still be bitching!!
~reservoir~

No doubt about that. But those guys wouldn't buy the new camera anyway.
They're bitchin' for bithin's sake. Seems to be a virus somewhere. :happy:

 

[Luis Caffesse]

People are reporting reps as saying it will have tape..

I would just hate to know that the camera could have housed 4 or 5 P2 slots, but instead it only has 2 because they decided to put a DV tape transport in there.

Although, I can see how it could be a good idea from Panasonics point of view.

Some people won't buy it unless it has tape. I doubt anyone WON"T buy because it has tape. So including tape on the camera will widen the market.

People could shoot by just buying the camera, no cards needed. And they won't be expected to include a P2 card with the camera if it has a tape drive, so it's cheaper for them. Keeps the perceived cost down.

So, while I still think it would be a better camera without a tape drive, I can see that there are definitely economic benefits for them to include a tape drive.

Damn, it's a long 4 days.

 

[Gary_McClurg]

I would just hate to know that the camera could have housed 4 or 5 P2 slots, but instead it only has 2 because they decided to put a DV tape transport in there.

Good point. I'm looking at this camera for HD not SD (I can still use the DVX for that), so I would hate to know that I could of had more P2 slots but instead of a tape drive I don't need.

But one thing Panny is smart, keeping us guessing, keeps us interested in the camera.

Just joking, but maybe some brave soul is willing to open their camera and see if there's room for both.

 

[reservoir]

The reason is the HVX will have true 16:9 chips. The DVX doesn't and probably never will. So the only reason to buy a DVX is if you still want 4:3 only.

Panasonic needs a 16:9 DV camera in a DVX form. This would solve that problem

No, you misunderstood me. I was saying there would be *NO* reason to buy the DVX since the HVX would have all those features + HD.

~reservoir~

 

[Barry_Green]

No, you misunderstood me. I was saying there would be *NO* reason to buy the DVX since the HVX would have all those features + HD.

Er... well... I can think of about 3,000 reasons why someone would buy a DVX instead of an HVX... or maybe 7,000 reasons, depending on what the final price is.

Keep in mind the DVX is going to be probably HALF the cost of the HVX. For a lot of people, that's a LOT of $$$. Some people are buying DVC30's instead of DVX's because they can't afford the extra $1,000 -- I think there are going to be plenty of people buying $3400 DVX's instead of $6500 or $8500 or $9999 HVXs, simply because of the cost difference.

 

[Barry_Green]

Barry, where do you know that from?
Do DVCPRO25 and DVCPRO50 have not the same tape drive mechanism?

DV, DVCPRO25, and DVCPRO50 all have different tape drive mechanisms. DV tape drives are dirt cheap and work with Metal Evaporated (ME) tape. DVCPRO25 tape mechanisms are a lot more expensive and work with the much more rugged Metal Particle (MP) tape. DVCPRO50 mechanisms are a whole step up the scale, with a lot more heads, which are all more expensive, a faster speed, etc.

DVCPRO50 is backward-compatible with DVCPRO25, but DVCPRO25 cannot record DVCPRO50 material.

 

[reservoir]

Er... well... I can think of about 3,000 reasons why someone would buy a DVX instead of an HVX... or maybe 7,000 reasons, depending on what the final price is.

Keep in mind the DVX is going to be probably HALF the cost of the HVX. For a lot of people, that's a LOT of $$$. Some people are buying DVC30's instead of DVX's because they can't afford the extra $1,000 -- I think there are going to be plenty of people buying $3400 DVX's instead of $6500 or $8500 or $9999 HVXs, simply because of the cost difference.

If you would read back earlier, I was specifically referring to people that *had* the money and just wanted to make a simple DVX vs. HDX choice. My choice would be to get the HDX since it would do most everything the DVX would + HD + much more.

But if your penny pinching....get the DVX. That, in my opinion, would be the only reason to *still* buy the DVX. Or the *3,000 reasons* as it would be.

~reservoir~

 

[Phooey]

Just (2) P2 slots is A-Okay with me. I could buy (2) P2 cards and laptop for the price of (3) P2 cards. You figure it out.

At this point, I could really care less whether or not it comes with a tape drive. I see the advantages. I don't really see the disadvantages. 4 more days.

Either way there are numerous reasons to buy a DVX. If you're a beginning filmmaker, save your bucks and screw up a bunch of shorts on a $3000 cam, then buy a better one. You'll be outputting to DVD for the next couple of years anyway. Then you'll be able to buy a used HVX100 with a 128 GB P2 card for not much more than you bought the DVX for. For the next few years, the HVX is a step up cam for the all-in-one filmmaker (writer, director, cinematographer, editor). That is until someone says, Why is 720x480 called "Standard Definition"? And why do we still say "roll down the window"?

 

[MovieSwede]

Yes agree with you, if you are a beginner no cam in the world will save your footage. No matter how good the HVX is, it aint gonna make a miracle.

The DVX is an excellent cam to learn how to make movies and other stuff. I even got a job as a proffesional cameraman thanks to everything a learnt with the DVX.

So if you aint made something that have been professional before. The DVX is prop.. prob.. a good camcorder to start with.

And if you are in the market the HVX seems like a dream come true.

By the way does anybody knows how the European version will be? I heard something that it has a higher samplingresolution? But I wonder if that beats 60P recording...

 

[Aaron Koolen]

EXACT-TA-MUNDO!!

If the HVX still records DV to tape, then what *REAL* reason would there be to still buy a DVX100. You could just buy the HVX for DV but it would be future-proofed with HD as well. I don't know. I wish Monday was here already. I'm bored off my butt with all the speculation.

~reservoir~

And if you get the DVX you will probably save about US$4000 over the HVX. Not a hard choice for most people who don't have 7K (I know, I know, we don't know the price).

Aaron