VaricamLT: Panasonic VariCam LT

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I think LT might reference 60 - 120 VFR AVC-Intra4K-LT so maybe some HFR in there.
 
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DLD said:
And Panasonic hasn't brought out an original sensor in a while, so all it has left is to lead on the value scale and they seem to have whiffed out on that front too with the Varicams (GH4 was obviously a huge hit for them).
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The VariCam 35's 4k s35 sensor was done in-house.
 
Run&Gun said:
The VariCam 35's 4k s35 sensor was done in-house.
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This kinda makes me believe they might be looking at a RED/Mini style body. Might as well get a return on that sensor investment, by making it available in as many bodies the market seems to want.
 
Looking at the picture, it seems that at the bottom there's a curve (I dunno if it's the white fabric that make this flap), so it could be a shoulder mount camera. I'm worried if they implemented a zoom lens how it could be remoted by an hand grip like Sony Fs7, if I remember correctly Panasonic make just remoted fixed zoom lens like Dvx200 camera.
 
A DVX200 with better color science and lens would be great, but I think it's like the current Varicam but downsized a la Arri Mini around 20/30k.
 
Run&Gun said:
Maybe.... It's the S35 head with a swappable mount(a la Amira) like they should have made in the first place. With a global shutter(if they're smart).

As as far as price goes, I've talked to some people I know that own rental houses and Panny is and has been selling to the rental houses for about half of MSRP. If they had come out of the gate doing that for the owner/operators too, like they did with the "trade-in program" with the second gen VariCam, they could have possibly had a nice chunk of the market again.
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Is that because the rental houses buy multiple cameras at once, or would they get the 50% off discount even if they only purchased just one Varicam??
 
I'm not sure what the issue is over selling to rental houses at 1/2 MSRP... if I buy *anything* from a retailer, it's usually the same price or less than buying straight from the company. Street price on anything is almost always less (and depending on the product, significantly less) than MSRP, which means the products maker had to sell it to the retailer or wholesaler for significantly less than MSRP.
 
sean007davis said:
Having just worked with the varicam 35. if I felt that the rental market would help pay it off I'd drop the $55 k for it with no regrets it's in a class of it's own, and quite a few DPs are picking it instead of the Arri Alexa when 4k acquisition is required.
If the Varicam LT is the same sensor or at least same MoJo as the VAricam 35 at under $20k I'll buy one.
My only wish would be that it have some sort of IMS (interchangeable lens mount system).
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Agreed, even people with $20k+ cameras don't want to ALWAYS be stuck with PL lenses.
Sometimes they'll do a cheaper job on the side and want another option than PL lenses.
Or they need something weird and unusual (a fish eye lens, or a 500mm f/4 lens, or simply a lightweight 24-105mm f/4 lens) and sourcing one in Nikon F or Canon EF mount is easier.
Maybe they're shooting somewhere remote where PL mount rental houses are not handy, bring along a small & simple DSLR adapter means they know they can always pop into a more common photos rental house to pick up anything they might pop up and happen to need for the production.
Or what if when they sell the camera in the future for under $10k once they move onto the next camera? Its resale value ill be much better if the "new" 2ndhand buyer can use it with something else than just PL lenses (such as me with my Sony F3 camera! :-D ).

Joost said:
You forget RED codec
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Nah XAVC is already pretty awesome for when you want a lighter option than raw.
 
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Ok, I'll predict a "cinevised" GH5 with a full frame sensor....it sorta dovetails with other rumors. That would be a pretty amazing camera at the right price point....$ mid teens?
 
Mike Harvey said:
I'm not sure what the issue is over selling to rental houses at 1/2 MSRP... if I buy *anything* from a retailer, it's usually the same price or less than buying straight from the company. Street price on anything is almost always less (and depending on the product, significantly less) than MSRP, which means the products maker had to sell it to the retailer or wholesaler for significantly less than MSRP.
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When I am buying my cinema cameras directly from the company I expect to get better price than a regular street price. Normally if you are not a heavy weight than the company will not be too willing to pass on the margins that it gives to the distributor (atleast some part).
 
JCummings said:
Ok, I'll predict a "cinevised" GH5 with a full frame sensor....it sorta dovetails with other rumors. That would be a pretty amazing camera at the right price point....$ mid teens?
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I'm sorry, that is way too obvious. Maybe in 5 to 10 years.

A $30,000 competitor to the Alexa Mini is the most likely guess my jaded mind has heard here.
 
Bern Caughey said:
It's not a camera for the masses.
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Thank You. A lot of people on this site seem to get upset when a camera doesn't do everything imaginable and it costs more than a few $K. The VariCam line has always been Panny's flagship and now they have attempted to move even further "up market" with the VariCam 35. I'm no stranger to spending five figures on a single camera body and I'm a VariCam fan, owning three of the previous versions, but I think Panny miscalculated with the 35.

I am interested to see what will be revealed in the next few weeks and hopefully it's something that will push(or pull) the VariCam back into the market. I've spent almost an entire decade shooting with VariCam's and enjoying it(hey, the 27H was the first HD camera I bought). Hopefully I get to continue.
 
Run&Gun said:
Thank You. A lot of people on this site seem to get upset when a camera doesn't do everything imaginable and it costs more than a few $K.
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That is quite a generalization. Not very conducive either. i think many of the things people wish for reflect demand, and much of it is feasible. Sure, a few people are unrealistic. But most people are asking for things they need. Digital cameras as a concept offers a lot, but there is much catching up to do, just to get the basics squated out.

that said, there is always room for the ultra high end. Currently, digital high end can barely beat out film, so, it will improve and even then, one high end camera won't be the only one wver needed. There are many shooting needs, and there is much more room for improvement in image quality and usability, especially in the high end.

if digital is going to be a mainstay, then Current Arri, Red, Sony cams are entry level, when it comes to functions, specs, and image.
 
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James0b57 said:
i think many of the things people wish for reflect demand, and much of it is feasible.
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I think it's a different point. Starting here from what is known - which is not a lot! - it's a question of trying to work out a "best guess" of what might be coming soon. OK, may be simpler just to wait (:) ) - but where's the fun in that!

And really, all that most of us do know is to expect something in the Varicam line. But tie that in with history and surely it makes it highly likely it's going to be pretty high end and likely expensive? Unless Panasonic have decided to severely devalue the Varicam brand? Then tie in with existing tech and other things become highly likely too - such as s35, not 4/3.

This is not to devalue "many of the things people wish for" - but in this context, even if the feasible things that get wished for did come about they are unlikely to carry the Varicam badge. What anyone may want has to be divorced from what is realistically likely.
 
Agreed,

Lot of excitement here for something that is likely going to be irrelevant for us.

Will be thrilled if I am wrong. i want to be. Just temper expectations. Probably not gonna be the GH5-Pro or AF200 or FS7/700 or URSA mini competitor everyone wants.
 
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