Panasonic's new version of HPX300

GaryNattrass said:
Why would they do this it seems more likely that replacement for the 500 will be on the cards, so a HPX600/601 may be on the cards.
Gary, I think it's pretty easy for Panasonic to change over to new, improved sensors, without having to do much else besides new firmware. The 300 has an ASA of around 320, an EX1 is closer to ASA 640, both depending upon resolution, frame rate, shutter speed, gamma, so Panasonic needed to do something. This doesn't mean there won't be an HPX500 replacement, but my guess would be that the 370 would be available very soon vs. a Fall time frame for the latter's replacement.
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ISO 320 maybe in 1080i and minus 3 db but certainly not in 1080 30 or 24 P. More like 500+ to 640 in the latter depending on camera setup - at least the way I see it.
 
If this new model address the rolling shutter issues at 1080p and they don't jack up the price too much, it will be a big seller.
 
Mark Smith said:
ISO 320 maybe in 1080i and minus 3 db but certainly not in 1080 30 or 24 P. More like 500+ to 640 in the latter depending on camera setup - at least the way I see it.
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I haven't done readings with my meter, I was going by Barry Green's rating. I've never seen a 1/3" HD camera that was as fast as ISO 640.
 
Pany has been listening to it's market. For the size staying the same it does much better in low light and it may be me but it doesn't seem to blow the high in contrasty scenes. I can't say more than what I've said but, if you'll start to get information online soon. Panasonic will put out all the specs on April 5th. I personally felt that the 300 was a 170 in a regular cam body. Yes, I know not entirely but for the most part. I think most will be very happy with what they were able to do with the 370. There are a number of us that got to play with it. I still prefer the 2000 and above with 2/3" but, for about the same money it's a good deal for the camera. By the way I've been reading here for quite some time but never posted. Hi to everyone.

It's good to have forum's like this.
 
Could the 370 be a replacement for the 500, it seems
strange to replace the 300 so soon when the 500 is older.

I think the 300 is a great camera but it seems like all the
negative talk has hurt it. I'd probably like to upgrade but seeing
as though a month after I bought it the price dropped by almost 4
thousand dollars the resale would be almost half the value of
the camera in less than a year. I think if panasonic releases
the 370 as a replacement to the 300 then they have really screwed
early buyers of the 300.
 
I think if you bought a 300 and made money with it then you definitely were not 'screwed'. You got the camera you wanted at the price it was listed at the time. From all I have read as I research buying one it is an awesome camera. something better is always going to come out sooner or later, this time it was sooner. I for one am glad Panasonic is not sitting on tech just to let previous models age. New tech drives the market forward and we all win in the end. By the time your ready to buy again several generations of tech will have passed and it will be a big upgrade, for now keep making cash with your great camera and dont worry about it.
 
Anyone want to speculate on when this 370 might be hitting stores? I was looking to buy a 300 and now seems like a great time with all the deals but I can see putting a purchase off for 60 days if it means getting the improved model and spending a few extra bucks. Photojournalist?
 
one last question for the masses... hpx 170 with nanoflash or 300 without? which will deliver better image quality given the abilities of the nanoflash to go well above 100Mbs?
 
qatarshooter said:
Anyone want to speculate on when this 370 might be hitting stores? I was looking to buy a 300 and now seems like a great time with all the deals but I can see putting a purchase off for 60 days if it means getting the improved model and spending a few extra bucks. Photojournalist?
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I really don't know. But, I believe it will be very soon afterwards. (my opinion-wait) Unless you need it to make money now. All the info I have is from testing the camera. Oh also, I agree with if you bought a 300 and it's making you money then it wasn't a waste. The 370 did coming out doesn't make your camera shoot worse. It's just like the DSLR's I paid 8000 dollars for the full frame 1DS MII and now they are going for 1800 but, it has made me 5 times that much money.
 
If there is a 370 coming out at NAB, if Panasonic's past track record is any indicator, you won't be able to actually take delivery of this camera until late 2010 or early 2011. But they could always have ramped up production and could surprise us all by having it available immediately and in adequate quantities. You never know.

Look at me, speculating about possible delivery dates of a rumored camera that may or may not even be coming out. I am pathetic.

Dan
 
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Well, only curious as it relates to my situation. We are pitching four TV shows and if we are lucky enough to sell one of them, I am sure that we will be required to use 2/3" cameras for the majority of the content on these shows, judging by who we are pitching to.

As much as I love the 300 and wish I had one, realistically, I will be needing 2/3" cameras so a successor to the 500, something to compete against the new Sony 350 for under $20k would be much more interesting. This 370, so far, if it actually exists, probably won't be 2/3" so it is of limited appeal to me.

Dan
 
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Dan, if a client requires a 2/3" camera, do you think it's an informed decision, based on past experience (as in, "in the past we needed 2/3"), current knowledge, or what?
That is, would the quality of AVC I have any offsetting effect to their desire for 2/3" cameras?
Is it a "quality" matter, or DOF, or what?
 
In all of the years I have dealt with deliveries to studios, I have experienced that studio and network engineering specs are generally behind the technology curve, they specify what they require based upon their existing technology infrastructure. We were delivering D5 masters to Paramount and Fox as little as two years ago and even then, hardly anybody was still using D5, everyone had migrated to HDCAM SR. But when the studio deals with third party dub houses or their own in-house facilities and they still have D5 decks to amortize, they are going to request D5. With cameras, it is different as the production company is going to own or rent the cameras, not the studio but since you sign a contract with them stating that you will comply with their production specs, you kind of have to.

2/3" cameras generally look better, have cleaner and higher dynamic range images than 1/3" or 1/2" cameras. As far as what they require today, the majority of networks will not accept more than 15-20% of your show being made up of footage from less than 2/3" cameras. There are exceptions like Travel Channel but the other networks we are pitching to require that at least 75% of our footage be shot on 2/3" cameras.

Codec would not have much to do with their requirements on imager size. I am curious how new cameras like the Sony 350 will be accepted by cable nets as it is a 2/3" camera, albeit with a lower quality long GOP 4:2:0 codec. We will be asking specifically about that camera if we reach that point as I would consider that camera for our shows, as much as I dislike that codec. It is workable though. I would much rather shoot on a Panasonic camera, but I would put up the Sony over the HPX500 because the Sony has a much better VF. At least two of the four shows we are pitching will be largely handheld operating and the SD VF of the 500 would be a detriment in my mind, to obtaining sharp focus consistently.

Another one of our shows though is largely being shot on tiny CMOS spy/sports cameras like the Go Video cameras. The networks will generally allow this if the show concept requires crash cams, undercover cameras, etc. as our concept would.

At this point, for us, all of this show pitching is just maybes, until someone offers to buy a show, it is all moot point. We may just end up renting 2700s and not buying anything, it will depend on the economics, how much we need to shoot and in which time frame. If we do continuous production for three months and I can strike killer rental deals, which I think I can, I would much rather shoot on the 2700 or 3700 than own a lower quality camera like the 500 or the 350. For shooting series, owning only makes sense if your production schedule is broken up and renting becomes too much of a PITA. I would rather rent the best, than own middle of the road as far as creating my shows.

Dan
 
Good info, thanks. Yes, renting often makes better sense, especially if the shooting schedule is tight.
Good luck with the pitch.
 
Thanks Chuck.

I hope that Panasonic does introduce some new cameras at NAB, it will be nice to see what they have up their sleeve.

Dan
 
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