Reading this thread, I understand where a lot of other owners are coming from. I was an early adopter, so I missed each and every incentive that came in the past few months. Those who bought a 300 very recently are faced with owning the "obsolescing-out version".
No matter what you call it - an outright lie, convenient obfuscation or simply a "this-is-just-how-it-is-with-professional-level-technology-products" justification - we've all effectively been sold a beta-test unit with the HPX300. Did I make money with the 300? Not nearly as much as I did with either of our 100a/200 cameras. The 200 had what, a four year lifespan? As it is with all of our larger capex decisions, our HPX300 was purchased under financing (18 months) and now Panasonic says, "we can do better"?
To me, Panasonic hasn't invented a new camera with the 370 at all. They've come out with the 300a and nothing more. It's easy for someone who hasn't been burned to say we're all just feeling sorry for ourselves and that it's sour grapes - that's just how it is.
The key problem is that the 370 rapidly depreciates the value of the 300. It doesn't hurt the 170 owner or the 2700 owner. At all.
In the consumer auto market, you know that you can always make an informed decision between the last year of the Old Mustang, which is known and available, or New Mustang, which is also known through leaked details and an adequate preview period through third-party media and elsewhere.
Imagine if you went and purchased that 2010 model with every available option and then discovered, driving by the same lot virtually the very next day, that a new, Hybrid version with better all-around specifications was now on offer at nearly the same price. Suddenly, your ride is very likely worth far less and you have no recourse but to drive it as it is.
In the world where an HPX370 doesn't exist, I like the 300 for what strengths it had. AVCIntra100 and dual HDSDI outputs are favorite features for me. As better settings were published (like BBC's), most noise issues I'd seen with the 300 were cleared up to my satisfaction. Skew isn't a factor on seated interviews.
Anyway, I think Panasonic will have made a huge mistake if the skew issue isn't resolved or, at minimum, greatly diminished in the 370. No matter the specification, they've violated my trust in their brand - again - and that continues to drive me toward renting cameras instead of owning them.
:undecided
No matter what you call it - an outright lie, convenient obfuscation or simply a "this-is-just-how-it-is-with-professional-level-technology-products" justification - we've all effectively been sold a beta-test unit with the HPX300. Did I make money with the 300? Not nearly as much as I did with either of our 100a/200 cameras. The 200 had what, a four year lifespan? As it is with all of our larger capex decisions, our HPX300 was purchased under financing (18 months) and now Panasonic says, "we can do better"?
To me, Panasonic hasn't invented a new camera with the 370 at all. They've come out with the 300a and nothing more. It's easy for someone who hasn't been burned to say we're all just feeling sorry for ourselves and that it's sour grapes - that's just how it is.
The key problem is that the 370 rapidly depreciates the value of the 300. It doesn't hurt the 170 owner or the 2700 owner. At all.
In the consumer auto market, you know that you can always make an informed decision between the last year of the Old Mustang, which is known and available, or New Mustang, which is also known through leaked details and an adequate preview period through third-party media and elsewhere.
Imagine if you went and purchased that 2010 model with every available option and then discovered, driving by the same lot virtually the very next day, that a new, Hybrid version with better all-around specifications was now on offer at nearly the same price. Suddenly, your ride is very likely worth far less and you have no recourse but to drive it as it is.
In the world where an HPX370 doesn't exist, I like the 300 for what strengths it had. AVCIntra100 and dual HDSDI outputs are favorite features for me. As better settings were published (like BBC's), most noise issues I'd seen with the 300 were cleared up to my satisfaction. Skew isn't a factor on seated interviews.
Anyway, I think Panasonic will have made a huge mistake if the skew issue isn't resolved or, at minimum, greatly diminished in the 370. No matter the specification, they've violated my trust in their brand - again - and that continues to drive me toward renting cameras instead of owning them.
:undecided
