Press Release: HMC150, "the new DVX"

When doing laptop stuff I will either edit directly off the card, or typically use the main drive. What's cool about the Lenovo laptops is that you can get a Superbay drive, and actually have two hard disks installed internally. So you get two full-speed SATA drives internally, instead of having to choke on a USB or firewire drive and deal with the external bulk.

Well you're probably a younger man than I but that 12" high small wide screen wouldn't work for these eyes without glasses and I hate to get in that habbit. I look for 17" wide screen. How about isn't there a PCMCIA SATA controller out there? I could swear I've read about one.
 
When doing laptop stuff I will either edit directly off the card, or typically use the main drive. What's cool about the Lenovo laptops is that you can get a Superbay drive, and actually have two hard disks installed internally. So you get two full-speed SATA drives internally, instead of having to choke on a USB or firewire drive and deal with the external bulk.

Here it is:

SITE 1

NEW EGG

STAR

Couldn't one go this route? And these handle up to two externals.

I know the externals are a pain but I use them all the time and always have at least three to five of them them lying around in the 300 to 1TB range.
 
Should work, depends on what system you're working with. I'd vote for getting the expresscard unit, which would leave the cardbus slot open for P2 card offloading (assuming one goes with a laptop with both PCMCIA and ExpressCard slots).

As for screen size, mine is 14.1", and it's cramped. I wish I would have gotten the 15.4" with 1440x900. 17" is just too preposterously big to travel with, but for editing it'd be great.
 
As for screen size, mine is 14.1", and it's cramped. I wish I would have gotten the 15.4" with 1440x900. 17" is just too preposterously big to travel with, but for editing it'd be great.

As for the "lugable 17" it is a whopper but it does have lots of screen to work AND usually lots of bells and whistles not the least of which are normally hotter independent video cards more memory other gadgets that are nice assuming that one is trying to work a desktop into a laptop.

As for me I'd probably opt for the 17 just because I can see it without glasses. My son has one and although pretty much a biggie after some use it's just like any other "getting used too" gadget.

We're going to install Edius on one of the laptops and see how it handles the DVCProHD just for the heck of it and this machine isn't the hottest on the block.

EDIT: Here's a 15.4 we found that a guy is using one of those PCMCIA/xPRESScard SATA controllers with and said it cooks!

BEST BUY
 
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That laptop from Best Buy has a nice dual core processor in it for an energy efficient laptop. CPU will make the most difference in overall performance (for hardware dollar spent).
 
Price for AVCHD

Price for AVCHD

I spoke to a Panasonic rep at a camera show two weeks ago. He told me there were two models of this AVCHD prosumer camera. One was handheld, the other had a larger body built around the same technology, more advanced connectivity, two XLR inputs, etc.

Price for the larger camera: $2,195.

Demo footage at the show: beautiful. Sharp as a knife edge.

BUT...I did notice the colors were a bit washed out and the depth of focus was, as it is with the HVX, pretty deep. VERY sharp detail though, I was surprised when he told me $2,195.

That's just what I've heard, I don't vouch for it; but isn't B&H taking pre-orders for the handheld version at $1,695?

Thanks,
Doc
 
I spoke to a Panasonic rep at a camera show two weeks ago. He told me there were two models of this AVCHD prosumer camera. One was handheld, the other had a larger body built around the same technology, more advanced connectivity, two XLR inputs, etc.

Price for the larger camera: $2,195.

Demo footage at the show: beautiful. Sharp as a knife edge.

BUT...I did notice the colors were a bit washed out and the depth of focus was, as it is with the HVX, pretty deep. VERY sharp detail though, I was surprised when he told me $2,195.

That's just what I've heard, I don't vouch for it; but isn't B&H taking pre-orders for the handheld version at $1,695?

Thanks,
Doc

Sounds like he might of been talking about the HMC-70
 
I spoke to a Panasonic rep at a camera show two weeks ago. He told me there were two models of this AVCHD prosumer camera. One was handheld, the other had a larger body built around the same technology, more advanced connectivity, two XLR inputs, etc.

Price for the larger camera: $2,195.

Demo footage at the show: beautiful. Sharp as a knife edge.

BUT...I did notice the colors were a bit washed out and the depth of focus was, as it is with the HVX, pretty deep. VERY sharp detail though, I was surprised when he told me $2,195.

That's just what I've heard, I don't vouch for it; but isn't B&H taking pre-orders for the handheld version at $1,695?

Thanks,
Doc

I sware that this is the same camera that the Panasonic Product Manager showed me in Washington DC at the GVExpo conference just months ago. He had an 80% size version of what looked like a DVX60 and a handheld version and both used the NEW AVCHD codec and they had images from both cameras up on a big screen with all kinds of other input (that new screen divider hardware/software) and the images were absolutely astonishing. Although there were lots of limitations on the format which as he pointed out (with a sort of east coast accent :eek:) it is a prosumer version camera series and for the "run-n-gun" non broadcast project . . "perfect"

I am betting this is the baby. If so I've already seen it and it's result. I will be interested to learn of the footprint of the 150 that will trigger the conclusion.
 
Who's Going To NAB...

Who's Going To NAB...

I'll be there Monday thru Thursday morning. My first NAB.

I'm surprised that I'm not seeing more people saying they are going to NAB.

I'd assume that Barry will be at NAB... but maybe not.

If only a few will be at NAB, then the days after NAB, there will be a rush of new information (from the few) on the HMC150, then not a whole lot until around DV Expo (November 4 - 6). That will make for a LONG 7 months...



In a way it's good that the HMC-70 comes out first. That way Panasonic can deal with the issues before the HMC150. It's my understanding that the AVCHD files cause both Apple's iMovie and FCE 4.0 (Final Cut Express) to crash. Not the fault of the files, but clearly a bug in Apple's software. The 6 to 9 months before the HMC150 comes out gives Apple more than enough time to find and fix the bugs.

The other issue is improving on the AVCHD CODEC found in the HMC-70. In the case of compression, there's more than one way to do the job. The trick is to find an improved way with the least compression artifacts. Chances are that Panasonic will take a second look at how the AVCHD file is generated to see what improvements can be made.

It would be a bit of a shock if Panasonic came out with the HMC150 with a sub-standard image quality. The HMC150 is covering ground they would know well, the offset CCDs (HVX-200) and the AVCHD CODEC (HMC-70). So I would expect the HMC150 to be very competitive against the Sony V1 and the Canon A1.


I had hoped to go to NAB, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but I have to leave 1 day early, so I only get Tuesday and Wednesday...:crybaby:


Bob Diaz
 
I'm surprised that I'm not seeing more people saying they are going to NAB. . . . If only a few will be at NAB, then the days after NAB, there will be a rush of new information (from the few) on the HMC150, then not a whole lot until around DV Expo (November 4 - 6). That will make for a LONG 7 months... . . . Bob Diaz

I'm not surprised at all. With several of the BIG NAMES pulling out of going to the NAB and with economics where they are, I'd be surprised if the US turn out was that good at all. We gone since we been in video but not this year and it wasn't put in next years budget either.

In fact, companies are learning that local camps and seminars are far more rewarding financially and some are learning that a "freeride" is worth zillions at getting their name in the forefront of the client and prospective client long term. Our P2 conference here in Pittsburgh was the most rewarding conference I have been to in years AND the small group atmosphere allowed unbeleiveable ONE on ONE learning curve. I came away with at least two dozen new tricks on my HVX200 alone (that I never knew existed) and have been SOLD on P2 ever since.

Have a good trip to NAB you might find that it will not be as crowded as in former years. All the TV stations I called who sent someone last year are not going this year and that's at least 14 people I know won't be there . . whoops . . 16 our two won't be there either.
 
I'm going for the first time. The HMC150 is high on my must see list. So is Scarlet. If Scarlet delivers like Red is doing, then I pity the companies going head to head with it.

If the crowds are down that's good news for those going.
 
So, there IS a NEW HVX-200a ...

So, there IS a NEW HVX-200a ...

Source: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=131890
PDF File: http://www.zshare.net/download/104616618e1d8fa5

The new 1/3-inch 16:9 progressive
CCD on the AG-HVX200A further raises
image quality. It combines a
significantly improved S/N ratio and
better low light performance than
previous models.

To me this suggests that the MHC150 will have the same improved CCD; with better low level light performance & lower S/N ratio.

Also both the HVX-200 and the HVX-200a have a 4.2mm range at the widest setting. Yet, the HVX-200 is equal to a 35mm equivalent of 32.5mm, BUT on the HVX-200a, it's 30.3mm equivalent. To me that suggests that the CCD is slightly larger (about 7%) than the HVX-200. This is the same size increase that I estimated for the CCD of the HMC150.

A close look at the photos of the prototypes of the HMC150 shows the low end of the zoom is 3.9mm, not the 4.2mm found on the HVX-200a. INTERESTING, my logic said that both should use the same lenses, but maybe there's a cost issue here with using the same lens on both units.


Bob Diaz
 
I was in the panasonic broadcast webpage and I couln't find any info on the HMC150 but they already have a video for the hmc70. For me this means no working unit in NAB, but let's wait for tomorrow......
 
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 13, 2008) – Here at NAB 2008, Panasonic added a powerful, new camcorder to its AVCCAM professional line – the handheld AG-HMC150. Building on the phenomenal success of the highly popular DV tape based, standard definition AG-DVX100 camcorder, the affordable HMC150 blends professional 1080 and 720 HD production capabilities and enhanced quality recording (at average 21 Mbps/ Max 24Mbps) with the simplicity and familiarity of SD card, digital still camera workflow.

With an exciting range of professional-level features and a sleek, compact design, the HMC150 can record hours of high-quality 1080 and 720 HD images onto solid-state SD and SDHC memory cards, at lower bit rates than current HDV compression formats. This new model offers an enhanced quality mode at average 21 Mbps (Max 24Mbps) that moves quality up even further. The AG-HMC150 camcorder utilizes AVCHD, the industry’s newest long GOP compression standard based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 high profile encoding (the same as Blu-ray HD players). AVCHD provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency and improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression used in HDV formats and standard definition DVD players. AVCHD high definition recordings look clean and clear, even during fast motion, reducing the image degradation or dropout associated with HDV.

Highest-Quality, Full HD Recording

Designed to be used in a variety of budget conscious production applications, the HMC150 records stunning high definition in four recording modes – PH mode (average 21 Mbps/Max 24Mbps), HA mode (approx.17 Mbps), HG mode (approx.13 Mbps) and HE mode (approx. 6 Mbps). It captures full horizontal resolution 1920x1080 images at its PH, HA and HG recording modes. The camera can also be set to capture 1280x720 images at PH mode. At its 6 Mbps record mode, it captures 1440x1080 HD images for extended HD recording at its lowest bit rate. The HMC150 supports a range of HD formats, including 1080/24p, 1080/60i and 720/60p.

This mainstream, production-level camera features native 16:9 progressive 1/3” 3-CCD imagers, enhanced by a high-performing digital signal processor with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing. Its 13X Leica Dicomar zoom lens offers a 28mm (35mm equivalent) wide-angle setting (the widest in its class), a 72mm diameter, and a cam-driven manual zoom. The HMC150 provides auto or manual operation of focus and iris, and automatic optical image stabilization (O.I.S.) to ensure stable, smooth and precise shooting. It also features a range of selectable gamma functions including Cine-like gamma, making it well suited for cinema-like video production.

Extra-Long Record Times

With the HMC150, videographers can capitalize on the cost advantages, reliability, and widespread availability of SD and SDHC memory cards. Using just one 32GB SDHC card, users can record three hours of full pixel 1920x1080 video and audio at PH mode, four hours at HA mode and 5.3 hours at HG mode. In the HE mode, the camera can record up to 12 hours of 1440x1080 HD content – all on a single 32GB SDHC card. Panasonic also offers a variety of other SD and SDHC card sizes with Class 6 performance including 16GB, 8GB, 4GB, 2GB and 1GB.

Easy HD Playback on a Growing Number of Affordable Consumer Players

Content shot on the HMC150 can be played back directly on a wide range of widescreen flat panel displays, and front and rear-screen projectors, directly from the camera. Unlike HDV tapes, SD cards with HD content can be inserted into and played back on a growing number of affordable playback devices including Blu-ray players (like Panasonic’s DMP-BD30), the Sony PlayStation 3, and some new Panasonic plasma displays as well as computers with an SD card slot using applications that play AVCHD files. Using NLE software, content can also be edited and rendered in various formats and delivered on a wide range of media. Currently, AVCHD is supported by over 30 companies and implemented in numerous camcorders, NLE systems and consumer HD playback devices.

Professionals can instantly transfer content from the HMC150 camcorder to Mac or PC computers with an SD/SDHC card reader or by connecting the camcorder directly via its USB 2.0 interface. Other standard interfaces on the camera include HDMI out, component out (mini D terminal), composite out, remote jacks for zoom, focus iris and start/stop functions. The camera’s 3.5-inch LCD monitor displays content in thumbnail images for quick viewing.

The HMC150’s professional audio connections include XLR two-channel audio input (48V phantom power) with mic/line select, manual two-channel audio level VR and RCA audio out jacks. The camera offers waveform monitor display and an array of recording functions including time/date stamp, pre-record, shot marker, Index, time code/user bits and metadata.

Panasonic’s AVCCAM camcorder line-up brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Like digital still photography, recording onto SD/SDHC cards offer a fast and simple, file-based workflow with ultra-reliable performance and resistance to shock, vibration and extreme temperatures and weather. SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive and widely available and can be reused repeatedly. Since AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media and transferred to future storage media as technology advances.

The HMC150 will be available this fall at a suggested list price under $4,500.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wc...8010809224&surfModel=Content04102008010809224
 
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