Press Release: HMC150, "the new DVX"
- Thread starter Barry_Green
- Start date
I'd put my $$ on your bet. Also, I'm betting that B&H will load up on deposits and that their store will soon reflect that terminology, they enjoy taking deposits and banking them for interest for a few months
) Geez, I know I would )
BobDiaz
The Professor
Also, Panasonic has the HMC-150 on their web pages...
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webap...=274232&catGroupId=112502&surfModel=AG-HMC150
Bob Diaz
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webap...=274232&catGroupId=112502&surfModel=AG-HMC150
Bob Diaz
PixelWrangler
Well-known member
Can anyone check out the accessory page for the HMC150 and see if the battery is the same one used with the DVX?
Well, based on the part numbers alone, it is a different battery unless Panasonic doesn't follow part number protocol; so, I'm guessing a new design "smart" battery like most everyone is going to with the fuel tank. Heck, my Mac even has a battery guage on it on the back of the machine
)Barry_Green
Moderator
Don't know. It could be PCM uncompressed at anywhere from 2 to 7 channels (actually 7.1, I think) but since each pair takes up 1.5 megabits, that'd be six megabits for audio alone; I doubt they're doing that. Or it could be AC-3 compressed audio. I don't think anyone's said yet.
Barry_Green
Moderator
That should certainly be possible. It all depends on your NLE, but I can already say that I can't see how this wouldn't be possible.
New Production Model
New Production Model
Will there be disadvantages to buying the first production issues of the HMC150? Can we expect significant refinement in the first several months? This will be my first camera and I do not know the early history of other models Panasonic has come out with . You guys do. Thanks.
New Production Model
Will there be disadvantages to buying the first production issues of the HMC150? Can we expect significant refinement in the first several months? This will be my first camera and I do not know the early history of other models Panasonic has come out with . You guys do. Thanks.
ilauzirika
Boring Senior Member
I hadn't seen it till today.... the retail price in Europe is "AG-HMC151E is €3,650 plus VAT", from a press release in panasonic europe......
I don't know if it was posted before.......
I don't know if it was posted before.......
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
I have a dual G5 I don't even think it is a mac pro. I have had for 3 years. and I have FCP HD academic. Does it matter which type of HD I edit. Basically I want the HPX but he HMC is cheaper. I remember reading that One type of HD is a pain to work with, I just can't find the thread.
kurtmo
Eats with 2 Fists
Yes it does matter and this it the type that is a pain. Some NLEs will allow you to edit video encoded with the AVCHD codec natively (without transcoding), but you're going to need lots of horse power to do it. Personnaly, I've been investigating how to transcode the AVCHD to something cleaner to edit.
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
So just go with the HPX and my computer with FCP HD should be okay? I really don't want to spend thousands more to be able to edit the footage. Hundreds more I could live with.
Okeefe, you make a pretty valid point here with your question. It seems this is the "mark of the times" with software and equipment designers especially where firmware is upgradable. Then, it appears that this same philosophy gets transmitted into their ENG thinking.
Look at the short history on model changes on the DVX100, DVX100A, and DVX100B or the HVX200 (and even a firmware update to fix the P2 card size matter) and HVX200A. In each case the latest model ether updated shortcomings or added features that either weren't thought of and learned during use, or fixed problematic issues that surfaced through consumer reporting or service issues.
Thus, as you question yourself, it might behoove you to wait it out and listen carefully to the issues as they surface and then see the fixes that come down the pike (if any). I know for certain we will be waiting it out with careful eyes and talking to people who have the product and reading unbiased reviews from people who have no interest in the product other than a job to do reviews where there are no loyalties and no allegiences or preference THEN make our decision accodingly.
BobDiaz
The Professor
Let me break it down into several parts to answer your question:
HARDWARE:
While the basic design is OK, there is always a possibility of potential problems appearing in the first production run. Panasonic, like all other major camera makers would fix problems like this, but there's a period of time where the camera would need to be returned to Panasonic for service.
IF problems like this appear, the production group always gets feedback from the service department, so that later production runs will not have these problems.
Then again, many times no odd problems pop up in the first production run. So, there is some risk of having to deal with something, but in the end it would be fixed. I don't know the degree of risk here...
Don't expect cameras coming out 6 months from the first unit to have some extra or improved feature. The only changes would be in how production puts it together and the only reason for that change would be to avoid any service problems due to a flaw in production. It could be anywhere from 2 to 3 years before we would see the HMC-150a come out. (An improved HMC-150.)
SOFTWARE:
The president of Traveling Software once told me, "Software is never ready, it just ships." While he intended that as a joke, he had a good point.
I'm sure that Panasonic is working like crazy with the software vendors to make sure all the right software is in place when the HMC-150 comes out. There is always a chance that on xxx editing program, the right software is not fully functional or ready yet. IF that happens, one might have a several month delay waiting for the software. On the other hand, if you don't use xxx editing program, but use yyy editing program, there's no issue.
At this point in time, no one can say if there are any software issues or what they are. Risk unknown...
THE LEADING EDGE OR THE BLEEDING EDGE OR THE WAITING EDGE:
Those who get the first units are the ones who are on the leading edge. They get to use the equipment before anyone else.
There is always some risk that something in the hardware or the software may pose an issue. If so, many joke that these people become, "the bleeding edge". True, but in the case of video cameras, one way or another, the issues are resolved over time. I would hope that anyone using the camera professionally, has other equipment they can use to cover their jobs while waiting for any issues to be resolved.
Some wait until the first users report their success (or problems) before making a decision. This is a safe way to do things, but in the case of the Panasonic HVX-200, the camera worked VERY well and became VERY popular. Buyers had to wait a long time for a camera, because demand was so high and production could only make so many at a time. I used the term, "The Waiting Edge" in jest to describe this group of people.
Bob Diaz
Especially for Okeefe, it was this latter paragraph of Bob's above that explicitly marks the eye of a single time buyer who is dumping a lot of their budget into a new product. Those of us who can manipulate decent budgets for equipment are not so conservative and less reserved when it comes to jumping into the "bleeding edge" and just like Bob pointed out the HVX200 was great needing only a firmware upgrade to accept the 16Gb and greater P2 cards.
To resound Bob's message of his friend, there is no way that a designer can determine what a user is going to do with a product . . completely. As a former industrial scientist turned director/producer, I know that all can be done is test the product in every kind of application and situation imaginable and then on release learn what wasn't thought of through client complaints, servicing issues, or expanded comments; like, who would have thought that a new lawnmower that was lightweight would be used to trim a hedge? So, a placard had to be displayed when two men picked up a running lawn mower and carried it over a hedge to trim the hedge which actually worked until they hit a pipe that was still in the hedges from the original "straight line" guide and they sued the company for improper intructions regarding the application of the lawnmowe (and won by the way).
The expanded use of a camera or product is where one sometimes finds the "secret door" to special features or expanded use like we did on the DVX100B. We found that we can shoot it way lower in light without expanding the gain by cheating the camera from the way in which it was intended to be used. Herein, some experimentation found that we could go down to as low as what would be required for about -24 or even -30 gain and although our color suffers a little, we still get nice, true image pictures without grain. Our wedding clients love the effect and we get business where a "no low light" videographer would not. We found the same settings would not work on the HVX200 but would on the A model which in our book meant that whatever software/hardware configuration was in the 100 was adopted in the 200A. Just a guess but hey we all learn from experience)
So concluding, the 150 will be a NEW STEP and with all new steps there is risk. How much? With Panasonic's excellent history of product development and service I would guess that the risk would be small, if any. Moreover, I would think that were there a serious issue, as Bob pointed out, other than service interruption time the product will be fixed/updated quickly and without expense. The biggest issue we EVER had with Panasonic products was a DVR that the HDD's kept dying in and although it was a pistol sending it back to the factory all the time (three times) they finally learned that a 80Gb wasn't going to work and put a 60Gb in it and added 1 year to the already 3 year warranty that was soon expiring - the product is still in service two years subsequent.) So, it was a bit of a hassle but we still love the thing and stand behind our Panyy Pal )
To resound Bob's message of his friend, there is no way that a designer can determine what a user is going to do with a product . . completely. As a former industrial scientist turned director/producer, I know that all can be done is test the product in every kind of application and situation imaginable and then on release learn what wasn't thought of through client complaints, servicing issues, or expanded comments; like, who would have thought that a new lawnmower that was lightweight would be used to trim a hedge? So, a placard had to be displayed when two men picked up a running lawn mower and carried it over a hedge to trim the hedge which actually worked until they hit a pipe that was still in the hedges from the original "straight line" guide and they sued the company for improper intructions regarding the application of the lawnmowe (and won by the way).
The expanded use of a camera or product is where one sometimes finds the "secret door" to special features or expanded use like we did on the DVX100B. We found that we can shoot it way lower in light without expanding the gain by cheating the camera from the way in which it was intended to be used. Herein, some experimentation found that we could go down to as low as what would be required for about -24 or even -30 gain and although our color suffers a little, we still get nice, true image pictures without grain. Our wedding clients love the effect and we get business where a "no low light" videographer would not. We found the same settings would not work on the HVX200 but would on the A model which in our book meant that whatever software/hardware configuration was in the 100 was adopted in the 200A. Just a guess but hey we all learn from experience
)So concluding, the 150 will be a NEW STEP and with all new steps there is risk. How much? With Panasonic's excellent history of product development and service I would guess that the risk would be small, if any. Moreover, I would think that were there a serious issue, as Bob pointed out, other than service interruption time the product will be fixed/updated quickly and without expense. The biggest issue we EVER had with Panasonic products was a DVR that the HDD's kept dying in and although it was a pistol sending it back to the factory all the time (three times) they finally learned that a 80Gb wasn't going to work and put a 60Gb in it and added 1 year to the already 3 year warranty that was soon expiring - the product is still in service two years subsequent.
) So, it was a bit of a hassle but we still love the thing and stand behind our Panyy Pal )
Jared Meyer
Veteran
Just popped in to say thanks for all the great research and info, Bob! Lots of good stuff here.
I'm starting to get kind of excited about this camera...
I'm starting to get kind of excited about this camera...