OTHER: Px270 other features timeline

It's too bad that the HPX-250 is not a qualified cam for $1K trade up. People like me in the same early P2 adopter boat that spent thousands on P2 media and the MSU-10, no spanning w/ P2 on the PX270 is not desirable. They have twin slots for P2 & Micro P2 on the PX5000 but not on this. Arrg. Hate having to spend more for Micro P2. I don't mind Micro P2 but the Micro P2-P2 adaptor will not work w/ the MSU-10. So another big dead end. Not sure of they will completely phase out P2 in the next 5 years. I prefer larger media form factor because it's simply harder to misplace it in the field. Micro P2 can easily slip through the cracks if you're not careful. Working OIS is a big feature. Shoot a lot of car mounted shots and it helps a lot. Until the bugs & features are fully resolved w/ the PX270, I'll start the upgrading process.

Bassman2003 said:
Yes, it will span using the MicroP2 & SD cards. It also has a menu setting to create one clip if you do not want the file breaks for long recordings. Having only one P2 slot steered me away form the larger cards. Strange that some features favor the larger card when the number of recording slots favor the MicroP2 cards. Are they trying to force a purchase or something? I can't figure this one out.

I am neutral on recommending this camera. I want to be for it, but there is enough going on that I am just staying silent until all is fixed. I jumped in on this camera because of the AJ-series distinction and the trust that was built up over the years with Panasonic. They delivered on the image quality, color accuracy, light sensitivity, usability, viewfinder, LCD and the servo motors but kind of dropped the ball on other aspects. The "double menu" thing is just pointless with the first menu really having nothing you want to change. And needing to go into the thumbnail mode just to format your card is stupid imho. Why change stuff when it is not broken? Cameras have had one menu with everything for many years and it works. No idea how the OIS passed quality control/beta testing as the issue going on just smacks you in the face if you have ever used a camera before.

But, without a doubt, this is the cleanest Panasonic camera I have ever come across (which keeps me happy on the thing). Seriously, there is NO noise in the shadows at zero gain. I milestone for Panasonic for sure.
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The only real big problem with the camera for me is the OIS problem. I still have my 250 so I have a way to cope, but I'd rather have the ~$3000 I could get for the 250 because I don't really need both cameras.

For most users of this type of camera, this is a great, feature rich tool that gets the job done beautifully. But, the OIS not working properly is a deal breaker for most anyone considering a purchase - oh, wait, Panasonic hasn't put out a press release the OIS ruins video! Big mistake, in my opinion. Be up front with people Panasonic or you will lose the trust of your customers. Not saying anything is the same as a big, fat lie. Panasonic is doing the wrong thing here and it will cost them in the end. I can guarantee you that it has cost free-lancers clients. It almost cost me a client.

I brought the issue to light back in early August with Panasonic, but didn't think it right to spread the word about the issue. I felt that was Panasonic's obligation. Now, after repeated attempts to get Panasonic to spread the word, nothing. So, I'm asking everyone out there to let everyone know now! I did my due diligence.
 
Had no choice but to do a handheld shoot with the PX270 this past weekend, which meant OIS. Horrifying how many shots needed to be redone. Damn shame, for as others have noted, the images can be fantastic, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out for an OIS fix if the early Oct timeframe that Bassman2003 reported slips.
 
Bassman2003 said:
I still really like the image and ergonomics. The camera is like a modern HMC-150. Just wish Panasonic had their act together.
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Yes. But it's going to be a better use of my time to just forget this one. Panasonic has become a politician -- listen to what they say, but watch what they do. And right now, they are just screwing their customers with the AJ-PX270.

You know, if Panasonic really wanted me to give my money to Sony or Canon, all they had to do was tell me. Oh, wait -- they are telling me exactly that aren't they?
 
I will give them until after this firmware release to make serious judgments. It better be a big firmware change as they are behind the eight ball so to speak. But, if they get it right this camera is about the all time pinnacle of 1/3" HD cameras along with the new Sony.

But honestly, with Panasonic's behavior it is tough to know how much they care. I have never seen a pro camera outside of RED to ship with features that are left out for six months or more. It is a new low and hopefully not a trend.
 
Well, I guess I'll be keeping my 250 with all the trouble with the OIS on the 270. I mostly do handheld with the 250. I'll be looking at the new Sony's for later down the road. Actually, the new Canons are looking good too.
 
Bassman2003 said:
The "double menu" thing is just pointless with the first menu really having nothing you want to change.
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FWIW, that quick menu is customizable. If it's pointless to you, it's because you haven't made it your own yet. :)

I think it's great, stuff I need to access 90% of the time in the custom menu.

I'm going to join the chorus of groaners on the release of features....I bought this camera before NAB with the promise of new features coming around June. Okay okay, so even I knew it might be June or July. But then August and now (almost) September have fully passed and I'm still waiting on some of the landmark features that were promoted for this camera. Not just bonus stuff, but some of the features that set this camera apart from so many others announced this year.

After getting this recent firmware update (11.31) and seeing we're still waiting until....? Well, I'm about ready to sell this camera off. It's been good for the few shoots I've used it on, but the features that have yet to be delivered are the ones that flipped the switch for me and got me to upgrade to the PX270.

And now there's a promo offer too, which would have been nice for early adopters, and becomes even a bit more infuriating each day that I wait for the camera that I purchased almost 6 months ago to finally be "delivered."

The image quality is great, but there are other cameras out there with great image quality, too. It's the total feature set that was supposed to set this camera apart. For now, it's not happening quite as expected.
 
JohnnyD said:
I'll be looking at the new Sony's for later down the road. Actually, the new Canons are looking good too.
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I've been a Panasonic user for years now, just love the layout and operation of their small form factor cameras.

That being said, I almost couldn't believe my brain a couple weeks ago when I started saying "Well, better look and see what else is going on from Canon and (gasp) Sony." One of my subs has a Canon XF300 which is a great little cam. Canon's newest stuff looks even more promising. And it's not like the PX270 has exactly cornered the market on pricing either. So yeah, I'm going to float this until October, but then, I'm going to go shopping and probably sell off my PX270 if the features still aren't there and the OIS is still busted (even though handheld is only a small portion of my work, it still needs to look somewhat decent, ya know?)
 
scapsinger said:
FWIW, that quick menu is customizable. If it's pointless to you, it's because you haven't made it your own yet. :)

I think it's great, stuff I need to access 90% of the time in the custom menu.
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Yes, there are some things to change in there, but it is totally redundant with the main menu. It seems I usually want to change something in the main menu that is not in the quick menu. Just make one menu and it will all be "quick"...
 
scapsinger said:
I've been a Panasonic user for years now, just love the layout and operation of their small form factor cameras.

That being said, I almost couldn't believe my brain a couple weeks ago when I started saying "Well, better look and see what else is going on from Canon and (gasp) Sony."
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My first camcorder in 1990 was a Panasonic and have most been since. I like Panasonic and once you have invested into batteries, controllers, etc it makes it more difficult to change brands. Then there's the extra hassle of having to match the footage from different camera brands. However I already have 1 Sony in the mix, and it is looking like the next camera may be Sony as well. Sony is spitting out cameras left and right while Panasonic seems to be slowly limping along.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Yes, there are some things to change in there, but it is totally redundant with the main menu. It seems I usually want to change something in the main menu that is not in the quick menu. Just make one menu and it will all be "quick"...
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I don't think you quite understand what the quick menu is for...you can add things to it (or remove them). The quick menu is whatever you want it to be. So if there's a function missing in the quick menu, add it. If there's something you don't use frequently, only once in a while...remove it. You have the power! :)
 
I've owned mostly large broadcast cameras from Sony. My first handheld was the Canon XL1, running DV tape. Wow, what a great zoom lens that could be changed out for the wide zoom. Great OIS! Events, sports, action, everything was mighty fine. But, I've always loved the color of Panasonic, hence my first HPX500. I really like my HPX250, but my next camera just might be the new Canons. Canon has great OIS.
 
scapsinger said:
I don't think you quite understand what the quick menu is for...you can add things to it (or remove them). The quick menu is whatever you want it to be. So if there's a function missing in the quick menu, add it. If there's something you don't use frequently, only once in a while...remove it. You have the power! :)
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Edit - I am wrong on this one. Thanks for the tip! I read the manual a little closer and am onboard now with the user menu.
 
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I agree that Panasonic needs to be called to account on this one. I bought one of the first PX-270s available in April. It became evident in the first hour that the camera was unusable for hand-held work because of the OIS problem. In addition it would not accept a jam from 23.98 time code even though it would output code at that rate.

I notified Panasonic through Abel Cine of the problems but I did not write anything online at first, hoping Panasonic would address the issue before the AJ-PX270 got a thoroughly bad name. Abel Cine LA saw the problems and took the camera back. It's been 5 months and Panasonic has done nothing, they have not replied to me or to Abel Cine. The Sept 8 firmware update makes no mention of the problems. Aside from those problems, not having an efficient codec and the detail being cranked up too high it's a truly great camera. It's time to post reviews on B&H, Amazon and wherever the camera is sold before a lot of buyers are sucked in by this trade-in deal.

Panasonic is selling a defective product and buyers need to be warned.
 
This cam takes much longer to "settle in" than other Panasonic cameras in the past.

The factory settings on the 270 are horrid. I can't believe they ship them like that. Sharpness settings to the max and aliasing and jaggies galore.

It seems like every time I use it the images get better. I shoot, I tweak, I shoot, I tweak.

Enabling most of the settings back to menu one also helps.

I agree the double menu system isn't for everyone, wish you could disable it completely.

I'll admit, I don't like the lens, wish it was Leica. But I needed to move past the "non-HD" HD the HVX200 was putting out. Just about to sell both of those.
 
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