Should I be waiting for the HVX200a

[jdplaya]

With the DVX I waited and was very pleasantly surprised. I hate knowing that I don't have the newest version of something (I'm strange like that). How long do you think it will be before we see an HVX200a? Seems like it would be hard to improve upon... but a built in - 1 terabyte firewire drive sure would be nice...

 

[Jarred Land]

there probally will be a 200a.. but probally not for a year at least.. and i doubt that it will have some major improvements rather than just tweaks like the 100a and b.

Like everything in the electronics industry.. if you wait it will come, but for most of us, we cant just wait and wait and wait... we have been waiting for 2 years for the HVX and it cant come quick enough.

 

[BobDiaz]

The problem with technology is it keep getting better every year!

Assume that some time in the future there will be an improved model to the HVX200. OK, you wait for it to come, BUT wait, in a few years there will be an improved model to that one coming out...

The problem is there will always be something else better coming out later on.

The real questions are:

Do you need to upgrade your equipment today or not?

Will the upgrade help you provide a better end product or open up new work for you?

How will a delay in purchase affect the outcome of my work if the delay is 3 months from now, 6 months from now, 12 months from now?

What is the best case I can expect on a delay of 3, 6, or 12 months on improvements in technology?

...

Given that the camera does so much, it's hard to think what they will add to it to improve it. However, the price of P2 memory cards will drop over time and the size of the cards will increase. I wouldn't expect big changes in 3 months, but 6 to 12 months we may see 16GB P2 cards. (Notice the key word is MAY.) If so, the price on 4GB and 8GB cards will drop.


Bob Diaz

 

[stabwound]

...

However, the price of P2 memory cards will drop over time and the size of the cards will increase. I wouldn't expect big changes in 3 months, but 6 to 12 months we may see 16GB P2 cards. (Notice the key word is MAY.) If so, the price on 4GB and 8GB cards will drop.


Bob Diaz

Computer memory has been pretty volatile in the last 10 years. Just when you think prices are gonna stay low, you dinged with a surprise.

An earthquake in Taiwan, a burning factory etc will send memory prices back to bloody expensive. Recently Samsung (or some other memory maker) were accused of price fixing.

Now maybe I'm confusing flash memory and cpu memory, but I'm sure they're manufactured in similar fashion by the same manufacturers.

Whenever computer memory hits a new low, I rush out and buy an armload (I'm building a render farm) just because I'm paranoid.

Will an earthquake hit in 2006 and double p2 memory?

 

[steindj]

but a built in - 1 terabyte firewire drive sure would be nice...

I agree with Jarred, I wouldn't bank on seeing that on a 200a. Given recent discussions around here, I'd say that they'll probably put an image flip on any upgrade if there isn't a way to flip on the 200.

 

[disjecta]

I'm going to wait for the HVX200a mainly because the current model is not in my budget. I'm also waiting because Panasonic is very attentive to its users and the camera's shortcomings (although that may be a very short list) will not become apparent until it has been tested in the field....something that hasn't really happened yet. The small features that were changed from the DVX100 to the 100a were significant in my book.

Also, given that there is no real practical way right now to distribute HD on DVD for playing on set top units, distribution of the true HD footage is expensive and not all that practical.

 

[Jarred Land]

yeah disjecta.. good point. if it doesnt fit the budget then it doesnt fit the budget.

but waiting for the upgrade.. if people are doing it for fear of being left with a big brick and feeling left out of the A camp when it does come out.. you can do like alot of people and sell the original on Ebay, loose about $1000 and upgrade. If the A comes out in a year, then just look at it like your renting the original for $100 a month till the "real" one comes out.

 

[phd]

I had a friend who should wait for a better model of a camera. After ten years he still waiting for a better. I ask him if he was interested for photo or it was to read about it :beer:

 

[steindj]

The small features that were changed from the DVX100 to the 100a were significant in my book.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't one of those new features focus assist in progressive mode? If so, that was definitely a significant change. It was slow working for sure, but better than nothing!