So long CCDs...HMC 150 discontinued

F

firehawk

Veteran
From Panasonic:
"Thank you for contacting Panasonic Solutions for Business. In regards to your inquiry, model AG-HMC 150 is discontinued. The replacement model(s) would be AG-AC90 or AG-AC130. If you have any other questions, you may contact the Professional Video Support Division will be able to further assist you at 1-855-772-8324, option (2).
"


Well the HPX170 recently went away so I figured the writing was on the wall for the HMC 150. It already showed discontinued at Adorama so I contacted Panasonic. There are still some left out there, so if anyone wants one they had better act soon. Looks like CCDs are history except in 2/3. Too bad too. Despite it's age, it's still arguably one of the best event cameras out there for us poor folk. I feel neither the AC-130A nor AC90 are indeed full replacements :(
I expect the old tried and true 150s will continue cranking out footage for years to come from all of us who have them.
 
You are correct sir about the HMC150 for event cameras for us poor folks. I just don't have the money to upgrade anytime soon. In the mean time the HMC150 will have to do...
 
Ahhhh the end of an era. I still use mine often, much more usable than my GH2 for a lot of scenarios. It has it's limits but it still shoots pretty nice footage in the right conditions, and it's about as perfect a camera to operate as I can imagine.
 
I love the HC150, and still discovering new things about it as my experience grows. If mine ever broke, I would want to replace it with another HMC150. I own many other cameras, but this camera is so reliable for my needs. Don't you think this had to be one of their top sellers?
 
Deer Film said:
I love the HC150, and still discovering new things about it as my experience grows. If mine ever broke, I would want to replace it with another HMC150. I own many other cameras, but this camera is so reliable for my needs. Don't you think this had to be one of their top sellers?
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I agree. Surely it has sold well (?) They still have been getting great reviews on B&H/Adorama/Amazon this year which is remarkable for a camera ~5 years old. Never even had an updated "A" version.
 
The HC150 is discontinued. It is perceived by many as a workhorse but the technology is 5 years old.

If you cannot find one below $1,200, I am with Zazacast recommending that you consider the just released AC8 at around $1,500. You would be getting a new camera with a 3 year warranty with some very interesting features including 21 x zoom, simultaneous sd card recording and a 5-axis OIS.

There is a big difference between 13x and 21x optical zoom so if a long lens is close to the top of your list, keep this in mind.

I have an AG-AC160A. I like it a lot but there are many times where a shoulder mount capability would be far more practical.
 
As others have mentioned, for event work, this camera is/was a dream, especially for weddings. If shooting weddings didn't involve being next to a photographer and their flash for most of the day, I'd jump on a CMOS camera will no quarrel. But the flash banding simply looks like crap, and the HMC's CCD's give me reassurance that no matter how many flashes are going off, the footage will look beautiful, and not like some jarring flash-banding Hollywood premiere via a cheap TMZ camera.
 
But the flash banding simply looks like crap, and the HMC's CCD's give me reassurance that no matter how many flashes are going off, the footage will look beautiful, and not like some jarring flash-banding Hollywood premiere via a cheap TMZ camera.[/QUOTE]Pros and cons to CCD's. Not as sensitive or sharp as CMOS, but don't suffer the banding or jello effect. Try shooting with a CMOS from a moving helicopter. Jello city!
 
I was shooting a farm driving scene from a moving 4 wheeler yesterday(not rolling shutter friendly), an illuminated bridge over a river last night, and artsy stock Christmas footage today. A pretty versatile camera. Have to work to pull shallow DOF but I still like the 150.
 
It is my understanding that B&H has (or had) a quantity of them. Back when I started this thread a B&H rep told me it was discontinued but they had something like 40 in stock (I forgot the exact number he said). The price has slowly trickled down from $2629 to $2495 over the last few weeks, coming from $3200 and $2995 earlier in the year/late last year. I think it's down to whatever little inventory is left. Amazon still shows some as well. Seems to kind of be following the way of the DVX100B. I remember seeing it disappear from several sites yet it was on B&H and the price went down below $2000 and then one day it showed "discontinued" and was gone.
 
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accelv said:
Yeah, until 4k comes knocking on your door in 2014. It's the never-ending "push capitalism" at work.
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True. Fortunately for me, my web and television work is HD but the majority of my work still goes standard definition to DVD.
I think 4k will be a slow migration for me, used first for future-proofing stock footage and re-framing advantages and then it will eventually be required. Unless my cinema projects move to the front burner and I have to move faster.
 
accelv said:
Yeah, until 4k comes knocking on your door in 2014. It's the never-ending "push capitalism" at work.
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I was talking to another videographer about this the other day... We haven't even seen much of a push for Bluray form our clients, let alone 4k.
 
I agree. My clients are just hitting HD. 480 to vimeo. If the HMC150 had dual card slots with double recording I would never have sold it. A great Camcorder.
 
8string said:
I agree. My clients are just hitting HD. 480 to vimeo. If the HMC150 had dual card slots with double recording I would never have sold it. A great Camcorder.
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AGREED! My last pro camcorder was a 12 lbs. JVC that used bulky NMH batteries that would last about 45 minutes and record on a tape for about an hour. DV was great but HD is even better. The 150 is half the weight, half the price, twice as sharp, records for hours on a cheap card, and the larger battery will go for hours and last for years. So many other advantages.
 
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