The Next Panasonic Camera -- suggestions to the product manager

combatentropy said:
Can we please just let people make suggestions without running them through our ingenious clairvoyant omnicience about what is possible over the next couple years?
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Can we please go back to the first post in this thread where I said this thread is for the Panasonic Consumer division to look at the next model they're going to produce? As in, can we please stay on topic? There are plenty of places to pontificate about whatever pie-in-the-sky supercamera people might want. But that is not the purpose of this thread.
 
For me: (1) IBIS (2) Dual recording - capable of basic backup for safety, capable of spanning, capable of recording simultaneously at two different rates (3) stick to SD cards (4) I realize it's the GH4 sensor, so this may be pie in the sky, but if possible: better low-light performance (compared to the GH4), because this is the one bad downfall for the GH4 from my point of view (5) built in ND filters (pie in the sky?). I don't expect all of these, but the more of this that can be incorporated, the better, from my point of view.
 
Barry_Green said:
1. Take the HC-X1000's body, chop off the lens, pull out the sensor, shove in the GH4's sensor, and put an M4/3 mount on it. Everything else can stay the same. Voila, instant 4K "AF200" with GH4 image quality and 4K/60p, that could use any kind of lens through an adapter or SpeedBooster. I'd buy that.
2. I'd also love to see some slow-mo options. If 4K/60p is possible, then perhaps 1080/240p could also be possible? Or 720/480p? Or standard-def 960 fps?
3. We'd all like to see an option for recording raw, or at least a log-style recording gamma.


What else would you folks like to see? They're listening; let's give them some good suggestions for products that lots of people would want.
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I think it goes without saying that the GH4 sensor is already there - so plus one to all the above. Include V-log and V-Gamut, I see theres rumour in the gh4 forums V-Log is coming there anyway. I'd love to see the old favourites waveform / zebras, but also with the addition of false colour - Im fairly certain that's doable within the budget.

I'd also like to see removable components for easier use with stabilisers like the ronin or movi.

Personally, I'd prefer to see a purpose built body, I think the F7S goes a long way to creating a well balanced camera that can sit on your shoulder, although there's room for improvement over this. And while we are on ripping the sensor out of the GH4, this may sound a touch whaky, it does to me, but why not include the option to shoot high res stills in RAW on it - push back the other way as well. Photog's have been crossing over in droves since the dslr craze, why not push back the other way. It would certainly change perspective.

EDIT: Then I stepped away and thought, not so whaky. Could shoot all your time lapses on the same camera you shoot your video with, without the video limitations.
 
Noel Evans said:
... Personally, I'd prefer to see a purpose built body, I think the F7S goes a long way to creating a well balanced camera that can sit on your shoulder, although there's room for improvement over this...
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But wouldn't you have to decide whether something is going to be mostly used hand-held, shoulder supported or fixed?

GH4, as a hybrid, was playing for two different audiences. A piggyback modular design can get you all three in various configurations. A camcorder style product would be shoulder or sticks but not so much hand held.
 
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Shoulder is handheld. But, I think I understand what you mean, there's no reason you couldn't go hand held in the sense you're talking about.
 
Pulp, looking good but the prices are too high imho. Why would this camera cost more than a PX270? It has no lens which should offset the cost of the different sensor install.

About features, how about a 720p120 mode with audio?
 
Bassman2003 said:
Pulp, looking good but the prices are too high imho. Why would this camera cost more than a PX270? It has no lens which should offset the cost of the different sensor install.

About features, how about a 720p120 mode with audio?
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Thanks Bassman! Well, the price will be what it will be - I just figured the AF100a is $4200, so if they could come in at around $5000 for the standard AF200 model which would shoot 4:2:2 HD directly to cards (something none of these cameras in this range do - C100, Sony FS etc) that would be sweet. Then charge a bit more for the P2 version if there will be one.
They were just my thoughts, a bit surprised I got a down vote for my suggestions, which took a little bit of time, lol

To me there is a great market for a cinema camera with a large sensor that would utilize a better codec than AVCHD AND have all the bells and whistles. Right now in the $5000 range there is the champ- THe C100MK2 - great camera, but it's 1080 and AVCHD and limited in slow motion. Then there's all the sensor in a box cameras with awesome recording options including raw, but they are just that - sensors in boxes. Bad controls, audio options, etc etc. Panny could hit it out of the park by supplying a great form factor with all the controls we would expect, and adding 4:2:2, 4K as another plus, and great slow motion choices as well.
 
Who gave you a down vote? I think this is what many folks want, but the PX270 does not come from the consumer division. So I do not know if the broadcast side wants to play ball so to speak.

About codecs: for me the 25mbps AVC Log GOP takes the place of AVCHD for long form recording and it does not need P2 to record it. Although it is kind of a bear to edit (CPU intensive).
 
pulpfiction007 said:
Panny could hit it out of the park by supplying a great form factor...
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I absolutely agree, pulpfiction007. I would only reiterate that the AF100 was not a great form factor, in my opinion. Something like the PX270 or HC-X1000 without lens, or preferably even the Canon XA-10 or Sony PXW-X70, again without lens. In other words, as small as possible while still fitting XLRs somewhere and fitting comfortably in the hand.

Oh yeah, and global shutter.
 
I would love a new 4K AG-AF100 (a little bigger than a GH4, but a little smaller than the current model with an updated form factor) with:


1. Improved IOS or Low light capability. ISO ranges similar to the A7s would be brilliant for low budget
filmmakers.

2. Dual ISO 800 and 5,000


3. Improved Dynamic Range.


4. Some flavour of Internal RAW and Log Recording in 10bit 4:2:2 / 4:4:4


6. Improved AF Focus Tracking of moving subjects when recording video.


6. Complete weather sealing of camera and lenses.


7. Same Built in ND's.

8. Shoulder mount support, similar to Zacuto's Recoil Rigs where the shoulder support
lies directly below the lens mount for optimum balance.

9. An added hand grip similar to the Sony FS7, with camera and lens control options.

10. A 5-6" High Res Touchscreen Monitor similar to the Blackmagic URSA
that would do away with the need for a separate monitor.

11. A moveable EVF with a cable that would allow the EVF to be
moved to various locations on the camera or shoulder rig.

Basically an EVF with a retractable SDI/HDMI lockable cable.

Alternatively add two monitor ports one on the back of the camera,
and another centred on top of the camera towards the front.
This would allow the EVF to be used on the back of the camera or
either left or right side via a monitor arm like the
Zacuto Mini Axis

http://store.zacuto.com/axis-mini/


12. 2 x SDXC Slots

13. An updated low cost P2 store device for secure offloading of SDXC Cards (Raid configuration, and small form factor)

The key to the success of this device would be it's price - ideally no more than $400-$500 for 1TB Raid, using off- the-shelf hard drives and SSD's
USB 3 and Thunderbolt 2
Mac and PC Compatible.

The addition of a Lightning port or Wireless support so users could view the footage on an iPad or iPhone via an App
(without needing to bring a MacBook with them on shoots)

14. The same Wireless support and features as the GH4 for iPad/iPhone control etc..

15. Have plenty of 1/4" mounting holes plus a hotshot block and 15" Rod Mount on the camera handle to hold a EVF,
mic's, wireless receiver, cheeseplate etc.

http://store.zacuto.com/recoil-handle/

NEW PANASONIC MFT LENSES FULLY WEATHER SEALED (TRUE PARAFOCAL) WITH ZOOM CONTROLS (AUTO/ MANUAL)

Updated Panasonic Leica 7-14mm f1.8-f2.8 Zoom with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and
focus


Updated Panasonic Leica 12-35mm f1.8-f2.8 Zoom with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus


Updated Panasonic Leica 35-150mm f1.8- f2.8 Zoom with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus


Updated Panasonic Leica 150-300mm f1.8- f2.8 Zoom with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus


Panasonic Prime Lenses (Leica)


10mm f1.2- f1.4 with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus
12mm f1.2- f1.4 with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus
16 or 17mm f1.2- f1.4 with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus
25 or 26mm f1.2- f1.4 with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus
30mm f1.2- f1.4 with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus
50mm f1.2- f1.4 with Auto/Manual Focus, OIS, Click less silent aperture and focus




Improvements to the GH4 and any future GH5.


The ability to buy an upgrade firmware package that gets rid of the 30 minute record time.


Any new GH5 to have 2 SDXC slots.


Allowing the thumbwheel at the back of the GH5 that controls the speed (in manual mode) to be locked at 1/50th, preventing moving the dial to another speed accidentally (this has happened to us on a number of occasions)


The ability to switch on the LCD display rather than the present mode where it switches off at about seven minutes.


A menu mode to allow us to view 4K as 1080 via the SDI connectors the same as you offer with the HDMI output.


A physical dial to control audio levels.
 
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BTW, this might not be the $3,500 camera in the original post but something that uses the FZ-1000 sensor and electronics with "pro" features and a constant aperture zoom may just be the $1,700 camera that OLD CORPSE was wondering about. It may not have all the features of X-1000 but can still be a solid option as half the price.
 
Seems that some people are making this too complicated... I wouldn't want them to create an entirely new camera that will take 2 years to come out cause by then all this will be obsolete.

Just combine the GH4+YAGH in a prosumer video camera formfactor, in other words everything those 2 units are together including the BNC connections and all that but just configured so that a battery fits on the back, all the controls are on the side and the XLR inputs are in a good spot together. That system should fall well within the $3500 price range and should be able to be manufactured relatively quickly since they wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel.

Then just use UHS-II cards so that you can do internal 10 bit 4:2:2 and add in the log profiles. All of this is doable without creating new tech and it would be awesome IMO.
 
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Dear Panasonic,
For over 3 years, I've enjoyed using my AF-100. But it's getting a bit long-in-tooth, and I'm wanting to upgrade. My friend really loves his GH4, but I'm not a DSLR kind of guy. I want the built-in ND filters and XLR connectors. I'm seriously considering a Sony FS7, but am hoping Panasonic soon comes up with competition to the FS7. Here's a list of what I want in a replacement for my beloved AF100.

What I really, really want:
1. Cinema-style camcorder form factor.
2. Built-in ND filters (with IR-cut, if needed).
3. Built-in XLR connectors (switchable mic, phantom, line).
4. Large sensor (4/3 or Super-35 size).
5. Higher resolution in HD (with moire controlled by over-sampling).
6. Internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording in HD, at 50 or 100 Mbps.
7. Better highlight handling.
8. Zebras, waveform exposure tools.
9. Peaking, magnified focus tools.
10. Some sort of UHD or 4K internal recording.
11. Price under $9K.

What I would like, but don't absolutely need:
1. 13+ stops of dynamic range.
2. False-color exposure tool.
3. AVC Intra recording for HD (maybe on to P2 or micro P2?)
4. UHD/4K recording at 150 or 200Mbps.
5. m4/3 lens mount.
6. Built-in 15mm rod clamps for mattebox or follow-focus.
7. Ability to mount brick battery on rear.
8. Shoulder-mountable.
9. Price under $7K.
10. Available by Summer 2015 (Hey, I can dream, can't I? :))

Edit:
I should have added variable shutter angle, variable frame rate, variable ISO, and scene file adjustments, all like in the AF100.
And nice to have: fairly low-noise video up to at least 1000 ISO, and maybe a raw or log recording option.
And by all means: Get Barry to make a guide for this new wonder!:laugh:
 
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