UK PRICE GBP 4200.00 +VAT Camera only GBP 5800.00 +VAT

The HVX, IMHO, can be passed off as a super-home-camcorder (size-wise). Is anyone in customs going to know any different? Or more to the point, care?

EJ
 
I emailed B&H in NY and have just had a reply.

They will indeed be stocking the PAL version of the HVX200 and have it on back order, so when it is released they reckon they will get them in stock pretty quickly.
 
Steve Shovlar said:
I emailed B&H in NY and have just had a reply.

They will indeed be stocking the PAL version of the HVX200 and have it on back order, so when it is released they reckon they will get them in stock pretty quickly.
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Did they give you an estimated price? Some of their PAL gear is no cheaper than buying it over here.
 
I didn't ask for a price. I took it that it would be roughly the same as they sell the Pal version of the DVX100B the same price as the NTSC version.
 
Steve Shovlar said:
I didn't ask for a price. I took it that it would be roughly the same as they sell the Pal version of the DVX100B the same price as the NTSC version.
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I think they source European cameras from (or through) the manufacturer's European divisions. Because there seems to be such a large divide between the US and European list price for the HVX, I wouldn't be surprised if B&H carried the HVX200E quite a bit more expensive than the HVX200P.

Plus, if you're VAT registered, then there may not be a lot in it. For example, it's cheaper to get most Sony camcorders through www.proav.co.uk than B&H... (and that's without adding a flight and a hotel room.). JVC prices seem to be pretty par for par. Cannon is much cheaper from B&H, though. In fact the XL-2E is actually $250 cheaper than the XL-2. And I couldn't find a comparison for the PAL Panny cameras that B&H carry... MD9000EN... What the hell is that?
 
razamalik said:
:grin: isnt it funny how we get robbed here in UK??? :undecided
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You're right... we get overinflated prices, terrible service, hopeless weather, and the place is just chock-full of people complaning, but not doing anything about it (like me! :grin: Heh! Heh! Heh!)

Incidentally, I like your signature, Raza.
 
I couldn't find the DVX100B for comparison earlier (found it now), but I see the PAL version is roughly £2,000 from B&H, but only £1,695 (ex VAT) from www.proav.co.uk.

Maybe we don't get such a bad deal over here...
 
Considering you can pick the camera up in the US for $ 5.495 = £ 3.107.51 (Jan 13th rates) we seem to be shafted up the pie-hole again over here in Europe, but hey we know our place!

http://www.ggvideo.com/pan_aghvx200.htm

I will be using it to replace some of my low end S16 work so I think I will get the US model, with the 24p and up to 60fps slo mo option.

I WILL ONLY BE USEING THE CAMERA FOR HD NOT SD!

All the latest Broadcast monitors here in the UK do 50hz and 60hz so monitoring should not be a problem.

Any thoughts from you pro's before I buy?

Cheers!

Adam

www.facefilms.com
www.levinspictures.com[/QUOTE]

Hi Adam,

Well, we can all share our misery that the UK is not the only place getting shafted. I'm very interested in using the NTSC HVX here, because I'll be traveling to the States next month to visit my folks and can likely order and pick up one then. Only thing is, I'm a newbie when it comes to digital cinematography and don't really grasp the implications.

If I want to deliver DVD for clients (Events: weddings, sports, dance for private clients and perhaps documentary footage for TV) what does this mean in terms of down-converting? Can I shoot in HD and render as PAL in post (Mac/FCP)? Adam, I'd be really grateful if you or someone else could straighten me out on these issues. I'm trying to get a handle on the resolution differences between 60 and 50 cycles and feel like I'm back in elementary school! What am I letting myself in for if I get the NTSC version for use in this PAL country?

Unfortunately, there's no way I can go with the HVX, my camera of choice if it's nearly twice the price of the US version.

Conversely, is it likely that B and H would carry a PAL version at near US prices?
Failing that, what can a poor boy do?

And thanks, guys for this discussion.

All the best,

David
 
Well basicly you will have to convert everything in to a pal-stream. So if you shoot HD (30p or 60i) you will have to convert to 25p or 50i. Uhm, it's the same for SD as a matter of fact.
(I worked to hard today :) )
So that will take a lot of time to do, your SD material will be lesser quality. PAL is a better system than NTSC, it has more lines in SD and colour is much better also.
In HD that should be fine, but I don,t know if you won't get a speed change.
Anyhow, if you're doing PAL oriented work (DVD delivery, TV) I think you're better off with a PAL camera. And all the time you save with not converting, you can take on extra work and pay for your HVX just as fast.
For Adam it's a different story. He's using it as a filmcamera substitute only, so the 24p and up to 60p overcranck are more use to him than PAL workability.
But for the things you are mentioning, I would save yourself the hassle. Or get a PAL version abroad, but defenitly no NTSC version.
 
Alex Leith said:
You're right... we get overinflated prices, terrible service, hopeless weather, and the place is just chock-full of people complaning, but not doing anything about it (like me! :grin: Heh! Heh! Heh!)

Incidentally, I like your signature, Raza.
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Thanks Alex u knw the sad thing is no one can do anything even if they wanted, if the government can go ahead for iraq war after such opposition & still win the elections who gives a damn about a few filmmakers complaining about tax regulations on cameras or the motorists complaining about speed cameras or fuel prices for instant.... nothing is about to change much imo.

But at least we got the right for free speech & speak we must & complain we must in hope that some one will listen to us at some point :(
 
Hi David

Hi David

Yeah,

It will be a pain in the ass to do long-form work wit the NTSC version with all the rendering thats needed. I have a dual core G5 with 2.5gb or ram so I should be OK but you should think about your editing hardward before you decide (Decklink or Kona card would help too)

I am not too sure which camera I am getting yet, Tempted to go with 24p and up to 60fps, cause Varicam type switchable framerates is the thing that makes this camera so cool.

People are going on and on about the image quailty in other threads (this camera vs that camera) but the thing that makes this camera stand out to me is the variable framerate option that no other cameras in this pricerange can offor and the DVCRO HD codec with is light years ahead of HDV.

So I think what I will do is get this camera for the 24p 1080 work and 720p slomo and prioritze it for projects where that is important, like pop promo. I am doing one this sunday and the budget in only GBP1500 and I have had to beg borrrow and steal to get and SR2 package together for it. my budget looks like this:

Camera and basic lights: 200
Set of high speed primes and zoom from panavision UK: free
insurance: 170
film stock: 266
Grip truck: free
Development and telecine: about 451

And then thers van hire location fees and all that crap. I guess my point is all the money is going into developing and stock. I could have done this shoot with the HVX200 and then I would have more money to pay people with (at the moment poeple have to work for free cause there just ain't enough money to go around) I am tired of seeing so much of my budgets going to Technicolor and Soho Images, give me an all digital workflow anyday.


for other long form projects that I may get (and I don't get many) I will hire a PAL one or even a HDV camera.

I am not thinking the HVX is perfect mainly the chip's too small but I can't affort to buy (but I can rent) the big boy's at the moment.

OK I ranted a bit there, sorry about that,

Adam
 
Thanks Oliver!

I get the picture. Reading your first para I was thinking that to convert to PAL stream would require intensive number-crunching. Probably need a render farm, in my case at least another high end Mac, the price of which to outfit would probably make up the difference between the HVX NTSC and PAL versions anyway. And I don't see how there could be any price advantage in buying a PAL version in the US. Still, ouch! Their pricing structure for Europe et al is way beyond me?

In any case, as you mentioned, why forfeit the initially better PAL image?

Thanks again, Oliver, and keep up the good work (while it's keeping you up!:beer: )

Best regards,

David
 
Yeah. It looks like it's all relative and Panasonic prices outside of the US and SW Asia (?) are through the roof. Just my .02's worth - which here would be, what? .038? Grrrrrrrr.

All the best,

David
 
No thanks, glad I could help.
Actually any computer will handle the PAL to NTSC encoding pretty good. But it will take time, you will recompress (so you always lose some quality) and since you clearly do PAL oriented work you would create an unnecessary workaround situation.
I don't like paying more either. But I dislike unnecessary hassle in my workflow even more. :)
And if it takes a bit longer to earn back my HVX, so be it. I ain't gonna change price-policy, so I'm not going to loose sleep over it. That kind of energy is better spent in aquiring jobs and doing them the best as possible...

Greets,
Oliver
 
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