Varicam LT big price drop

Newsguy said:
Now under 10k. I just bought a used one, but I’m not mad because it came with everything I need to shoot. I agree with the article, at this price the LT is head and shoulders better than cams in this price range.

https://www.newsshooter.com/2019/05/29/panasonic-drops-the-price-of-the-varicam-lt-to-9995/
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This is exciting news and this price reduction will definitely put the Varicam LT in consideration. I've seen some amazing work shot with it's internal codec and the ability to capture ProRes RAW with a external recorder make this pretty compelling. While I was hoping for an updated version of the LT or EVA1 this price reduction is better for me personally.
 
For clarity, this is a US Instant Rebate promotion and is scheduked until the end of September. Other territories may offer similar deals, but you would have to ask them.

Feel free to Ask Me Anything on the VariCam LT as well as this excellent Instant Rebate offer.
 
Mitch Gross said:
For clarity, this is a US Instant Rebate promotion and is scheduked until the end of September. Other territories may offer similar deals, but you would have to ask them.

Feel free to Ask Me Anything on the VariCam LT as well as this excellent Instant Rebate offer.
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I think this goes a LONG way to putting the LT back into contention.

Mitch, I'd love to know a bit more about the exact frame-rate options for the different recording modes offered on the LT (which codecs offer 1-60fps, which offer 1-240fps, and which ones don't do variable framerates but only 24fps/25fps/30fps etc.). Particularly with the various flavours of Prores that the camera offers, can you do variable framerates in Prores (the 4:4:4 versions and the 4:2:2 versions)?

Do you have a spec sheet that breaks it all down clearly? Or can you list them here?
 
Grug said:
I think this goes a LONG way to putting the LT back into contention.

Mitch, I'd love to know a bit more about the exact frame-rate options for the different recording modes offered on the LT (which codecs offer 1-60fps, which offer 1-240fps, and which ones don't do variable framerates but only 24fps/25fps/30fps etc.). Particularly with the various flavours of Prores that the camera offers, can you do variable framerates in Prores (the 4:4:4 versions and the 4:2:2 versions)?

Do you have a spec sheet that breaks it all down clearly? Or can you list them here?
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VFR is available for all resolutions, frame rates and internal codecs. It's a Varicam... ; )

https://pro-av.panasonic.net/manual/html/VARICAM_LT(VQT5M58A-8(E))/chapter04_02.htm
 
No 4K/60p AVC-Intra4K 422 if I'm reading that correctly?

There's no way they limited it to 30p...
 
NorBro said:
No 4K/60p AVC-Intra4K 422 if I'm reading that correctly?

There's no way they limited it to 30p...
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This is a processor limitation, as there are three main processor chips in the VariCam LT compared to five in the VariCam 35. The VariCam LT only has the horsepower to encode AVC-Intra4K 422 up to 30p. AVC-Intra4K-LT is available up to 60p.

Someone asked earlier about internal ProRes recording. This is available in 2K and HD in 12-bit 4444XQ and regular 4444 up to 30p and in all of the 10-bit 422 flavors up to 60p.
 
I don't think video camera makers thinks that potential customers already have all the necessary crap to make it run. They want to lure people with an initial lower price and then sell their additional crap to customers.

Who would buy a stills camera without battery, handle, viewfinder or screen? Or a car without steering wheel or tires?
 
So with that being said, there are the sane purchases like Canons C-line and Sonys FS-line. No crap needed to make them work.
 
The stills camera and car are unrealistic comparisons...and this is also how it worked in the industry before the C/FS/etc. lines.

No one asks if their shiny new ARRI comes with a battery.

You buy a system and then customize it.
 
It's only an unrealistic comparison if you buy into the BS way of doing this. Just because they've always done so doesn't make it right.

Speaking of ARRI stuff. Most is not meant to be owner stuff but to rental houses and then you mix and match. But as an owner you just get fooled in getting something which needs expensive crap to make it work.
 
Well I bought an FS7 and paid indirectly for a wobbly plastic handle designed by an intern and a viewfinder designed by thier less clever younger brother. The camera has a handle that wont balance with a professional lens.

All are headed for landfill and I paid for them.

Id take the $1000 cheaper camera and not be given a pile of old trash.
 
The people interested in these boxes don't get fooled by anything. And those are the people the companies make the cameras for.

Both types (and many others) are allowed to exist.
 
If you fancy buying a brick and be promised to get it into a gold bar if you shower it with more money sounds great.
 
J.Brown said:
I never understood why owner cameras are offered as a useless dumb box.
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J.Brown said:
I don't think video camera makers thinks that potential customers already have all the necessary crap to make it run. They want to lure people with an initial lower price and then sell their additional crap to customers.

Who would buy a stills camera without battery, handle, viewfinder or screen? Or a car without steering wheel or tires?
Click to expand...

NorBro said:
The stills camera and car are unrealistic comparisons...and this is also how it worked in the industry before the C/FS/etc. lines.

No one asks if their shiny new ARRI comes with a battery.

You buy a system and then customize it.
Click to expand...

NorBro said:
The people interested in these boxes don't get fooled by anything. And those are the people the companies make the cameras for.

Both types (and many others) are allowed to exist.
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Broadcast level cameras have required the separate purchase of VF's and batteries forever. LOT'S of choices/options for professional batteries out there. Some people want gold mount. Some want V-locks. Some want big, high-power, long-running batteries. Some want smaller, lighter batteries. And a lot of us already have a lot of batts. I think I have 16-18+ bricks sitting on charge in the office right now.

I own a C300. The built-in VF on the C series cameras are sh!t. About 1/10th of a step above shooting blind. The "VF" that comes with the Fs7 series is crap, too. Handles, well that's sort of a new development. Our full-size ENG cameras had/have great built-in handles.
 
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