It's Panasonic week! Hpx170!

Yesterday Panny announced that their HPX170 camera, unveiled at NAB back in April, will be available late September for and MSRP of 5,695, which includes a 16GB P2 card in the box along with The HVX and HPX Book by Barry Green. Building on the AG-HVX200’s phenomenal success, the HPX170 features high definition and standard definition recording, the widest zoom lens in its class, and an HD-SDI interface for connection to baseband production and distribution infrastructure, all in a lightweight 4.2-pound body.

The HPX170 records in a variety of 1080i/1080p and 720p formats in DVCPRO HD, 480i in DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO, and 480i in DV. It is switchable between 16:9/4:3 aspect ratios. It has a 1/3” progressive 16:9 3-CCD imager which boasts lower noise and smear and better low-light performance. At 720p it can record fast or slow motion, from 12fps to 60fps.

New Panasonic camcorders

Panasonic has unveiled two HD camcorders to be released this September, the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100. The latest models are world’s first AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system, .

AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system are based on company’s 3CCD technology, a system that provides excellent color reproduction. The MOS sensors not only expand light-receiving areas but also improve image quality in low light conditions. Panasonic further believes that 3MOS system captures more vibrant, true-to-life colors, minute detail and richer gradation.

The HDC-SD100 camcorder is capable of recording to SD memory card, while the hybrid HDC-HS100 camcorder records to both SD memory card and to its internal 60 GB hard drive.

The camcorders should run 1,100 and 1,300 respectively.

The "successor" to the DVX100

Panasonic has released the pricing information and release date for their HD successor to the DVX100, The AG-HMC-150. It will be sold for around $4,000 and will be available October 2nd. Basic specs for this thing is that its a 3CCD camera that records "full 1080X1920 HD" with an array of 1080 or 720 shooting modes to choose from. Interestingly it won't be using the P2 cards but record to SDHC cards.

Now, saying this thing is the successor to the DVX100 in my mind is a stretch. The DVX100 was an amazing camera (still is) and came out at a time where I think nothing else compared in terms of quality and value. How is this thing going to hold up to the 3k resolution Scarlet which should be even cheaper than 4 grand? We'll see.

NAB show here we come!

Just received our tickets to the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show, April 14-17 in Las Vegas! (devilish grin)
We're really excited to see the new RED Scarlet, which is rumored to be a small 2k resolution camera meant to compete with professional video cameras such as the Sony EX1 and Panasonic HVX200.