AGHVX200 PANASONIC

My friends at NAB held a plastic mock up. They were very disappointed in not being able to see footage from at-least a powered prototype.

There is even reviews out there on the HVX200. I can't see how one can really review a camera, when it's not a real camera. It appears that it doesn't even power up because the mockups that my friends were handed at the show were plastic mockups with no power.

Panasonic showed a mockup 13 months ago.

13 Months later they are still showing a non working plastic mockups. So the reviews out there are reviews of the brochure and press release material/marketing info, not a real working camera. You would think they would have used NAB to spring out at-least a working prototype.

Everyone one I know that went to NAB to see this camera believed based on the HVX hype all these weeks, and there was a ton of hype , that a real camera that powered up was going to be there.

If Panasonic and Jan had told everyone all these weeks that a real camera will not be at NAB and it's still only going to be a plastic mockup type camera like they showed 13 months ago. How many people would have stayed away from NAB vegas rush who's main reason going to NAB was to see this second coming?

I was one step from going to NAB just to see this camera, and thought second on that because most people will give good reviews of the image quality and as well footage will be posted like it was when the debut the DVX100.

Guess not!

Panasonic and Jan should have said at the minimum that there is not going to be a working model and only a plastic mockup at NAB.

What is the next big show this year for Panasonic to finally roll out a real camera?

Just my opinions................

Where did Panasonic and Jan say that they would be producing a working model?

Where did you see the mockup model 13 months ago?

Panasonic has been keeping things in the dark about this camera, leaking very little information out until now, and that was the reason for the press release. They released some information about the camera so people can know what to expect.

Panasonic is going to roll the camera out in the fourth quarter of this year, their website says "Fall of 2005", so that's promising. I'll just sit patiently and wait for information to be leaked over the next few months.

That's marketing. Tease the consumer, and let them get excited about the product. Had they released a working model with every bit of detal at NAB, there would have been less interest in the product for the next few months until the product is released. I don't blame them.

They probably wanted to counter JVC, which it seems, has a working prototype that people can play with. And JVC is claiming to be able to ship this summer. After reading the supposed review at dvxuser and now seeing it's just referring to a spec sheet, I can totally relate to Michaels reaction.

And shipping Q4 is fine, I'm sure Pana wants to make sure all the bugs get worked out before passing it around. Can't blame them, considering the claims they are making....but everyone really expected to see 'SOMETHING' that was actually shooting video. That how things were being presented.

After reading the supposed review at dvxuser

Did DVXuser call that article a "review"? I didn't see that... however one of our members here posted a link to the article and he called it a review. The actual article is entitled "HVX-2000 Unleashed" and it has several disclaimers in it stating that their opinion is only based on the published specs.

You can tell that the authors are really excited about the HVX-200 by the whole tone of the article, and that's a good thing. But it seems any comparisions of this new product to the Z-1 or any other camera are very premature. It will be a number of months before that can really take place, after shipping models get into peoples' hands.

Now as far as people going to NAB just to see this camera.... um... well I'll stop short of stating the obvious... :-)

It is a pity that we have ot wait so long.. but I really think it will be WELL worth the wait!

I'm really hoping that they will have a working protoype (if not the REAL THING) at IBC (Amsterdam) in September.

- Mikko *can't wait to get his grubby hands all over it!*

Panasonics AG-HVX200

Michael, please -- Panasonic made it quite clear that it would be a "non-working prototype". The VideoSystems preview said it was a non-working prototype. Nowhere did anyone say that it would be a working camera with footage.

They are following the exact same release pattern they did with the DVX. It was shown as a non-working prototype at NAB, then footage followed in the summer, followed by working prototypes shown at places like the WEVA expo, and then finished product in the stores in October (which is 4Q).

I expect the HVX will follow the same pattern. They were clear about the non-working prototype. If you didn't see that, that was an oversight, but you can't blame them because they did say it.

I hear you Barry, and I agree with you!
I am in ( F6 on the dial ) sssshhhhhhhhhh mode at 24p.

michael pappas

What irritates me more than anything is that there hasn't been a real spec sheet out yet, only feature lists. There is a rediculous amount of hype about this thing (at every forum I visit on a regular basis) and no one has even seen footage from it. Talk about a lot of faith.

If they were not able to get a working prototype to NAB, what are the chances they will have mass production availability in less than a year?

Have they done this kind of thing before?

What irritates me more than anything is that there hasn't been a real spec sheet out yet, only feature lists. There is a rediculous amount of hype about this thing (at every forum I visit on a regular basis) and no one has even seen footage from it. Talk about a lot of faith.
Again, there won't be "real specs" until the design is finished. Nobody will see footage until there's at least a working prototype. Those things are months away.

WARNING! FOR MATURE AUDIANCES ONLY.
If you're easily offended, skip this post.

<SOAPBOX>
I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone, but this question sounds like a spoiled little kid whining because he just found out Santa Claus isn't for real.

All of you who are whining about this, ask yourself this question:
Would you rather that Panasonic kept everyone completely in the dark until they were ready to ship the camera?

This complaint is just one more example of today's instant gratification society -- you want everything, and you want it yesterday. Patience, we all need to learn patience.

The release of any new product, regardless of manufacturer, is always preceded by hype and promotion. That's the nature of our free-market economy. Surely by now (since you're now an adult, right?) you've learned not to believe everything you read, see, or hear, until you get the product in your hands and test it for yourself.
</SOAPBOX>

So let's enjoy the potential of this wonderful new product -- offering capabilities for $6K than only last week would have cost $60K or more!

And now we return to our regularly scheduled program. :-)

Would you rather that Panasonic kept everyone completely in the dark until they were ready to ship the camera?

Actually, yes I would. I'm interested in reading facts and seeing results, not marketing hype and speculation... and especially not the lathering of brand-loyal fanboys (though thankfully not on this forum). Your request for patience could equally be applied to companies by saying "wait until you have something real to show before announcing it." Blaming only consumers for jumping the gun with enthusiasm neglects the source of the problem.

In this regard, I think the mindset of a child is much preferred. Wouldn't it be nice to trust everything you read? Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to be so bloody cynical? I sure think so.

Agreed, they should wait until they have something to show. They won't and it makes sense to them cause then they can test the reaction and maybe tweak a few things before final release, which in the long run is better for us, but in the short term, frustrating.

Aaron

I entirely agree.

A "non working prototype" is not a prototype. It's a box.

I, for one, (and fair play, it may well have been clearly stated but that didn't reach my ears) expected something which actually shot some video to be presented.

Honestly, what's the point of showing someone what a camera's going to *look* like?!?? There's one thing you are absolutely guaranteed not to see in shot - the camera!!

Seriously though, it's interesting to see what the form factor wil be like and what buttons are present indicates the kind of functionality we can expect - but it's not really presenting any kind of product - a few images on the web would tell us as much...

Would you rather that Panasonic kept everyone completely in the dark until they were ready to ship the camera?

Actually, yes I would. I'm interested in reading facts and seeing results, not marketing hype and speculation...

I for one, would rather have all this information out early... even a non-working protype that let's me know sort of what to expect.

Why?

It's simple. I'm in the market for a camera, but I'm not in a hurry. I'd like the camera to last me as long as possible (as long as my XL1s has lasted me), and so I need all this information know. Like I said, I'm not in a hurry, but if NAB rolled around and there was no word from Panasonic or Canon, I would assume that the next time I needed another cam, or simply had a job to pay for a camera, that I should pick from the available offerings. By pre-announcing the release, I know that I can easily wait 6 months for what should hopefully be a much better camera than what's currently offered.

Unfortunately for Canon (yeah right, like they'll miss little ole me), without any information, I'm pretty much gonna jump ships to someone else's camera--it's a shame too, I really love my XL1s, but I'm determined to hop on up into HD.

So for my money, yeah, I can't make a firm decision without trying out the camera, but now I know to wait a few more months...

...There is a rediculous amount of hype about this thing (at every forum I visit on a regular basis) and no one has even seen footage from it. Talk about a lot of faith.

Exactly. Faith in Panasonic, built up by the DVX100. :)

Of course there are good reasons for showing it as-is. There are stations and broadcasters across the country convening for this convention (or did you think it was all just aspiring indie filmmakers going to the National Association of Broadcasters convention?)

These broadcasters and stations have millions budgeted for equipment purchases every year. They need to know what's available, they need to know what's coming, they need to plan ahead. They need to fill out purchase orders and get approval, they need to hire teams, deploy cameras, etc. How could they do that, if Panasonic just "sprung" it on them, fully developed?

These broadcasters and stations have millions budgeted for equipment purchases every year.

Good point Barry. "Follow the money" and you can usually find out the reason for all business decisions. Let's see...downside, whiny indies say we are teasing them to far out from first delivery...upside, business suits forecast the budget year and set aside a butt-load of money to buy our cam. Slam dunk; next decision please!

I think Panny showed it before it was ready, simply because it's a pre-emptive sales attack on Sony (which is already out) and JVC (which will beat them to production). I'm sure Panny would like to delay or slow sales of the other cams - the audience for these is limited, not small, but limited. If everyone has a sony or jvc, it will be harder to get them to adopt a different codec and workflow.

Of course, Panny may well also have the best product, which is the big ace up your sleeve.

Good point Barry. I may have sprung for the JVC if I didn't know that Panasonic were bringing out the HVX. They sure stopped that happening now :)

Aaron

Hi Aaron,

Still looking for a new camera after encountering Lady X? You know I got myself the DVX100 (and you offered stalking GlobalMediaPro for that purchase around your corner) and now you have the possibility to go for the HVX200 later this year. The HVX200 looks like a killer machine, and not only you can shoot tapeless, it's also meat free as far as I understand the rumours.

Greetings from The Netherlands!

Hey Peter, how's thing been going? Yes the HVX looks pretty damn nice. When I first heard if it, it was like "pot ver domme" (Hope that was spelt right?") :)

Seeing as the HVX is a long way off here, and I'm changing into doing more stuff soon, I might go for the DVX as an intermediate. I can get a good deal on it here I think, so I might not lose much at all.

How's the filmmaking going?

Aaron

It's spelled right, Aaron, but you have to put all the letters to each other ;-)
Good luck with Dutch cursing :-D

Hi Aaron,

You've learned the right words, get rid of the spaces between them and you're really going Dutch!

The filmmaking is going okay. After the BitterSweet adventure my work really got hectic for a period. However I did a wedding video for a family member and made a small documentary of a neighbourhood project. Doesn't sound exiting when I'm typing this here. I re-arranged my website (new URL down below).
For some months I'm preparing a new short movie project. The script is based on a 22 years old story (I heard about it when I was around 14 years old) , where two people meet in a public place. One of them confrontates the other that the world around us is a big conspiracy of people, that want you to believe it's real after all. The movie will be about the fact that there is not an objective reality, and that everyone creates his own. Like a writer that's shaping one in a new book. And if you think you understand reality, you're wrong. A textwriter is helping me out with the script which I really enjoy, as it's a skill on it's own to (re)write a story and make a proper filmscript of it. And the original writer and his publisher gave principal permission to make a movie of it, although some legal work will be in the works.

How about your film projects? Or still busy decorating your new house? I remember you had an video-blog idea or something.

Never know,

NAB isn't over yet. I know that Scott Billups is supposed to be going up on stage on Friday. With a camera or no I'm not sure, but if he's endorsing it, that says something, IMHO.

I missed the part of the teasers where it said "We haven't actually built one, yet." All they seem to be doing is taking the wind out of their sister company's sails while showing a mock-up.

I'd feel silly holding a plastic shell at NAB while telling people that this is the next revolution.

I'm not saying they can't do it, just that they haven't done it, yet. When it does ship, it will probably be at least 1 year after the FX1 hit the market. Some people are actually criticizing Sony for not announcing their HVX200-killer at NAB. Maybe they were too busy depositing checks.

A camera in the hand is worth two under the sheet.

-my rant for the day

Steve Roark

Here are a few pics I took at NAB of the Panny "shell".

http://clearcreekproductions.com/misc/panasonic_hd/