I'm in a dilemma - I'm in the market for a new camera and feel HDV is probably the way to go (even in PAL land which is a little way behind the States!)
My problem is that I need a Pro camera like the DSR-450, and I need to shoot for longer than an hour is one go. Sony's choices, both of which are limited on record time, are the mega-expensive HDCAM stuff or the Z1. The Z1 seems to be basically an HDV version of the PD170... so a bit limited in lens flexibility.

There doesn't appear to be anything in between. I guess Sony want to get broadcasters into HD and the Z1 allows the stuff previously shot by PD150/PD170 guys to provide HD and shoot the real stuff on HDCAM. I know XDCAM HD exists, and I guess that's what Sony want ENG crews to use, but that's still nearly in the DigiBeta price range.

So, I wonder if Sony are looking at producing a "pro" HDV format - what DVCAM is to miniDV? . Anyone got any thoughts?

I'll bet there's an HDV version of the DSR250 in the works as we speak. Any takers?

With Sony's success in selling XDCAM to TV stations, I'm guessing their thrust is going to be in that area, unlike what they did with DVCAM. But that's just a guess. They could be very well working on DSR250, 390 and 570 replacements even as we speak.

Hasn't JVC announced a 2/3" chip HDV camera allegedly coming our soon?

If you need a camera such as the DSR450, why not buy a DSR450? Just because HDV is here doesn't mean DVCAM is going to die anytime soon.

Or...wait till NAB in April and see if there's an HDV450.

Following Sony's announcement of XDCAM HD, my bet is that DVCAM HD won't happen and they'll push people towards XDCAM. Looking at the specs, it seems to beat HDV hands down... Comments??

Indeed XDCAM HD is (technically, don't know in real life since the only time I've seen it was at the IBC last year) better then HDV itself. my bet is that they come with a 10.000/12.000 dollar/euro XDCAM-corder to 'replace'/be in line the cheap shoulder DVCAM-corders.

The F330 seems to be targeted as that replacement. A colleague of mine saw it at Sundance and was very impressed. With a lens it would cost less than a DSR570 with lens and with the 35mbs HD, it probably would look better, even though it has 1/2" chips. My only hesitation would be that going with a 1/2" chip camera, you lose the finer depth of field control you have with bigger chips. Sometimes in the type of work I mostly do, that is significant.

And speaking of XDCAM HD...we have a whole separate section on here for P2, so why not for XDCAM too?