There is technology out there that could allow a cheap 1/3rd inch sensor with 16 stops and a picture better than the HVX. But as far as I know Sony would have to buy it in. Plus, 35Mb/s variable MPeg2 compared to 100Mb/s HD DV, I don't know. But I agree on the need for 10bit on all prosumer and above cameras.

I say Yum as well.

I think they should replace the Z1/FX1 series with a hard drive version of this, and not increase the price. Then Sony could crow that they are giving quality and value compared to their competitors.

Not really. With third-inch CCDs, it would offer nothing over the HVX.

Oh, I don't know. I'd be pretty happy with Z1 CCDs that recorded to XD-CAM disk format. I wouldn't even insist on completely variable framerate, as long as it did honest-to-God 30p (as the F330 does). Throw in 4 channels of uncompressed audio, and I'd choose that over the HVX. Especially when you factor in the cost and capacity of XDCAM media vs. P2 cards.

Oh, I don't know. I'd be pretty happy with Z1 CCDs that recorded to XD-CAM disk format. I wouldn't even insist on completely variable framerate, as long as it did honest-to-God 30p (as the F330 does). Throw in 4 channels of uncompressed audio, and I'd choose that over the HVX. Especially when you factor in the cost and capacity of XDCAM media vs. P2 cards.Well, nothing's forcing P2 -- there are other storage options for the HVX than P2.

No options for the HVX that I know of, that are viable and affordable now for in-the-field, run-'n'-gun documentary or ENG shooting. Which is what I'm interested in.

P2 cards are too small and too expensive. Disk recorders are too unreliable. Laptop solutions like DV rack need AC power for long shoots and can't very well be strapped to your shoulders. As for the Z1, DV tape is fine and proven, but I'd love to have random-access and faster than-real-time file transfer for editing.

XDCAM would fit the bill, but the $16,000 PW-F330 is too rich for my blood (though an amazing price for a full-featured ENG camera!), and I prefer to use a more compact camcorder. If I were doing all studio productions or feature work, I might be singing a different tune.

I think they should replace the Z1/FX1 series with a hard drive version of this, and not increase the price. Then Sony could crow that they are giving quality and value compared to their competitors.Sony should also add true 24p and make the current Z1/FX1 zoom lens removable. Then it should reduce the price of both cameras -- $750-$1,000 for the FX1 replacement and $1,200-$1,500 for the Z1 replacement.

Now, if there were an $8,500 HD D5 camera that supported 10-bit 4:2:2; supported 1080p24/30, 1080i, and 720p24/25/30/50/60; had variable frame rates; had dual-link HD-SDI (12-bit 4:4:4); had half-inch CCDs/CMOS chips that were natively at least 1,280 x 720; and had a removable lens -- that would clean everyone's clock.

I'd settle for a fixed-lens version of the XDCAM HD cameras at around that price, provided it had a 1/2" sensor with good low light capability. But that's not a replacement for the FX1, which so far has no meaningful competition almost 18 months after it started shipping. I'd expect the FX2 to either be something similar to what it is now with a slightly better sensor, or if Sony wants to be clever they could offer MPEG4 recording to off-the-shelf flash memory cards at data rates around 15-20 Mbps, giving us a "poor man's" version of the HVX200.

I reckon Kevin makes a good point - that Sony's FX1 is still lacking any decent competition from Canon, JVC or Panasonic even after all this time. Because of this I'm still surprised at its amazingly low price (less than the PD170 in many places) and feel that Lawrence has it all about-face. Sony could in effect increase the price and still rope in the filmmakers, because without competition and with such a fine product the balance is a bit one sided.

Sony are selling bucketloads of Z1s. A dealer I spoke to at the Video Forum in London said ten Z1s went out the door for every interchangeable lens JVC. These massive sales mean more money for R & D, and I too feel that the three CCD era is coming to an end.

The prism block is a bulky, expensive and complex solution to a problem inherrent in the CCD, and the CMOS chip will take over, I'm sure.

tom.