Well judging from the reaction to the rumor that the FX1 was discontinued, I'd say there are lots of people that still want them.

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I think the FX1 is NOT discontinued
 

I bought my FX1 from B&H about a month ago shortly before they went out of stock. I've been looking at this cam for at least a year so I've been investigating every rumour I read (as much as I can on the web).

Things started getting weird one day when I visisted my local Apple store to find their demo FX1 mysteriously disappeared. (The one I'd been fondling for months!) Soon after that first shock came the Apple.com FX1 "sale", then B&H ran out, then the rumours out of Nab, then B&H got more, etc.

Anyway, I have figured out that the FX1 is hugely popular and it makes absolutely no sense that Sony would suddenly stop selling it now. Yes, Sony's made some really stupid mistakes recently, but to stop selling a product this hot is just really hard for me to believe.

The HC1 was a different story; it was too much $ for consumers and not quite good enough for most prosumers. I bought one myself, though. I'm a "lower-end" pro. I'm a "low-pro"! :-)

I just picked up a FX1 at B&H days ago- they're in stock at $3099. May 2006

I am expecting a visit from the manager of the sales department for Sony sometime next week. (Not for global sales, but for Kyushu - Sony have their 2 most modern factories here)

I will ask him what he knows about the FX1.

The Japanese are a little strange compared to westerners when they have interesting information. They don't run around telling everyone about it.....but if given a direct question they will give a straight answer.
I once asked the manager if the Sony Bravia was a completely Sony product made here in Kumamoto. He said, "No, we have many Samsung parts in it....we have a good dialogue with Samsung".

I aslo was told that when Sony make a professional model of a product they calculate a production line for at least 4 years. Granted the FZ1 is maybe more pro-sumer.....and maybe it is getting to the end of the 4 years now...
I'll see what I can find out next week,,,,and post the reply here.

Personally I don't put much stock in rumors like this. For example, see the following report from March 2005 that the VX-2100 was discontinued, and it comes from someone who usually knows what he's talking about ;-)

But the VX-2100 is still selling in May 2006...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=41279

Price has gone up again for FX1 at B&H.
Now $3,199 !
that makes it $200 more than the PAL version which is highly unusual to say the least.

at least the 3rd price rise in about a month..
To me, that sounds like limited stock (...!) + high demand.

Probably due solely to the title of this forum thread. This thread keeps coming up with this title, and someone starts getting excited.........

I just ordered mine and they did a price match with onecall.com @3031.99. Should be here in a few days.

I got a e-mail from B & H today and it says FX1 out of stock, only by special order.

Does that mean they will not stock it again? Maybe they know a new model is coming.

demo sold
 

I also noticed that B & H sold an FX1 demo on ebay - just ended & sold for $2,850.

I've been considering purchasing a used FX1, but may wait & get a new HVR-Z1.

Don

Strange, I ordered mine last week with no problems.

Does anyone have any news concerning this? B&H is still out of stock. It's odd that no one is very concerned anymore. This camera is the XL-1 of HDV in my opinion.

Any slivers of information about a possible replacement out there?

I disagree. This camera is the VX1000 of HDV in my opinion.

All camcorders are replaced sooner or later.

I got my cam last Wendsday. The website said they were out of stock when I looked too but I called and they said they had a few in.

I'm not really concerned because I know I will be satisfied with this model for years. Your camera won't be out dated if Sony releases a newer model tommorow, however, I do think they would be pushing too fast if they did. Having the latest gear is always fun but the truth is everything gets replaced eventually...

Seems to me that we're just looking at a very popular model camera and Sony is having a hard time keeping up with demand. There really isn't anything comparable at this price point, is there? Why would Sony replace a product that's selling so well less than two years after its introduction?

Maybe not replace but update it.There would be nothing wrong with that.

I imagine that upgrading to the "FX2" would allow them to provide a "real" 30p, and maybe even a 24p.

And there are a couple of features on the Z1 that the FX2 could implement and still not compete with the Z1 (Z2?), like the ability to see in the LCD what the camera is actually recording.

I don't expect anything new for quite some time. Maybe at the two-year mark? Maybe for the next NAB? That would be sufficient time in between models, I think.

Now there's a novel concept I could live with!

JayH

Yes fair point Boyd ....but...thats more or less exactly what a lot of people said when the HC1 was rumored to be discontinued! Strong model, big sales success and Sony canned it. And it *was* discontinued :

http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/tourist/a...C=1&LG=1&B2=85

All discontinued models on that Sony list have "The completion of production" written next to them. - Check HC1.

That's not necessarily to say that the FX1 is definitely going the same way, but it wouldn't surprise me. Promotes sales of Z1 somewhat, (and maybe A1 somewhat too but to a much lesser extent) and makes a gap in Sony's consumre range for some other potential new model.

Well time will tell. Around two years ago several people posted threads that the VX-2100 was discontinued, but it is still selling. In fact, one person cited that same "ecat" website as evidence that the camera was out of production.

You could be right, but my bet is that the FX1 will be with us for awhile to come...

Hmm, intesreting thread. I cam over to look and see if there was any basis behind a rumor the the FX1 had been discontinued. That is what someone I know was told by a Sony Center Dealer 2 days ago. I ahve no idea if this is true or not, we all know how well informed dealers are!

Intesresting...


- Mikko ... throws on some mroe fuel.

So, how will this mystery get solved? Historically speaking, when Sony has discontinued other camcorders, have they come out with a relacement in a certain amount of time thereafter; intro'd a new version at a specific show?

I'm ready to buy my HD camera (that I would like to last me 2-3 years) and the FX-1 was the only prosumer in my price-range. If there's an FX-2 (or whatever) a couple of weeks/months around the corner, I'd hate to make a purchase now without seeing it. At the same time, if a new FX is more consumerish, and I need to get a Z1 to satisfy my needs, I need to start saving...

I know this is all speculation at this point, but how could we get down to the facts and find out the reason behind the shortage and the price hops? Could just be production scheduling problem at Sony for all we know...

Well I don't think Sony would discontinue the FX1 until after they announced a replacement. At least that was the case with the VX-2000/VX-2100 and PD-150/PD-170.

wait a few weeks. It seems like something will come out.

I don't belive that Bob is correct. It is entirely possible, but I consider it unlikely. A few months maybe. But not a few weeks.

In my opinion, you should buy what is available now. Don't wait. Why? Because there is always something coming out soon, in a few weeks, next month, from some company or another. Always. In the meantime, you will miss how many shots? How many opportunities will be wasted?

Just my opinion of course.

sorry I meant to say maybe some info in the FX1 will come out. If it's been discontinued or not. Plus maybe in a few weeks some word on a new camera might come out.

Sony has to be applauded for offering their flagship models, within class, as a cut down variant to consumers. No other manufacturer does this and long may it continue if only for a limited period. Considering I purchased an FX1E plus HC1E for less than the cost of one Z1E I guess the accounting gurus have drawn the line.

The HC1 and FX1 may be discontinued to bolster Z1 sales but remember these cameras will survive as long as miniDV tape survives which is good enough for several more years to come.

Nevertheless Sony still own the A to Z of HDV

I mentioned all this speculation about the FX1 to a couple of Sony representatives at yesterday.
They told me there were no plans to discontinue production of either the FX1 or the Z1.
When Sony brings out a new Pro or Prosumer product it has a minimum expected production life of 4 years.
They pointed out that cameras like the FX1 and Z1 share the same CCD units. The CCDs roll of the production lines in numbers that will pay for their development and give a profit too - those CCDs must be sold before new developed image sensors are ready to be built into a new camera...... Stopping the FX1 to push the Z1 would do nothing to help sell the CCDs that they both share.
If there is any manipulation of the market going on - it is certainly not over here in Japan......production is still going ahead as usual.

Interesting report thanks Douglas.

There do seem to be conflicting reports about the FX1 situ with several people saying that they have heard Sony people/sales people/reps say that it is no longer in production, yet other Sony people say it is. THey cna't both be right !

This reminds me a little about the HC1 discontinuation thread a few months ago where a long-time & respected member of the board reported:
"If the HC1 is discontinued, it's news to the folks at Sony in Canada and San Diego. I've just spent 4 days with those sales teams, and they all laughed when I showed them this thread. So...maybe there is a source higher than the HDV product manager that hasn't told his people that their product is discontinued? Could happen, but about as unlikely as pigs flying. "

I don't wish to be unkind to anyone, but clearly pigs do actually fly. - as the HC1 was discontinued around that time and sales stocks have just been running out since. The message here is that just because someone has been around a long time etc and know a lot of poeple doesn't mean that they always have the right facts.

Who knows what the story with the FX1 is, but it's my opinion that the rumours that it is at it's end are true. Others may have a different view.

Maybe they will continue but upgrade a few things. They can keep the same CCD's.

Even if there was an announcement in a few weeks, it would still be several months before the new camera was released.

again I meant maybe some info about the FX1 being discontinued.

No problems with the availability of both FX1 and HC1 here in Europe. Both cameras are ready for delivery from dozens of shops and prices have basically been stable for many months (not counting the usual ups and downs).

I spoke with Ryan at EVS this morning (EVS is also out of stock), and he said that he didn't know anything about the FX1 being discontinued. He said the reason they don't list it on their site, and have stopped carrying it, is because it wasn't selling. He went on to say that they even had a couple of returns on the camera from people who didn't like it; their reasons being no timecode generation and no XLR inputs. He said that for professional use, the Z1 is just a much better camera, and people are now demanding that. He did offer to look into ordering one for me, but "no promises".

Now, this could very well be EVS's experience with selling the FX1, but when I was looking to buy an HD camera, just about every person on this board recommended the FX1 over the Z1 because it was a better value with close to Z1-par performance.

I just find it very coincidental that one store's poor-opinion, of what seems to be a very popular camera, is coinciding with an industry-wide (at least in the US) shortage (and price increase for those that have remaining stock). Maybe the dealers can't say anything, but to me, it sounds like their's more to this story...

I would like to see one of Sony $500 rebates on the Z1.

I would like to see one of Sony $5000 rebates on the Z1.

;-)

that would be cash back here......I'd buy two!

Another Z1 or wait?
 

I'm looking into buying another Z1 but with the FX1 being discontinued, I'm curious if there is something new coming out soon. Does anyone have info about a new camera or format that might be released soon?

1080P HDV cam with a Fisher Price kids microphone??