AG-HPG20 - Must have for any P2 production

[Andy Shipsides]

Check out my HPG20 video review. It's a short and sweet overview of the new device.

“At the Bench” with the Panasonic HPG20 | CineTechnica

Oh and we have a new blog. Check it out - CineTechnica

Andy

[Jeff Regan]

Unfortunately, this device is not quite a smaller version of the HPM110. The lack of Native recording capability is a disappointment.

Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video

[TingSern Wong]

Originally Posted by Barry Green

Now, you won't see that much improvement on HPX170 or HPX500 footage, but you would still have 10-bit color depth for working in post. It could also be used with an EX1, EX3, HD250, PDW700, F900, anything that you wanted to convert to tapeless AVC-Intra.

Barry, I don't understand this part. If the HD/SDI of HPX170 or HPX500 is sending out only 8 bits, plugging in this device to capture at 10 bits (using AVC-I) - the data is still only 8 bits. So, how can this be "better" than the native DVCProHD codec?

[Andy Shipsides]

Well AVC-Intra, besides being 10bit, is also a full raster (1920x1080) codec vs. DVCPROHD which is sampled at 1280x1080 in 1080 or 960x720 in 720.

[TingSern Wong]

Understand the resolution part. But, I am asking about the 8 bits versus 10 bits part. Thanks.

[Derek Nickell]

Been shooting for a few years in P2 and never had a P2 store or P2 gear. Waste of money IMO...

[Andy Shipsides]

Originally Posted by Derek Nickell

Been shooting for a few years in P2 and never had a P2 store or P2 gear. Waste of money IMO...

With the HD-SDI recording feature of the HPG20 I think it adds function well beyond the P2 Gear or P2 Store. You may have thought those products were a waste of money but this new product has a lot more going for it.

[Jan Crittenden Livingston]

Originally Posted by Jeff Regan

Unfortunately, this device is not quite a smaller version of the HPM110. The lack of Native recording capability is a disappointment.
Shooting Star Video

Hi Jeff, True it doesn't do native recording but it will record the flags on the frames so that the NLEs can strip them out. And DV Film is working on a plug in for MXFX to do that very thing in AVC-Intra. So it doesn't get the time advantage but you can still get to where you are going. Now the only camera that I am aware of that doesn't have the capacity to put 24P into a pulldown is the F900 and that one will just have to go with the P2 Mobile.

Best,

Jan

[Mark Donnell]

Andy - have you had a chance to compare the quality of the video played back from a P2 card recorded in DVCPRO HD to the video played back by this unit recording the same scene from the HD SDI output of the same camera to AVC-Intra 100 ? Is there a visual difference ?

[Andy Shipsides]

This is a good test. I'll see what I can do.

Also I found a Switronix power adapter that will power the HPG20 off a D-Tap. Here is the item:
http://www.abelcine.com/store/produc...ductid=1000455

Andy

[Stuart McAlister]

Hello All,

I have a new machine, straight out of the box and have followed all the relevant info in the 'how to' section.

All I'm trying to do is to drag all the files into FCP but with the USB connector in place (host), and the USB HOST light on (lower right), the system isn't showing up on my desktop. I'm using a 6GB iMac with Final Cut Studio.

Any thoughts from you more experienced users?

Thanks,

Stuart

[Daniel Epstein]

You probably have to install P2 drivers into the Imac and also you want to use Log and Transfer to get the files into Final Cut. Not sure what the status of Snow Leopard is for these.