What will be main use of this camera, who will buy and why?

[Radek Svoboda]

RENTAL HOUSES,

720 60 p BROADCASTERS,

INDIE FILMMAKERS, who can afford it, because 1080 24p,

PRODUCTION COMPANIES THAT SHOOT FOR BROADCAST and want to get into HD on budget with one low cost 1080i and 720 60p camera, or want tupplement more expensive HD cameras.

The market is big but the camera and P2 system is too expensive for average member here, myself included.

Anyway new Sony and JVC HDV cameras and this new Panasonic bringing HD to popular price levels. Biggest beneficiary of this is indie filmmaker.

[Aaron Koolen]

Well, seeing as there are so many rumours and no real information I was told tonight by a dealer (Who was showcasing the Z1) who said that he'd been told by Panasonic that the new camera will have BOTH p2 and tape.

Let the rumours keep flying! ;)

Aaron

[Bob Zimmerman]

I was told by a Panasonic rep that it might have a tape drive, but couldn't say for sure. That would seem to be more of a yes than a no, since the camera is already made. It makes sense to me since the P2 card isn't going to work for everyone.

[Aaron Koolen]

Well it would make sense, given the high price of P2 and the market they are aiming for (poor people :) ). We can shoot SD to tape for our events, and when we're shooting our films, use P2 and offload.

Aaron

[Barry Green]

The market is big but the camera and P2 system is too expensive for average member here, myself included.

Anyway new Sony and JVC HDV cameras and this new Panasonic bringing HD to popular price levels. Biggest beneficiary of this is indie filmmaker.

Not all cameras are suitable to all markets. Panasonic is introducing another DVCPRO-HD camera, the HDX400, which carries a $40,000 pricetag.

And keep in mind, the next-lowest-cost 1080/24p camera on the market is Sony's F900, at $100,000. I think the HVX is probably the low end of Panasonic's DVCPRO-HD line. If you need HD at a low cost, the FX1 is only about $3299. I think it's not well suited for filmmaking, but the price is definitely attractive.

[Laurence Maher]

I'm a filmmaker, so for me it's a god send. I also shoot video to stay alive, so for me that's just an added bonus.

Ya, baby, Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[Jaime Valles]

When I start shooting my next feature (in about 2 years), it'll definitely be in some form of 1080p/24. Whether it's with the HVX200 or with something yet to be announced from Sony, Canon, or JVC remains to be seen. I don't know what the next leap in HD will be or when it'll happen, but I think DVCproHD at 1080p/24 will be around for a while. Heck, if an XL1 was used for 28 Days Later, the HVX should be able to produce some really stunning looking films!

[Michael Struthers]

I'd much rather shoot super 16mm for a feature. 1/3 chips just don't cut it. But this cam is ideal for news gathering, porn, weddings, and TV presentations.

[Aaron Shaw]

Well there's no official word on the CCD size yet and Panasonic could have incorporated some form of duel exposure into their CCDs. This sort of technology has been around for some time to dramatically increase exposure latitude. Whether they will or not remains to be seen. I doubt it but I would love it if it proved true!

[Alex Leith]

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael Struthers : I'd much rather shoot super 16mm for a feature. 1/3 chips just don't cut it. But this cam is ideal for news gathering, porn, weddings, and TV presentations. -->>>

Ha! Ha! Ha! HD porn... That's just toooooo much! <shudder>

[Carmen Stern]

looking at the formfactor, it reminds me a bit of that fisherprice cam, that recorded on regular audio-cassettes..so my guess..kid's-birthday-present-cam :B

[Glenn Gipson]

Don't forget that the cam is going to be used as a B-camera for Vari Cam and other HD shoots. That is, the cam is great for dangerous and or tight situations (recording stunts, underwater recording, ariel recording, etc.) This cam is definately not just for us "poor" folk.

[Kurth Bousman]

<<<looking at the formfactor, it reminds me a bit of that fisherprice cam, that recorded on regular audio-cassettes..so my guess..kid's-birthday-present-cam >>>

Carmen- that's probably true
....for Donald Trump !

[Steve Gibby]

Accessorized with a servo-zoom pistol grip, wireless mics, mini-sungun, mini-jib, a vest-mounted stabilizer, wide angle converter, 1.6x converter, car mounts, and a custom water housing, the HVC200 should be a superb camera for the type of national television work I do: adventure travel, action sports, music, lifestyle, reality, and documentaries. It should also work real well for the business video end of my business: marketing videos, DVDs, and external communications.

When we do Varicam shoots, it should also be an excellent creative b-roll camera. When we travel to risky areas, where a Varicam is out of the question, it should do nicely. With all the accessories it should look very professional in size and appearance. When we want to look like a tourist, we can leave some acessories off. Add in a good laptop, a fat Firewire drive, and solar charging panels, and it's robust remote production anywhere in the world.

What isn't mentioned above is talent and experience. All the tech in the world won't make up for weakness in those critical areas. When you hand someone a paintbrush do they automatically become Picasso? When you hand someone a pen do they automatically become Shakespeare? Those with talent and experience never need to be intimidated by advances in technology. On the contrary they should be wringing their hands out in anticipation of the new possibilities that will be opened up. If you then maximize technology and minimize overhead, success in nearly inevitable...