2700 Natgeo?

[John Cummings]

I would find that surprising considering a large part of “Planet Earth” was shot on the earlier 720p version of the same camera with the same 2/3″ chip and worse compression.

But then again, you never know.

J.Cummings
Chicago
HDX-900/HDW-730S/DXC-D50
847-220-3172

[Robin Probyn]

Yes totally agree… esp as the HDX900 is ok.. googled this and zero on natgeo site.. and lots of posts from the ages ago.. nothing recent though.. apart from tech spec,s why would natgeo start laying down the law about what camera,s are ok.. mad.. maybe its all urban myth..?

[Peter Corbett]

BBC still has the 27H on the approved list (thanks Keith). We use the 2700 all the time and it’s probably even better.

The following cameras are presently approved by the BBC.
• Panasonic AJ-HPX3700, 2700, 3000 & 2100
• Panasonic ‘Varicam’ HDC27F & H
• Panasonic AJ-HDX900
• Sony HDW F900R & 900
• Sony HDW 790, 750 & 730
• Sony CineAlta F35
• Arri D21 & Alexa
• Panavision Genesis
• Thompson Viper

Peter Corbett
Powerhouse Productions
http://www.php.com.au

[Robin Probyn]

Maybe Iam worrying too much.. but have heard people say they got called for Natgeo jobs.. claiming minimum spec 1080i.. some will then say the up res eg HDX900 or 2700 isnt true 1080i..
So I wonder to pay an extra $10,000 for the 3700.. bearing in mind the good trade in on betasp 400AP !!

Iam not making my own stuff.. so totally at the mercy of what may become “the approved spec,s” even if its total bollocks..

Just sort of seeing what others think?

Thanks for your time !

[Jeff Regan]

The 3700 trade-in deal isn’t available in the US currently, from what I can tell. The last 3700 deal included the color viewfinder for around $35K, but is back to $59,950 without viewfinder.

Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video
http://www.ssv.com

[Robin Probyn]

Yikes.. do you know if the HDX900 viewfinder would work on the 3700..?

[Jeff Regan]

I believe it will. Original Varicam viewfinders won’t. The 3700 has a video delay when monitoring that makes lip sync off–not an issue with the 2700. I’ve been shooting with a 3700 a fair amount lately as well as the color viewfinder, nice combo. I do notice a bit less light sensitivity and more power consumption with the 3700 vs. 2700. I have too many clients that want 720 24/30/60P 1-60 fps to have a 1080 24/30P/60i 1-30 fps only camera.

Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video
http://www.ssv.com

[Robin Probyn]

Hi Jeff

Yes sometimes get asked for 720.. I,ll still have my HDX900 for that I hope..! I seem mostly asked for 1080.. and again the HDX900 has mostly been acceptable .. but sense lately esp a move to native 1080..
Which has meant renting an F900R.. a pain and expensive..
But I need a tapeless camera I guess sooner than later.. I thought P2 had sort of died a bit.. and I heard alot of people saying Pana might have made a mistake with going totally P2.. but this year seems to be a resurgence of P2.. AVC100 also been requested a few times..

So still not totally sure but think I,ll go P2 and not XDCAM 800.. I just dont get any request for it..
And I like the Pana look too.. wish I,d been around for the 15yrs of betcam when the choices werent so hard 🙂 just got my 400AP right at the end of betacam.. great timing as usual !

[Thomas Miller]

We have and love the HDX900, which indeed seems to be the new betacam as Rodger Macie declared. We use it for everyone – including Nat Geo projects. But we also are getting more and more calls for tapeless, esp from corp clients who don’t want to fool with decks. For P2 we have the 200A and 170, but would love a solution to turn the HDX900 into a tapeless camera as well. I know there are some solutions out there, and wondering if anyone has had any luck with them.

Tom Miller
Big Pictures Media
Denver, Colorado

https://www.BigPicturesMedia.com

[Robin Probyn]

Yes I have a nanoflash that has worked well with the HDX900.. but its XDCAM 422HD codex.. not DVCpro HD or AVC100.. but you can record up to 200 or more Mbps.. if you want to..

But if someone requests P2.. you might not be able to sell the HDX + Nano solution..