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But is a HPX3700 Varicam “shovel ready?” for making money?
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Jeff, Your right somebody should build a camera with these features and somebody will eventually. If it’s a manufacturer with any credibility they will steal the show.
You can see the features and good idea’s coming from different places, DSLR’s, Red, P2, Nano flash, XD-cam we just need a smart, forward thinking (preferably Japanese) manufacturer to understand where we are, where we are probably headed and build a camera designed to last through the transition period we are within (flexibility is a key ingredient).
What needs to be built in to a professional camera system is the concept of a system that can last a few years i.e upgradable. It needs to attempt be adaptable to what’s coming next. The idea that we have to throw away these cam-corders every 2 years because the next model is better is a very serious problem that should be addressed before the masses will throw big bucks at a new camera system. Red is very smart to not only build modular system but also “trade up” programs. This is critical in these times of fast change.
The next company that “steps up” should build in flexible memory platform, to accommodate different memory and codec options like the “Nano flash”, etc. This modular idea is where we should be going right now with “full form” camera’s built to last more then 2-3 years.
The lack of sales in 2/3” P2 cameras is a sign of the transition we are in. If Panasonic built the camera your speaking of, they would take over the industry very quickly, but they are so “over invested” in P2 cameras and products (the industry is not buying) they are most likely stretched WAY too thin to pull it off any time soon (unfortunately). Maybe Canon, maybe Sony. Red of coarse is doing very good work but they have issues also (for the masses anyway). I think we may soon see a big battle coming in DSLR’s VS “Scarlet” for the full frame look everyone wants these days. Sony and Panasonic are certainly watching.
Sony is a stogy old company for sure but if you look at where they are relative to Panasonic, how much LESS they have invested in current technology. They have yet to make a big move away from tape in 2/3” cameras, which is where the money is traditionally. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them make a smarter move in this “full form” arena (smarter then XD-cam disc burning that is).
Interesting times… we shall see.
Save your money now, use what you have, or rent what you don’t have (my secret motivation), and lets see what happens in the next year or two. I’m guessing things are going to change fairly dramatically. I think the gold ring is hanging out there ready to be taken, because some smart company will soon lead us out of transition and into the 21 century! I don’t think we are there with the current gear available right now (my opinion as always). Red is easily ahead of the pack, we just need the big boys to get on board.
Good conversation!
Erich Roland
http://www.dc-camera.com
HD camera rentals, Washington DC
(and Cameraman) -
I’m a fan of Shotput Pro, this ingest program is great for P2 and SxS and pretty fool proof for transferring footage to up to three external drives. I’ve never had any issues with loss of data using this program.
I normally either do the transfers myself, or one of my sound persons or engineers do it. I’ve also had my editor do it when on set and I’ve even had a couple of producers do it who were savvy with P2 transfer. Most of the technical people on my crew know FireStore FS-100’s and P2 offloading. I don’t clear the cards or FireStore until I’ve previewed some files off of the drives. I’ve had a twenty something camera assistant/data wrangler do it as well, but I knew that he was better with computers than I will ever be.
Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video
http://www.ssv.com -
Great insight Erich. I’m disappointed by what the HPX300 could have been instead of a 3)1/3″ camera–if it had a single Academy size C-Mos sensor, it could have stopped EX1 and EX3 in its tracks and had a head start on Scarlett. I really think $15-20K could have been doable. No, it wouldn’t have had the extensive menu flexibility of an HPX2700 or 3700, nor the refinement, but it would have done a lot more in camera than RED One and presumably Scarlett.
What an opportunity to get a jump on Sony and offer a RED option!
Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video
http://www.ssv.com -
This is indeed a great conversation…and good therapy, too.
I wonder if the product reps read these harangues? If so, I wonder what they think?
J Cummings
Cameralogic/Chicago
cameralogic.tv
HDX-900/HDW-730S/DXC-D50 -
Yes splitting the varicam seems to be a mistake.I have the HDX900 now and think its a great camera and hope to get a few more yrs from it.
But as it stands now I would get the PDW800.. rather than P2.. as my work is mostly doc,s in the field,long hours,old hotels sometimes with bad/unreliable wiring etc.. seldom a cam assist.. so P2 I think just isnt going to work for me.. where as the 800 ..90 mins dual layer DVD is great for this type of work. -
I just read that the PCD35 P2 reader is incredibly fast. Transfer times for a 32Gb E series card have been lowered from over 20 minutes to 5 minutes. Unfortunately, a desktop computer with a PCIe slot is required, but that could mean the ability to transfer 5 64Gb P2 cards in less than an hour!
Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video
http://www.ssv.com -
3700 ready ??? Yes we are using them to replace F-900’s in the MOW market and green screen to replace reds. Not that the red has any issues just cheapier to rent and post is easier.
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I’d love a shiny new camera. But curiously, that P2 call hasn’t come yet.
We own a AJHD27f Varicam. It’s a great camera and has certainly proven itself with an excellent ROI in the five years we’ve owned it.
The P2 call hasn’t come yet, but the 1080 call certainly has. We’ve messed around with upconverting our 720 60fps footage to 1080i, which can look decent. But try going 1080p and it’s game over. The image just does not stand up.
For that reason, we are considering the most recent carrot from Panasonic, a $20,000 (with trade in) Varicam 2700 body. With a full size 1920 x 1080 chip set, solid CCDs (instead of judder prone CMOS sensors), and the ability to also acquire off speed 60fps footage at 720 (unlike the 3700)… it seems like a good choice.
We primarily shoot episodic television programming, long form corporate and marketing videos. But we also freelance quite a lot for crew booking agencies and national networks. Maybe we need to hang onto the 27f tape body for a while, too… just in case.
Or maybe we duck for a while and grab an AJA Ki Pro. Anyone tried upconverting 720p to 1080p with a Ki Pro?
Jennifer Isenhart
Wide Eye Productions -
“I’d love a shiny new camera. But curiously, that P2 call hasn’t come yet.”
It’s not often I get to quote myself.
The P2 call finally came this week. I didn’t get the gig.I still want a shiny new camera, but it’s probably going to be a Canon 5D Mk2, first. That camera is mind-blowingly good.
Don’t know what to say about the new 2700 deal…just glad I didn’t buy one a few months ago…
J Cummings
Cameralogic/Chicago
cameralogic.tv
HDX-900/HDW-730S/DXC-D50 -
Yeah, we have been checking out the 5D MII and also the 7D. If you like that idea, check out what this guy has been doing with a 7D:
It’s pretty amazing. With a $1700 camera body.
But our DP’s don’t see a DSLR Video rig as a primary unit for most reality and documentary work, which is much of what we do, too. That’s why we’re still enticed by the 2700 deal (plus, the trade-in would make good use out of that old Sony 300A we have banging around here).
We’re interested in other opinions on that.
Jennifer Isenhart
Wide Eye Productions
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