HDX900

[Jayfarrington]

Jeff,

Thanks for the update and information so far on the HDX900. Other questions if you can answer them:

Will there really be a new paintbox for this camera? Or will it work with the EC3?

Are we talking true, unique and individual 1080 lines of resolution? Or are the chips optimized for 720P (same as the VariCam) and then upresed in camera to 1080? Similar to spitting out 1080 from 720P footage from the 1200a deck?

Thanks in advance,

-Jay

Jay Farrington
Video/Sound Engineer
San Francisco Bay Area

[John Sharaf]

Jay,

I can tell you from my own research at the show that yes, there is no paintbox compatibility; the EC3 has lead in it so a whole new, unique paintbox (and connector on the camera) was designed for the HVX900. It will not work on the Varicam nor will the EC3 work on the HVX. Of course you’ve probably noticed that the tape size is different between the two models as well. Both of these things will create problems in the field when the two cameras are inevitably used concurrently in DVPRO100 HD productions.

As regards the 1080, I believe you’ve hit that on the head; because it’s the same 1 million pixel chipset as on the Varicam, it must be a transcode (like the 1200A deck does as well) that creates the 1080 on the tape. To my mind this is not a particular deal breaker, at least for televsion use, but for filmout, I can tell you based on my own observations of the 1080 transcode through the 1200A vs. Cine Alta picture (on my 1920×1080 eCinema display)that the “true” 1080 is slightly sharper.

[Jeff Merritt]

Hi John and all,

The EC3, having lead in the solder, had nothing to do at all with develping a new control box for the AJ-HDX900. In fact the new box for the AJ-HDX900 was designed entirely because many users wanted more control. The AJ-RC900 is designed with many more “one button-one function” controls than the EC3 and the inter-connect cable and the connectors have been beefed-up for real world production, and the control offers more of a “paint” feel to it.

Delivery is scheduled about the end of July at a Suggest List Price of $4500.00 along with the AJ-HDX900 which delivers at the same time at a Suggested List Price of $26,500.00. For those who missed this camcorder at NAB, we will show it again at HD Expo in Chicago on May 18th. Please see http://www.hdexpo.net. for details.

Thanks,

Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager
High Definition Products
Panasonic Broadcast
323-436-3676

[John Sharaf]

Jeff and all,

As far as the lead in the controller, I’m merely repeating the explaination I received from Steve Mahrer of Panasonic, who I consider the most well informed and knowledgable of Panasonics people. Perhaps because he works in NJ and you are in LA you don’t know what the other is promulgating as the gospel.

As far as people asking for more control, I rather doubt that if they knew the cost would be more than double they’d want the extra buttons and size involved. In the multicam environment, one needs a controller for each camera, so the costs add up quickly, and the concept of a more expensive controller for a less expensive camera just does not compute. It would be another matter if the controller were more like the Ike MCP or Sony RCP panels and accomodates banks of cameras from one controller.

As regards the EC3 CCU, to the contrary, most knowledgable users agree that it is an extremely useful and complete controller for EFP work, especially considering it’s street price (less than half of what the new controller will go for). By comparision to the Sony RM-B150 it is much more useful, especially as regards accessing all menu functions and it is much cheaper and even more friendly than the otherwise very sexy Sony RM-B750, mostly in both cases because the Sony menu nomenclature can only be seen on the Y channel, not the HD-SDI which is more commonly used for monitoring.

My main problem with the new controller is that it is not compatible with the old cameras nor the new camera compatible with the old controller; Sony and Ike have been very smart and considerate to protect their users’ investments in controllers by making them compatible to their complete line of cameras, to me this is a very gracious courtesy to their clientel that is forced more and more to deal with built-in obscelesence because of the rapid progress of technology.

[Bobby Holbrook ii]

So guys, with the budget to afford either camera,
bottom line, do I go with the Varicam or wait for the HDX 900. Thanks Bobby

[John Sharaf]

Bobby,

If you care about picture quality or features like dynamic range and variable speeds go with the origional Varicam; if you need a camera right now, you have no choice, but if cost is your concern the HVX900 is attractive, it’s really a matter of when it will deliver.

The future value of both cameras remains in doubt, especially if Sony agrees to add 720 to the 2/3″ HD XDCAM; if they do, it will become the new Betacam, as all three networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) will be using the same camera, which is very attractive for freelancers. If you’ll be using the camera for yourself or in a closed loop production scheme, then the DVCPRO100 format could live on. There are those to whom tape-less is next to Godliness, I guess you’re not of that persuasion.

JS

[Pat Mcgowan]

Jan,

Can you (or someone else) give us an “elevator pitch” for the HVX900? A brief comparison with Varicam, HDCAM and XDCAM HD would be nice.

We, like many other small production houses are liking the HVX900 plenty but are still looking over the HD cliff and wondering which parachute to use.

Thanks!

[Dow Haynor]

Just wondering why you think the nets are going to the XD Cam?

Thanks
Dow

[Allen Facemire]

In response to the question as to when the networks will start using the Sony HD XDCAMs, it is my understanding that CBS O&O’s have signed on with the 350 model and that NBC has either done the same or are seriously considering it.

And to my further understanding, CBS networks has also made an order.

ABC being a 720p HD environment is really looking closely at the camera and I have heard that their engineering folks are talking with Sony about coming up with a 720p version of the XDCAM for them. If that’s the case…can a switchable multiformat version be far behind?

In any case I think it would be several more years before that would happen.

In the meantime I’m going with the Panasonic HDX900 for it’s multiformat functionality!

Allen Facemire

[Tvworks]

The AJ-HDX900 sounds like a great buy, but I notice it is only NTSC is there a PAL version on the way?