HVX200 and P2 card or NOT?

[Lars Wikstrom]

Well you get what you pay for and that camera is a great camera. I paid $650 for the 4 gig card and now I think the 8 gig cards are going for $600 or something. $600 sould not be a deal breaker for you. This camera is worth it. I love the fact that I no longer have to set in/out points on my footage. When imported in to FCP they are already set up as clips. That is a major time save for me.

-Lars

[Jan Crittenden livingston]

The P2 Card promotion is over, and current promotion is the Anton Bauer Elipz Battery along with some Red Giant Software called Colorista Plus withis is a very powerful color correction software and Instand HD rolled into one package. It also offers Barry Green’s Book. It is a nice promotion.

As far as those stores that are selling for less than 5K, well be careful, most of them are Gray Market. This means that your warranty will be in the country of origin, which could be Japan, Canada, Puerto Rico or? Not that you cannot get it fixed here, but you will have to pay for it. Plus you will not qualify for the rebate offers.

Best,

Jan

Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, AG-DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems

[Nelson May]

I wasn’t looking for 3K………..more like 4500 range. Are they just the web prices on the authorized dealers websites? I am familiar with gray market cameras and woudn’t risk 2K to get screwed over. If anyone was able to get a deal at around 4500.00 or even a few bucks less from and authorized dealer, please let me know and send me their way. I now need a good price if i am going to have to get a P2 card on my own.

Thanks,

[Frank Nolan]

I think $4995 is the best deal I’ve seen from an authorized dealer. That was at studio exchange in Burbank CA.

[David S.]

$5K is about the lowest authorized dealer I’ve seen.

Buying from anyone else is not the best idea

[Rennie Klymyk]

[Jan Crittenden Livingston] “As far as those stores that are selling for less than 5K, well be careful, most of them are Gray Market. This means that your warranty will be in the country of origin, which could be Japan, Canada, Puerto Rico or?”

If anyone runs across one of these grey market babies that needs the Canadian warranty let me know! All the advertised prices here in Canada are $7000.00 CND which at current exchange rates is $6330.00 USD! not to mention 13% sales taxes added on and we don’t get any incentives at present. I can almost buy 2 grey market cameras for this kind of money.

That said, don’t think you have to defend Panasonics’ price on the camera Jan, I’m just commenting on the actual scenario here in North America. The HVX200 has been priced fairly since it’s introduction ($6000.00 basic or $10,000.00 with 2 – 4Gb P2 cards) and thankfully it keeps getting better. Today it is $5000.00 basic or $10,000.00 with 5 – 16Gb P2 cards! Come november it should get better again with the 32GB cards.

[Ron Lindeboom]

[Rennie] “If anyone runs across one of these grey market babies that needs the Canadian warranty let me know! All the advertised prices here in Canada are $7000.00 CND which at current exchange rates is $6330.00 USD! not to mention 13% sales taxes added on and we don’t get any incentives at present. I can almost buy 2 grey market cameras for this kind of money.“

No you can’t. The point is, they will not hesitate to TAKE your money and sit on it — along with that from a bunch of others whose mommies and daddies never taught them that if it’s too good to be true, it probably is — and they will fight you tooth and nail to get it back.

If you are one of the lucky ones, you will get it back. But even then, they will have made money off of using your money — along with all those who mommies and daddies didn’t do their job — drawing interest off the depth of money they’ve collected. (At a few grand per transaction, it quickly adds up.)

If you are like some of the unlucky ones, you will give up and lose it all. Over the years, I have seen one after another confessions of those who lost money to these “somewhat authorised” gray market dealers. (I say somewhat authorised, as they tell you that while they are giving you a great deal, they are also giving you a warranty — one which you will have to travel to Lower Slobotvia to enforce.)

I always chuckle that there are those who will not go to https://www.resellerratings.com and see who their discount dealer really is and what they do to people when they give them their credit cards.

Oh well, Mom & Dad and P.T. Barnum were right: there is indeed one born every minute — and these “dealers” count on it and I am sure they have a poster on the wall behind their phone banks that reads “P.T. was right.”

Best regards,

Ron Lindeboom

[Nelson May]

I am hip on all the info you guys gave me. So far B&H in NY won’t go under 5195 and studio exchange has the same price. If any knows where I can save 100-150 bucks send me there. I really need to pinch some pennys. I was also recommended a bogen 352 MVB tripod for 495.00. Is there a comperable tripod that is cheaper out there. I know this isn’t the post for tripods, but I don’t know where else to post.

If you know where I can post please forward me the link.

Thanks.

[Jan Crittenden livingston]

Hi Nelson,

Make a deal with a local authorized dealer. They might be able to get you where you want to go.

Best,

Jan

Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, AG-DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems

[Nelson May]

thanks Jan.

is texas media systems, 4311 Medical Parkway Austin, TX 78756 an authorized dealer? If you have a page on your site that gives all the authorized dealers, I would appreciate it.

thanks.