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Question about Panasonic AG-HPX170
Hey Everyone:
I’m close to making some big decisions (for me) regarding buying equipment – a new camera and new iMac. I really wanted advice as to whether I’m setting myself up for an effective & happy workflow.
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I’m thinking of getting a Panasonic AG-HPX170 and using the new iMac to transfer and edit
the footage, mostly in FCP.
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Here are my CONCERNS:1) How easy will it be to transfer footage from camera to FCP in my iMac?? How about into Avid? I know it’s doable, but are there more effective workflows w better combinations of cameras/computers. Are there better/cheaper tapeless workflows that can shoot longer than the P2 cards?
2) How much mileage will I get from camera before subsequent models make it seem obsolete?
3) New iMac has 4 USB ports and only ONE firewire 800 port – is this a potential problem?
4) Will I see many ads on craigslist.com, etc for ppl hiring ppl who own with this Panasonic model for various projects?
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Any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated…this is my first post so I hope this is the right format
and an appropriate question. Thanks.Laurence Wallace
http://www.laurencewallace.com -
4 Replies
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[Laurence Wallace] “How easy will it be to transfer footage from camera to FCP in my iMac??”
Well, connect the camera to the computer (make sure you have the p2 drivers loaded first, https://www.panasonic.com/p2), and then use the manual to figure out how to put the camera into HOST mode. Then follow this tutorial:
[Laurence Wallace] “How about into Avid? “
Avid 3.5 and higher have something called Avid Media Access. It automatically detects tapeless cards as they are inserted, or you can point them at archived files. Then they just show up. Consolidate that to your media drive. Easy.
[Laurence Wallace] “Are there better/cheaper tapeless workflows that can shoot longer than the P2 cards?”
AVCHD from the HMC-150 camera. But FCP converts that to ProRes or ProRes LT, and Avid doesn’t deal with AVCHD footage at all. You need third party apps for that. But this is SD card technology. The Sony EX series uses SxS cards, or you can get an adapter to use Compact Flash cards. But then you are dealing with a GOP format that requires quite a bit of processing power, for FCP and Avid.
[Laurence Wallace] “2) How much mileage will I get from camera before subsequent models make it seem obsolete?”
Depends on what you feel is obsolete. The HVX-200 was around for 3-4 years before the HVX-200A, and other year before the HPX-170. And it still sees use, and isn’t obsolete. The other cameras have better low light capability. A while.
[Laurence Wallace] “3) New iMac has 4 USB ports and only ONE firewire 800 port – is this a potential problem? “
No. You can connect the camera via USB and offload to a FW drive. But with an iMac you are ONLY going to be able to use the camera or a P2 Gear to offload the footage, or the 5 card readers…until the Sonnet QIO comes out.
[Laurence Wallace] “4) Will I see many ads on craigslist.com, etc for ppl hiring ppl who own with this Panasonic model for various projects? “
That’s easy for you to find out now. Go look. Craigslist? Man, that’s low rent…
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
I am not sure if you will find ads on craigslist for shooters with Panasonic brand cameras but you will most definitely find ads for people offering 23 cents an hour for video work. 🙂
Joking aside Shane has hit all the points, very good advice.
Emre Tufekci
http://www.productionpit.com -
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Thx for the reality check about craigslist.com. I suppose if I’m going to drop the 5-6K for the Panasonic HPX-170 I should raise my bar a tad, eh 🙂 I’m kind of new to all this…
Laurence Wallace
http://www.laurencewallace.com
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