[Jeff Merritt]

All,

Several of you have made speculation as to what Discovery will allow to be shot and delivered. I’d like you to know that Discovery will not only accept VariCam but has now OK’d the HDX900 as well after doing extensive testing. The HDX400 was approved a long time ago. For confirmation, please contact Mr. Josh Derby, Manager of Technical Standards and Operations at Discovery. 240-662-4705. Josh told me recently that Discovery has several programs in the pipeline that will be shot on the HDX900.

And just for grins, the most watched of all programs on all the Discovery channels, American Chopper, is shot with VariCam and will start using HDX900s as well.

Discovery has new camera and delivery specs and if you intend to shoot for Discovery, it may be a good idea to contact Mr. Derby directly to get a copy of the specs.

Thanks,

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

[Jeff Merritt]

Hello All,

Although I have not personally talked to Porta Brace, you should know that the camera body of the high definition AJ-HDX900 is identical to the standard definition AJ-SDX900. And, yes, the HDX900 is smaller and configured slightly different than the VariCam.

Another question came up in this thread, that of heat of the VariCam. The “H” version does run warmer than previous versions because of additional digital processing capacity. The case was re-designed to disipate this heat, specifically around the lens mount to help keep the temperature consistant there and thereby diminishing back focus problems with changing temperatures. We recommend you turn on the camera at least 10 minutes before shooting, then back focus, and leave the camera ON for as long as necessary to keep the camera’s temperature constant. It will only warm up to a certain temperature and stay there.

As in any camcorder of this qualtiy, you should avoid long exposure to direct sun on a hot day, something even film people do with their cameras.

And thanks for your input, Tony, the VariCam has actually been underwater below Glacier Bay in Alaska and worked just fine.

Thanks,

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

[Jeff Merritt]

Hi,

Please contact me directly off list to my regular e-mail. Also please contact TeleCast directly as we do not distribute their products but work very closely with them.

merrittj@us.panasonic.com

Thanks,

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

[Jeff Merritt]

All,

The remote IS shipping now. Contact your closest Re-Seller.

Thanks

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

[Jeff Merritt]

Hey,

Good questions. And why are you on the computer this holiday weekend? Just kidding. BBQ’s galore.

The new remote control is entirely different from anything we have made before. It is more of a “one button-one function” device that serves only the AJ-HDX900. It does not work with any other camera and the AJ-EC3 does not work with the HDX900. With the new remote contol you’ll have easier control of the camera with the added benefit of being able to see down-converted pictures on the LCD screen on the unit.

Now I’ll admit that this unit is a bit more pricey than the original EC3, but the functionality is a lot more. At VariCamps and at NAB I spent a lot of time asking what a new remote control should be. I fed this information back to the factory and this is what they came up with. When we showed it at the last NAB in April, it was an overwhelming success.

It comes standard with a 10 meter cable that is new with larger 10-pin connectors. It’s beefier and has more cable interface between the camera and the remote control. We do not have a longer cable but will provide the connector model and pin-out if you want to extend the cable. Maximum is about 20 meters. Since the camera supplies power to the remote, you can understand how the power drops off over distance. Also remember that video over SDI is limited to about 300 feet.

Good news is that we are working closely with TeleCast for them to have a fiber alternative for this remote. This is looking good and shouldn’t be long in coming.

Thanks for the questions.

[Jeff Merritt]

Hello All,

All of the DVCPRO HD VTRs going back to the original HD130DC and HD150 as well as the newer AJ-HD1700, HD1200A and HD1400 have had the capability to cross-convert from 720p to 1080i and visa versa, but in some cases like the HD1200A required an option card. Now the AJ-HD1400 has that capability built-in, no option.

This format conversion is designed on a similar platform as was originally set up in the Panasonic AJ-UFC1800, a very high-end format converter and the first on the market to do so at the time. It is still of the highest quality for this type of format conversion. In fact, we sold a ton of these units into the post community and they are still going strong 24/7 after all these years. Since this technology is built-in to the current VTRs, there is no need to spend money at a post house just to make conversions. In fact, for example, shooting in 720p with the VariCam or HDX900, editing in 720p and going back to tape on the HD1400/HD1200A is really a piece of cake. In this case, for delivery in 1080i, the deck can do the conversion for you. So delivery on a D5-HD or HDCAM is no problem for those networks and cable companies like Discovery Networks that require HD delivery in 1080i.

Basically in the world today, an acquisition format may have nothing all to do with the delivery format. I’m reminded that several years ago the CBS Network when broadcasting in HD 1080i, their preferred transmission standard, actually produced the pre-game of the Super Bowl entirely with the VariCam and converted all the material to 1080i for broadcast. It happens all the time; one format converted to another.

Please let me know your thoughts on this subject as your feedback is important.

Thanks,

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

[Jeff Merritt]

All,

Regular members of this site know that I am here very often trying to help clear up questions about our products, particualrly the VariCam and the new products like the AJ-HDX900 and the AJ-HD1400. However the furor over the delivery of the AJ-HDX900 commands me to address this apparent issue.

First, I personally spent hour after hour in the Panasonic NAB booth talking to many of you about the introduction and delivery date for the HDX900. I said over and over that delivery would be the end of July and into August this year. Our press release for this product said the same. In fact Panasonic delivered the first deliveries the second week of August and more deliveries this past week and even this week. Additionally I was on this site a little more than a week ago describing how we were bringing this popular camera to market and the delivery schedule of twice this month.

For obvious competitive reasons we can not divulge the number of units we have or can deliver, but I can honestly tell you that the response to the AJ-HDX900 has been more than overwhelming. I remember one of our competitors years ago that introduced a new camcorder that didn’t make the grade as far as deliveries go which indicates that manufacturers can not always guage the market as to popularity.

Panasonic is doing everything possible to fullfil the huge back order situation on the HDX900. On a daily basis, I see the orders coming in and I am in constant contact with our factory to encourage them to manufacture and deliver the numbers of HDX900s required for the market. It may be interesting to know that the BBC has decided that DVCPRO HD is their format of of choice and most recently that NHK in Japan has adopted the AJ-HDX900 as their primary acquisition format in HD, neither having an effect on deliveries in the U.S.

I totally understand after more than 30 years in this business that you have a business to run and projects to do. And we are working hard to help you succeed. Dialogue on this site is extremely important and I always look forward to reading your opinions.

Thanks for understanding,

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

[Jeff Merritt]

Hi John,

You ask a very good question. Although I’m not at liberty to disclose the ingredients of the “secret sauce” of our Service Department, I can tell you, as I stated before, that with years of experience with DVCPRO camcorders there is an expected number of head hours on a machine given the age of the camcorder. We know the age by tracking the serial number. For sure this is but an average. But something flagrant is suspect and something I’m sure our Service people will likely question if the devise is still under warranty. And they will do everything possible to satisfy the customer.

In short, renting a playback VTR if necessary for a few days costs a whole lot less than replaceing the head drum assembly in a camcorder.

Thank you for asking.

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

[Jeff Merritt]

Hello All,

Thanks to everyone who responded to say don’t use the HDX900 as a source deck for dititizing.

The official Panasonic position is that we know users will use/abuse equipment as they see fit. And no, we are not interested in making more money by people abusing or mis-using the equipment. We do not recommend using any camcorder as a playback device since the tape portion is not designed for constant back and forth shuttling, still frame, and playing.

In the case of the HDX900, the IEEE 1394 is an output only, that is there is no control from an external devise such as an NLE. This is also not an input so even if material is digitized, it can’t be put back to tape on the HDX900 as in a regular VTR such as the HD1400/1200A via firewire.

As someone suggested, it’s fairly easy to determine unususal head wear and our Panasonic Service team members have years of experience with DVCPRO to know just what is typical. In short, excessive head wear may cause a question of warranty service if appropriate.

A camcorder’s purpose is to aquire picture content with an on-board recording device. It’s not intended to be a source deck for editing.

Thanks,

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

[Jeff Merritt]

All,

Given the fact the AJ-HD1200A and the new AJ-HD1400 are HD, the guts are virtually the same as with all other DVCPRO VTR equipment. That is the head drum, tape tension, guide paths and all other internal mechanical parts are nearly identical from machine model to machine mode.

The DVCPRO format has been around for many years now and has been engineered for the most rugged standards for editing. Of course before the large proliferation of NLE systems, tape-to-tape was the only way to go. Therefore, that put a lot of stress on the mechanical portion of the machines, and the DVCPRO has always held up well.

In short, the DVCPRO HD decks are designed for viewing, logging, ingesting and tape-to-tape editing. One of the reasons for this design is that the tape itself is smaller (1/4 inch), has less mass, and thus the tension/pressure on the heads is far less than any other full production quality format.

So–No Worries.

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