John Stephens
Forum Replies Created
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Shawn,
Our problems started when a shooter used to better cameras, tried to control DOF by adding ND and opening the lens all the way. The result was VHS. I am going to try better glass on the 370 in hopes that the real issue is just a very poor quality promo lens. At times I think there is a back focus issue, but now I think it is just a super narrow sweet spot that includes 5.6 or less and keeping your subject very close. I would much rather get my money back and buy a real camera, than spend more money on 1/3 inch glass.
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I look forward to getting my hands on the 600 to investigate myself. But the picture in the magazine as well as the picture used by B&H on-line generates some real concern about build quality. The 370 and the 3100 had very similar bodies that protected seldom used controls behind doors, which I liked. The “chiclet” style buttons on the 600 also concern me. But my desire to get back to a 2/3 imager is very high, so I will be looking carefully.
I would also like to know more about the new imager in the 600. Can you provide ?
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We started off being very happy with the 370 and thought it was great for the job we bought it for, basically an broadcast ENG camera used out in the field. And it WAS a great buy for the money. But then our problems began, primarily with the lens. Back focus and focus in general is basically a crap shoot. I have come to the conclusion that the new cheaper versions of once serious cameras are not the way to go.
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My comments were based on both the Studio Daily story and also the picture posted. Look at the picture shown below. The build quality makes the 600 look more like a toy mockup than a professional piece of video gear that ends up costing $25,000 with lens and viewfinder. Panasonic exposes so many controls on the 600 that are fully protected in the 370, 500 and all cameras above. Why did they add so much plastic ? I guess the real goal was to protect the AJ-HPX3100GJ. Which now looks like a much better buy for $5K more than the 600.
I will admit I am a little upset by all the problems I am having with our year old 370. I have been waiting for the 600 with my checkbook all ready. But the last thing I want to do is buy a new camera that looks to be designed to dominate the low-end vs. redefining the high-end.
https://cdn.studiodaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Fig-1-HPX600_Lside3.jpg
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We are about to throw in the towel on our 370. We have followed all the fixes you quote, but still the focus in very unpredictable. Had the back focus checked with a chart and it tests fine. But in the field any minor challenge will create a poor focus. Replacing the horrible stock lens I guess would help, but I don’t think this 1/3” camera is worth the investment. Han anybody tested the better lens options to see what advantages at what price are available ?
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What lens are you using with your 370s ?
John M Stephens
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We are having the same issues with our 370, but they seem to be most noticeable when we are trying to force the camera to deliver a tighter depth of field. Our shooter was using full ND inside with the stock lens wide open. The resulting image was full of noise and kind of soft.
We then took the exact same scene, lost the ND and took our HMI lit shot to to F5.7 and the difference was like night and day. Noise was gone and the image very sharp. But the tight depth of field was now unlimited.
I think the real lesson here is that in most avail stock lens/camera packages, the glass provided with the 370 is crap. Why do you think Panasonic forces you to take the stock lens vs. offering a reasonable up charge for the avail higher quality lens ?
I think the real lesson here is don’t expect to get an image from a 1/3 inch chip that can compete with the popular DSLR look. And second don’t expect pro results from a package lens that likely costs Panasonic about $500.
Panasonic takes some of blame for over selling the 370 while delaying and then over pricing the new 600, which I wish I had bought. But with my 370 now not worth very much anymore, my days of being a 100% Panasonic shop are likely over. A new Af200 would be considered if it comes soon. I also have to take some of the blame. The Sony D600 Betacam the 370 replaced had $18K in glass on it. I must have been blinded by the 370 price and good looking HD image shot under perfect conditions.
But my next camera will be likely be from Canon as the 370 gets relegated to lowered projects. With all the Canon glass we own for our 7D and 5D, Panasonic is in a very tough spot.
I still would love to see what the 370 would do with some REAL glass.
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I own a 370 and for the money … I just love it. But better glass will always help any pro camera look even better.
But depending on the kind of work you do, chances are your clients will soon demand a look the 370 with its 1/3 chip just can’t deliver. I would not spend any more money on the 370 and start saving for the new 600 or whatever DSLR killer Panasonic will have to come out with.
At the time of release the 370 was a great idea. But today with all large imager choices, a 1/3 inch chip will no longer cut it when dealing with clients who want that 5D look.
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I am sorry, I don’t understand. I hope this makes sense.
If while shooting I fill card #1 the camera will then progress automatically to card #2. I continue recording for while.
Then at a break, I pause and remove card #1 from slot 1 and replace it with a new empty card #3.
The break ends and I continue recording on card #2.
Once that card #2 fills, will the recording automatically continue over to the empty card #3 that I inserted into slot 1 while the camera was paused ?
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AVID is clearly changing, but they are fighting and scratching to keep as many of their old ways as they can. Take MC 5.5 and how it works with AJA lo. Somehow AVID left out HD closed caption support for AJA while including support for HD captions in the AVID I/O box.
When I finally reached a human at AVID and they admitted the omission, they said it would be quite a while before they corrected the problem.
Why ? Is their I/O so different from AJA ? Or is it to drag every penny they could out of their old I/O systems ? Or is it because those of us who are not in large facilities or broadcast operations still third class at AVID ?