AG-HPX17x

Hi guys,

I want to move towards broadcast quality footage. I'm considering the Panasonic AG-HPX17x. The exact version seems to depend on the region. The camera is small and is able to shoot in DVC PRO HD (100 mbits).

What do you think? Has anybody used this camera? Will any of the big network agencies have any problems with the DVC HD Pro format?

Thanks a bunch,

Peter

Is there a housing for the HPX170 series? Depending on where you are, the broadcast rules have shifted somewhat in the last year. Discovery has moved the quite a few of the Pana cameras to Bronze ratings, including the HPX500 and 170. That means limited use only.

BBC treats anything that is less than 1/2" sensored, 50mbps capture as SD.

In fact I think video guru Alan Roberts once mentioned using the HPX and HMC 1/3" sensors only in 720P since you get aliasing issues in 1080.

Is there a housing for the HPX170 series? Depending on where you are, the broadcast rules have shifted somewhat in the last year. Discovery has moved the quite a few of the Pana cameras to Bronze ratings, including the HPX500 and 170. That means limited use only.

BBC treats anything that is less than 1/2" sensored, 50mbps capture as SD.

In fact I think video guru Alan Roberts once mentioned using the HPX and HMC 1/3" sensors only in 720P since you get aliasing issues in 1080.

One manufacture will have a housing ready by Oztec 2009. I'll leave the official announcement to the manufacturer.

Limited acceptance ... that's not good.

I checked the discovery channel (canada). They seem to accept it. Although they didn't specifiy the sensor size. I couldn't find a reference for any of the other Disc Channel networks.

http://www.ctvdigital.com/discovery/produc...od_Specs_04.doc.

I couldn't find anything official from the BBC or NatGeo either.

So, perhaps I should wait for the Scarlet instead?

That Discovery spec is about 5 years old. The DVCPRO HD they accept clips are from the Varicam 2/3" cameras, not the 1/3". Even the HPX500 is now bronze on Discovery's list, and that's 2/3".

Red One was evaluated by the BBC last month or so. The results should be out soon. More interesting will be the Canon 5D2 which was also evaluated... as was the Vixia 1x Sensor canons.

That Discovery spec is about 5 years old. The DVCPRO HD they accept clips are from the Varicam 2/3" cameras, not the 1/3". Even the HPX500 is now bronze on Discovery's list, and that's 2/3".

Red One was evaluated by the BBC last month or so. The results should be out soon. More interesting will be the Canon 5D2 which was also evaluated... as was the Vixia 1x Sensor canons.

Not really 5 years, but apparently from 2006. Can you provide links to more recent specs?

Canon Vixia, do you mean the HV40?

No links. That discovery spec I listed about 2 years ago on WP. The latest specs you'll have to get from Discovery and other broadcasters. That's how I get them. I don't list them because it's proprietary (ie for producers etc only).

The BBC evaluated quite a few cameras last Nov/Dec. Results should be out soon hopefully. Like everywhere else, they are suffering from fewer staff and larger workload.

The important thing is to confirm with the producers of the project. If you are planning your own project for sale to the broadcasters, check with them directly. Every production is different and often the narrative is the most important thing so master capture format may not matter, especially if it's only for certain sequences (B & C cam capture). Asking on the internet, you'll only get anecdotal advice. What worked or didn't work for someone, may or may not work for your projects. If you sell to Discovery and they pick it up at the BBC through the co-op, then your Bronze camera may bypass the BBC standard requirements.

XDCAM EX has been approved as Silver for Discovery but not at the BBC at the moment. Then you have NGC which has it's own standards yet it broadcasts some really cheesy stuff for fillers shot on SD. And that's just the wildlife broadcasters. NHK, ZDF and other networks all have their own standards.