hvx vx hmc150 vs 170
 

I'm thinking of getting the HMC150, mainly because it's a lot cheaper. I have the DVX right now and I would sell that but does anyone know the main differences between the 170/hvx and the HMC150?

thanks

This is fairly easy to research... the 150 records a highly compressed, long GOP, AVCHD codec to flash memory. The 170 records to P2 cards using DVCPro HD which does NOT use a long GOP style of compression.

That said, many (in the event business anyway) are looking forward to seeing what the 150 can do.

Mike

That's right -- this is first and foremost a decision between AVCHD vs. P2HD.

The 170 is sort of an update to the 200 with an improved chipset and a faster lens. You also omit the DV tape drive which is bad if you still want to shoot DV tape but great otherwise. One thing some folks don't know is that Panasonic offers a 5 year warranty on solid state cameras. So the 170 has 5 years while the HVX only gets one year just because of its tape drive. It's also a smaller camera than the HVX so easier to handle. And you get HD-SDI out which is great for those uncompressed studio greenscreen shoots.

The 150 is essentially the new entry-level DVX100 equivalent only now you get HD. AVCHD is a long-gop format similar in design to HDV but it's Panasonic's take which is a notably more friendly to the image and of course you get 24p which many HDV cameras don't have. And all this recording to SD cards which are incredibly cheap and plentiful. I'm guessing this camera is going to clean up on the budget side of the prosumer market.

Noah

I don't look at the camera in this way.

Imho, it is basically the HVX-200a/HPX-170 using the AVCHD codec.

Most of the functionality is retained and Barry's tests actually show a bit more detail in 720p given the AVCHD codec is a full raster codec.

Entry level makes it sound like a one chipper with auto everything!

My use of the term 'entry-level' referred solely to pricing, which is nearly the same as where the DVX100 once was, not to capabilities. And the DVX100 is a 3 CCD camera with completely manual controls, so I stand by my analogy. Surely you could take away I have nothing but positive feelings about the 150 given the context of everything else I wrote? :)

Noah

No worries.

I will be watching as more comes out about this camera.

I could be mistaken but I also believe that the HMC-150 is dual standard switchable from the a 59.94 camera to a 50Hz camera? I saw a thread with some specs that indicated this.

The HPX-170 will be PAL/NTSC HD switchable only after registering a U.S. Market camera for the Panasonic 5 year warranty and sending the camera and $300.00 to $500.00 to Panasonic to upgrade it. Even $500.00 is cheap for those users who need to shoot both standards.

Dan

This is what I read:

Supports a full range of HD formats including 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 1080/30p, 1080/25p, 1080/24p native; 720/60p, 720/50p, 720/30p, 720/25p, 720/24p native; and it is 50Hz/59.94Hz switchable.

-Noah

Sorry, this camera will not be switchable at all. The 170 can be but only after an optional upgrade.

Best,

jan

We stand corrected- still a bargain though.

Noah

Sorry 'bout that Jan, that is still posted in one of the old HMC-150 posts over at DVX User.

Dan