370 doesn't meet PBS requirements?

[Gary Nattrass]

Yes 50fps for slow-mo although I could always use the HPX301 for that if needed, I really like the 3100 and it may be my next camera if they don't do a 601 ;0)

[Robin Probyn]

What is a 601 :) ?

[Gary Nattrass]

Shhh I've been speculating on the 601 for nearly two years now, it is a sub £20k inc lens replacement for the HPX500 with 2/3" chips and AVC Intra 100 with vari-speed but it only exists in my own mind!

Basically a 2/3" chipped HPX300/301 but I can always dream as the 3100 seems to be their answer to the sony 320/350 and 500!

[Robin Probyn]

Yeah the 3100 looks very good value.. except for 50p/60p.. it has everything.. Ive used the 3700 also.. nice camera ofcourse.. but big.. and a real battery eater.. I will never need 5 card slots either..
Hope they will be quick to come out with thunderbolt port card reader..!

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Gary Nattrass

Hi I really like the 3100 and it is the latest camera but as most of my work is drama and features if I got a really good contract I would have to consider the 3700 as I may need varicam operation.

It wouldn't be a good option Gary, as whilst the 3700 does do varicam it's subject to a maximum frame rate of only 30fps. It'll do fast motion - but not really slo-mo.

Both the 3100 and the 3700 have full 1920x1080 imagers, and give a 1080 output - but no 720 downconversion.

This is a very big reason why a lot of people are turning to the PMW500. It has 1920x1080 chips, will give a true 1080 output at normal speed, but crucially also has a 720p downconverted mode which will allow full slo-mo at 720p.

It you want a Panasonic camera to do slo-mo you have to use the 2700 in 720p mode - but that only has 1280x720 chips, so the 1080 output is an upconvert.

[Jeff Regan]

If I was spending $25K for a camera body, it wouldn't be on a PMW-500 with 8-bit internal codec.

Panasonic offers two very attractive $20K camera body solutions--HPX2700 P2 Varicam and HPX3100. Both have 10-bit in-board codecs and Panasonic look, P2 robustness, proven workflow and myriad of accessories options.

At this point, 8-bit recording belongs in sub-$10K cameras, not $25K + cameras, IMO.

[Christian Magnussen]

At least for 1080 shooting i really can`t see why anyone would buy PMW-500 over HPX3100, considering image quality on paper. The 3100 also is considerably cheaper...

But Panasonic should have included a proper 720p mode, for some users that important. Or maybe we will see 1080p50/60 camera soon?

[Jeff Regan]

Originally Posted by Christian Magnussen

At least for 1080 shooting i really can`t see why anyone would buy PMW-500 over HPX3100, considering image quality on paper. The 3100 also is considerably cheaper...

But Panasonic should have included a proper 720p mode, for some users that important. Or maybe we will see 1080p50/60 camera soon?

Agreed. We own an HPX2700 and find it to be a very versatile, "true" Varicam. In the past, most 720P was shot with DVCPRO HD with a horizontal resolution of 960, now, with AVC-Intra 100, it's a true 1280 horizontal. I shoot with the 3700 and 2700 often and prefer the 2700, with the exception of green screen work. 2700 has 1080, 720, 2-60 fps, 10-bit, 100Mbps full raster recording.

The 2700 shoots in 1080 for those wanting that delivery format, and does so better than an HDX900. For those that must have 1080X1920 native sensors, the 3100 is a bargain with its studio quality codec.