Is the EX the official HVX200 killer?
 

This camera seems to do a serious beat down on the HVX200, from pricing through chip size through everything. Is that the consensus?

it is mine. As I sold my HVX to get the EX1. But hey, some people love the HVX and it does have that SD flexibility. It is still a superb camera.

But there are loads of threads discussing the pros and cons.

Well, it depends on who you ask.
The HVX200 has proven itself well in making some pro looking stuff.

The EX1 just out of the gate offers a better lens with 1/2" sensors.
The HVX200 is known for using DVCPRO HD 4:2:2 codec.
Some don't like that the Sony is using CMOS sensors. (Red uses CMOS)

The bottom lines is things just keep getting better.
I believe Sony has tossed us one heck of a camera.

I've heard nothing but good things about the EX1 lens and XDCAM 35 mb codec. It's the first camera sub $20K to offer 1920x1080 native sensors.

hv20 has native 1080p as well i believe (1920x1440 cmos which crops to 1920x1080 for video recording), but then again thats a different market.

The HV20 is 1440x1080.
The output is 1440x1080 since 1920x1080 is not an HDV supported format.

It's also WAYYYY more user friendly than the HVX. The menus are so much better, the buttons are nice and the screen is like having laser eye correction compared to the HVX.

I thought the Panasonic Cameras (including the 500) used pixel shifting and electron hocus-pocus on a chip that was 540 pixels...

Andrew, he's refering to the Canon HV20

How's the focus assist on the EX?

I believe the CMOS sensor on the Canon HV20 is a 1/2.7" 2.96 megapixel native 1920x1080 sensor, the output is HDV2 at 1440x1080.

To be fair, the HVX200 is a 3 years old design and technology evolves pretty quickly. I'm sure the Panny response will make it more interesting for those in the market.

Agreed. It will be interesting what Panny will offer as the EX1 competition.
Heck, even if they kept the DVCPRO-100 HD codec, but improved the lens, 1/2" sensors, better signal processing, 4:2:2.
Now this would sell !

Here in europe the HVX is nearly as expensive as the PMW due to the strange pricing politics by Panasonic. They try to charge 50 - 70% more for the cam here then in USA. Additional the EU Version does no 24p, only 25p and the slow motion is also limited to 50p. For just a few EUR more with the Sony PMW I get much better resolution, sensivity and DOF, full manual Fujinon HD Glass, comparable or even better cine - features, SDI and better priced, future proof recording media. I guess the HVX sales here will collapse or the prices will drop dramatically.
In US the HVX might remain an alternative to the PMW as the Price is noticeable lower.

The Canon HV20 is 1920x1080 from the HDMI port...

its 1440x1080 from the firewire port...



And to stay on topic... its obvious Sony was going after the HVX200

Sony did their homework and came up with a pretty nice camera...

Good point. I did not realize they wanted so much for the HVX200 overseas.

you can wait or buy it already .. ;)
But a official announcement of RED concerning the red mini / red pocket cam would be cool. They might rollout a 2/3 compact System.
Panasonic will release a successor, but again 1/3 sensors and not full HD, I am shure.