New HD Camera Speculation
 

Okay, wide open question, just throwing it out there... what new features do you think the next break-through affordable (let's say 6000 and under) prosumer HD camera will boast? By break-through I mean out of the blue upping of the ante, like the JVC HD-1 that got the whole thing rolling, the HD P2 Panny--

And bonus points go to whoever guesses which company will be the one to introduce it,

when the next breakthrough camera will hit the market...

... and what stupid design choice they'll make to cripple it from being the camera we're all dreaming of (past hall of fame boners are: no 24p--again!, poor compression rate, 4 minute recording times for 2500 dollars, 720 instead of 1080, single chips, no manual exposure--ah, it's fun to relive the greatest hits!)

My guess is someone in the next six months (JVC? trying to get back in the ring?) will announce a 3 (1/3 inch) 1080 progressive chip that records 1080 60i/1080 24p in an HDV format with no improvement in compression rate--and still no interchangable lens. And I'd buy that mo-fo in a second...

We can dream (in Area 51), can't we?

Sony will be releasing the HDR-FX2 - 1080/24pA, three 1/3" CMOS censors, 500x optical zoom, 4:2:2 colorspace, interchangable lenses, 4 XLR inputs, variable framerates (like the HVX200), 0 lux rating, Canon-like OIS & optics, Panasonic-like gamma curve, uncompressed PCM audio, flip-out 9" HD monitor with a 180-degree flip option, follow focus+focus assist, -3dB gain setting, and much more. Once the camera processes all of this data, the video is downconverted to be recorded onto an 8mm video cassette. The spokesperson at NAB 2007 raves at how the "8mm video footage truly benefits from the downconversion from HD". The camera is expected to retail at $5995.

Just watch. It'll probably happen.

It's fun to dream, no?

Dreams make the impossible reality...when asleep. :-)

And sometimes even after you wake up. Except for flying cars, anything that we puny humans dream about and moan for we eventually seem to get. Thanks for the global satellite system Arthur C.!

Sony will be next
 

FX/Z whatever, with 3 cmos configuration, HDV, frame rate selectable, tape (for archiving) and direct Harddrive connection for immediate access to footage. 1 lux rating. Lens will be detachable, and a Sony design 35mm adapter will be available to replace lens, and adapter available for other lenses.

Available options include a teathered helium baloon for flying camera with ease

Like that balloon:) No more glidecam!

Very useful for creating a shaded area for shooting too, but a bit of a problem with overhead fans, and the like....

Well just use hydrogen instead and it'll blow up any fan that gets in its way.

Actually having 3 CMOS chips and using the HDV format is a very good possibility and instead of the camcorder being called the HDR-FX2, I bet it will be called something else and who knows it may ship in one to two weeks in Europe.

This is speculation by the way.

Sony really does need to announce something new soon -- the XHA1 > FX/Z1. Sony has made it's way from the #1 affordable HD solution to rock bottom (opinion) -- their cameras are losing interest with all of the superior HD cameras that came out.

Not that soon : end of September or beginning of October. 3 CMOS and HDV is pretty accurate. Bit smaller than FX1 with a new slightly smaller-diameter lens design, 62mm thread. New HiGrade 0.8x WA lens to match.

By the way, Chris H. said that you can't mention names of unannounced machines on this site for legal reasons, so i think it might be best if you edited your post in that respect. Can't be too long before this is officially announced though... (in my opinion blah blah...)

I was chastized for same offense.... so Paolo beware..

That's a wonderful prospect, Stu:) Is it a guess (this is Area 51 so guesses are welcome) or have you been getting some interesting info? And if so do you think it'll offer the notorious 1080 24p?

Betsy:

See this thread to add to the "Sony Claus" wish list.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=72861

There has been some speculative evidence of a pending new camera out there from Sony. I don't think Sony is about to cede the HDV market to Canon with its vastly improved offerings...