Wow, so many points of view here. I really hope P2 lasts for the future. I could really see this formats future going both ways.

The way I see it, an hdv camcorder is basically a minidv camcorder that shoots hd, with maybe a couple added issues depending on equipment/workflow. Comparing the hvx to any other camcorder in this price range in terms of format is a non issue imoa.

Will p2 last? Definitely for right now. I think there are enough people who want to shoot dvcpro hd right now and in the near future to at least sustain this format for a while. I doubt most users will be transfering a p2 card from a hvx and putting it into a larger pro cam, so it isn't the cross compatibility that will prolong this format.

Will we see other solid state media come to the video scene? Yes, but in what time. For now, we need larger capacity and cheaper storage. Panasonic isn't really achieving this at this moment. I think Grass Valley's infinity is a fascinating item. Could we see a smaller prosumer cam use the same removable drives and be capable of shootin to various formats? That would be really cool in my mind. Will AVCHD eventually take over at some kind of a pro level? It certainly looks this way. What about a camera that can write to multiple compact flash or sd mem cards simultaniously?

My point: Who knows what the future holds? Right now, it looks like most companies are overcomming storage capacities with more compression for right now. Panasonic is in the minority, and pushing a format that is ahead of its time. I wouldn't be surprized if dvcpro hd is displaced by a newer codec in the near future. The good news is you'll still be able to use your P2 cards with the new format, at least lets hope so.

Me, I would like to see a company come out with a non-proprietary solid state memory format. For right now I'll wait for the future and will be shooting minidv and hdv for a few more years.

P2 has a significant capture (transfer) time unless you plan to edit directly from the cards, which most people aren't doing because the cards are too expensive to use that way. That's another reason standard flash memory will push P2 aside, because it will more quickly get to throw-away cheap so you can just leave your data on the cards.

As far as fail-safe recording is concerned, the best way to ensure that is to record simultaneously to both a primary and backup solution. Can P2-based cameras do that? How much would it cost per minute to record HD content to two P2 cards in parallel?

Maybe so, but generic flash memory will be much cheaper per GB at any given point in time. I just checked Amazon.com and found a SanDisk Extreme III CompactFlash card with 12 GB capacity (!) and 20 MB/sec throughput selling for just under $400, while more modest 8 GB CompactFlash cards were under $100. The best price I could find for an 8GB P2 card is $1125. That leaves little left to discuss here; P2's days are numbered for anything but the most demanding applications.

I know we're flogging a dead horse with this whole discussion, but I'm in complete agreement with Kevin. Standard FLASH formats are going to push P2 aside rather quickly... Many manufacturers (Panasonic included!) are already releasing HD camcorders that use off-the-shelf FLASH memory. I just bought a bunch of 150X 8GB Transcend CF cards for $89 each. They claim a 20MB/s write speed and 26MB/s read. I've found they're not quite that fast in reality, more like 16MB/s write sustained and about 22MB/s read sustained. Anyway, I use those with my DSLRs and often hand over the CF card to the client as part of the deal when the shoot or project is completed.

Already demonstrated at CES, we will see CF cards in the 32GB and 64GB capacities this year and write speeds rated in excess of 30MB/s. ExpressCard storage which is standardized, no drivers, in capacities up to 128GB and transfer speeds as high as 100MB/s and all the benefits of P2 and then some. There will also be SATA interface FLASH drives with capacities as high as 256GB by year's and even faster transfer rates in both 1.8" and 2.5" drive sizes.

If Panasonic wants P2 to survive beyond a niche produce in their broadcast and pro camera lines, then they need to adopt an entirely different business model surrounding P2. They can't continue to undercut P2 with their consumer product lines that use off the shelf storage tech... Consumer and Prosumer camera lines will continue to blur. And they can't continue to overcharge for P2 media when the only special or unique thing about it is the fact that it's what their prosumer/pro cameras use. P2 offers no advantages, none, nada, zilch over upcoming ExpressCard and even PCMCIA based FLASH products to be shipping this year at what will undoubtedly be a fraction of the cost.

I agree with Mike.
 

I used a Pani H200 a couple a days before the new year in New York. It is annoying to have to use those cards. They run out fast. And as far as the Hard Drive hack its too much trouble. Tapes are easier. Thats why Sony's HD cam will do better even if there is no Advanced pulldown. Heck really that Advanced crap is a bit unneccisary. Many filmmakers have stated that the Advanced feature (introduced on the 100A) was causing them some problems. Thats because Pani hyped it up and everyone opened there check book and sold their original 100's on Ebay. There were some changes but none sufficient enough to sell your 100. And another thing videography companies revolve around the hype too. Some wont hire you now if you don't have a 100B. Ridiculous. Pani always comes up with a way to milk you for cash. Thats why I prefer Sony. Heck I still use a VX1000 along with the 100A (Only Pani brought/didn't buy 100 but would have if known the truth) The cards are a ripoff and us the Con/Prosumer are being hoodwinked. Wait for the cards to either go down drastically in price or for the next HD Pani Cam to have the option to shoot HD on tape or FLASH.

Man.......... this is a 'tough' crowd! ;-)

As a very interested "bystander" I can say I've waited (and will continue to wait) on an HVX purchase primarily due to the capture issues. i.e. price and capacity.

IMHO, the pace of price/capacity improvement has not been very impressive so far and not enough to make me jump yet. :-(. If Pani could get 64 GB cards out this year for ~~ $1K then they would have me for a customer. I certainly won't be holding my breath for that one though. :-(

Regards
JohnG

If you only shoot and are use to handing a client a tape then the HVX may not be for you. If you shoot and edit and want to quit wasting time digitizing tapes after the fact then the HVX is worth a look. If you know a shot is no good you can delete it on the spot. We did a shoot for a client who owns a Sony Z1U. They did some test shooting with the Z1U for use in a high-end property marketing video. They tried 60i, then they tried de-interlacing the 60i and were not happy with the way it looked on the 50" Plasma screen.
We shot for them with the HVX200, 1080 24p....delivered them a hard drive full of P2 cards....they are editing now and are very pleased with the results.
The client mentioned the fact - during the shoot in his words "I don't mind waiting a few minutes to transfer footage if it saves me the hours and drudgery of digitizing footage".

On the flip side, my son likes to watch the digitization process, so he can mentally categorize all of the available footage. It's like a pre-editing or spotting session for him. I've offered to digitize tapes while he's doing another task, and he's refused. Then again, he didn't complain about no digitization when we rented an HVX...

The bottom line is your workflow. Long form, unstructured documentaries are not ideal for P2 cards. Short, well planned, controlled clips are. And if you can work it so you can see a quick edit before tearing down a set, they can save yer butt. :)

16 GB cards is around the corner
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.ph...820#post624820