Re: PDW-700 vs HPX 2000 -Workflow, cost of operation over time.

Randy,

These are good questions, but the real difference between these two cameras is the recording format. The Panasonic AVC-I is really four times as good as that on the XDCAM. For this of course you are going to pay the premium of the more complicated archival process, but depending on your work, this may or may not be an issue.

Remember that right now the PDW700 is vaporware, and when it does street it will not have 24p or other features that will come later. Both P2 and XDCAM can be dealt with without conventional VTR's; there are inexpensive readers to connect with NLE's so there is savings here as well.

While the XDCAM discs can be re-recorded, that is unlikely as they serve as an excellent archive and of course the P2 cards will come down in price and increase in size to the point where someday they might even be archival master media as well.

If I had to buy today, I'd go with the 2000!

JMHO

JS