Peter, it's hard to disagree with you in many ways. You're right, that for many people, not having tape will be a deal breaker, but if they upgraded to any pro HD camera, they're not going to get DV either. It's only this new range of semi-pro HD cameras that are offering any kind of backwards compatibility with DV. I think we're lucky to be getting DV record with this HDX 200 camera at all - and I'd personally have been happy with only DVCProHD. However, the DVCpro50 is a fabulous bonus for anyone still doing SD, as we'll get real widescreen with low, low compression.
I must be ever-so-tough to even consider a camera that "does everything" in that you've got to think of the sales it will canibalize from your other models. I think this means, no matter what Panasonic does, it's a brave move!!
Graeme
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http://www.nattress.com - Film Effects for FCP
