Re: Is the hmc 150 really better than the hpx 170?

Hi,

Here is reality. DVCPRO HD is by far a better, kinder , more gentle codec than AVCHD. Don't even start with the "but the AVCHD has a full raster footprint" argument. The top data rate on AVCHD is 21Mbs, DVCPRO HD is 100Mbs. Point is the signal starts uncompressed at 8bit at 994Mbs. So that odd signature footprint for DVCPRO HD is due to a prefitler so the compression ratio is 6.7:1 instead of 10:1. You can do the math on the AVCHD. DVCPRO HD was designed from the get-go for high-end HD production. Up until December 2005 the only camera you could buy that had it was the Tape Based VariCam.

You can seen DVCPRO HD virtually any day of the week on Broadcast TV. ESPN is a huge user, as just one example, and another is the most beautiful Nature Documentary series Planet Earth, also done in DVCPRO HD.

AVCHD on the other hand was developed for the consumer end of things, to bring consumers into the HD Domain. The HMC150 was designed as a professional camer to appeal to that group of cusmers that need professional features but can't afford the I-Frame codec of DVCPRO HD. If cheap media is your ticket to Heaven then the HMC150 is the train you should catch.

I would compare the HMC150 to the HDV cameras or even the XDCam EX cameras. The codec is that good, better than HDV easily.

Yes it is confusing that the HPX170 looks like the HMC150 and the imagers are identical, but they are not in the same ball park when it comes to the rest of the camera, the workflow and the codec. Somethings feel the same but they definitely are not.

Hope this helps,

Jan

Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, HPX500, HPX300, HPX170, HVX200A
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems