Re: HPX-3700 deal

[Erich Roland] ". You bought into the P2 (was it the 2000?)"

Yes.

[Erich Roland] "and you have something at stake because you want your investment to grow."

Cameras are like cars: They are not investments until they are antiques, unless you're in the rental business.

We bought ours as it was the right camera (image quality) at the right price that we could compete with, and had the right post workflow. We didn't buy it so it will appreciate, we bought it to allow us to take nice pictures and edit comfortably. We looked and looked, and the Panasonic solution was what we chose. It was a decision we made and it turned out to be the right one at the time. IF we had to buy another camera right now (today), I bet I'd come to the same decision, except we'd probably get the 2700.

[Erich Roland] "I have a seat at the table where the "rubber meets the road" you might say. Ive spent a fair amount of money getting ready for 2/3" P2 and its not happening. "

Yes, these cameras are a bit of a different market than EX3s. The 2/3" P2 market perhaps is not in your area?

[Erich Roland] "I've sold off extra HVX inventory and currently buying more EX-3's in response to our client demands and trends."

Well there you go, follow your demands. This makes perfect sense. So why do you always come back here and complain about Panasonic? You should be praising Sony.

[Erich Roland] "You might think my rental operation is an anomaly to the rest of the world, but I doubt it. In the coarse of doing rentals I talk to people from all over the country everyday, and this is my experience."

The big rental house we use here in Chicago is selling it's stock of F900s at a steal of a price. What's left? Arri, Red, Panasonic and Phantom, with a Sony f23 s well. Every market is different. The other rental house we go to has mostly Panasonic cameras for rent in the 2/3" variety. Maybe that's what the market is telling them.

[Erich Roland] "You talk to P2 fan boys in this forum, and that's your experience. "

It is?

[Erich Roland] " Add the 3700 1/2 price deal... what else do I need to know to conclude that these cameras are not selling? "

Yeah, THAT camera, the 3700. You made some gross sweeping gestures that none of Panasonic's cameras were selling in your first post. I don't know anyone who has used a 3700, but I know a few 2700 owners. They love it. If we see a ubiquitous adaptation to 3D, the 3700 will have it's place with AVC-Ultra and 1080p60. Until then, it waits.

[Erich Roland] "I will buy what the customer wants and get rid of whats not working because that's good business practice. "

Sure is. Sounds like that's what you are doing with the Sony cameras. Why hang out here?

[Erich Roland] "I only post my thoughts on the subject to help folks consider whats wrong with where we are and where we should be headed"

...and that's Panasonic's fault or just the state of the industry?

[Erich Roland] "When the cameras aren't selling.... one should examine WHY, and that all I'm doing... so get over it! "

If the Red camera was $60,000, or the EX1 or EX3 $$25,000 they wouldn't be selling near as much as it has. Plain and simple.

Now, we still haven't talked about post or recording formats, but I don't think you care about that end of it. That's fine too and maybe you and you clients aren't concerned with that. One of the reasons I chose the 2000 was because of the post workflow. People who look at the Sony solution clearly have never picked up a copy of FCP or don't work on it day in and day out with XDCam material. I have edited a number of different EX1/EX3 shoots and they are constantly more work and effort and lower quality than the I frame CBR DVCpro HD or even better 10 bit AVC-I workfow, but maybe that's just me, I am concerned about that end of the production cycle.

Jeremy