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Apr 11, 2008
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Panasonic HPX500 is mid-range overachiever
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by Chuck Gloman
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It's hard to knock Panasonic's AG-HVX200 P2 HD camcorder, especially at a list price of $6,000. But if your budget allows you to move up to the mid-range of camcorders, you really need to look at Panasonic's AG-HPX500. It has a list price of $14,000, and you'll need to figure another $10,000 at least for a lens, but the extra dollars are money well spent.
The HPX500 does it all -- and it does it very well. It has three 2/3-inch CCD imagers and records 1080i and 720p (as well as 480i) at various frame rates, as well as DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50, and DV. Footage is recorded to hot-swappable P2 cards, Panasonic's proprietary solid-state media, and the HPX500 sports four P2 card slots in place of a VTR.
My review model had the Canon HD KJ16 7.7-123mm glass with a doubler. It allows servo or manual operation of the zoom and focus. There is even a tiny LED display on the lens so you can set user functions.
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| The AG-HPX500 sports 2/3-inch CCD imagers and offers a variety of recording formats and frame rates -- impressive for a mid-range camcorder. |
The camcorder body has the usual Panasonic features, including scene file, speaker and volume control, white balance, gain control, and bars/camera setting. In addition, you now have three filters (1/4, 1/16, and 1/64 ND), two user switches, and 3.5 inch LCD monitor, and four XLR audio inputs (two near the lens, two on the back). Under the LCD screen are the monitor select switches and your audio adjustments. A small door directly below the LCD houses the P2 controls (page, thumbnail, menu, camera/playback setting), and various ways to access the information stored on the P2 cards.
Although the HPX500 has some weight -- the body itself is more than eight pounds before battery and lens -- it fits comfortably on your shoulder. I like the fact that the black-and-white viewfinder doesn't shut off when utilizing the LCD monitor (generally you can't use both simultaneously on prosumer models).
Putting the HPX500 through its paces was challenging as well as enjoyable. The most difficult part was deciding which format to use -- so I decided to use all of them. I shot stock footage of waterfalls in 1080i, 720p, and slow motion. The footage looked fantastic in all formats; it was hard to choose which looked best.
Apart from a user setting dial that was a bit difficult to turn, there's nothing really troubling to report about Panasonic's HPX500 camcorder. It shoots amazing images. Plus, you've got your choice of HD formats, variable frame rates, and detailed menus for image adjustment.
Chuck Gloman is an awarding-winning producer/director of photography with more than 800 commercials to his credit, and is program director of the TV/Film Department at DeSales University. Contact him at chuck.gloman@desales.edu.
MORE INFO
Panasonic panasonic.com/broadcast
Additional Accessories
Panasonic was kind enough to add a few other accessories to my review kit -- my favorite was an eight-inch HD LCD monitor, the BT-LH80W. Capable of displaying any format with its BNC component and composite inputs, VF, GPI, and RS-232C multi-pin connections, my HD images looked like dynamite.
The monitor ($2,700 list) can be AC powered or DC powered using an additional Anton/Bauer battery or using the four-pin connector from the HPX500. I averaged about two hours per charge with both the monitor and camera running from the same battery. Plus, you can mount the 3.3-pound BT-LH80W to the camcorder using the optional BT-MOUNT.
The other nifty addition was Panasonic's AG-HPG10 P2 Gear, which lists for about $4,000. The portable P2 HD player/recorder includes a built-in 3.5 inch LCD screen and offers AC/DC operation, but it's not exactly plug-and-play. You'll need to maneuver through menus to access your content.
One feature I like is its ability to downconvert in letterbox, side crop, or squeeze. Also, it can be attached to your NLE for post, but be sure
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