Yeah, next March sounds really late. We'll know just about everything there is to know in just about five weeks, as they should announce full details at NAB. No announcement about shipping date has been made yet, but I'd be really surprised if it was a full 12 months away, I'm betting more on about six months away (in keeping with the original DVX announcement/release schedule).

I heard from Birn&Sawyer today that it will be here @ the end of the year. They didn't sound too happy since they are a cannon dealership. Funny thing, they sold more dvx-100a than XL-2. Hehehe.

Yeah, I for one think a year down the road sounds reasonable. Let's cool it with the onslaught of HD/HDV stuff folks; it will be here soon enough!

I mean we don't really have a reliable capture system or reasonable computer system to take this stuff yet anyway. Oh, and at this point, HDTV is not the norm, so a slow transition is a good thing. I mean people just got DV to fly through their NLEs and now (with HDV) were back to having to wait forever for rendering, etc, etc.

Let the best format win in the low end, given time. In the mean time, the DVX100a is really a solid bugger if you don't mind some harassing you for still shooting lowly DV - I certainly don't, not at this point anyway...

I'd love to know why anyone thinks we don't have a reliable capture system for HDV. Sure a few of us have had the odd problem getting the thing to spark into life but I think overall I've seen more people with problems just capturing DV!
If anything deserves buckets tipped on it it's this whole 24p joke, that's gotta be the con job of the century, yeah sure 24p looks like film but who wants their images looking like something shot with antiquated technology from the last century. Not saying the DVX100 isn't a great camera but 24p?
Bob.

here it is - Sort of. Not the Pani, but the JVC

==========
JVC Professional Intros 24P Pro HD Camcorder
March 16, 2005

Wayne, NJ - JVC released more details about its new products and plans for NAB, including a new professional, high definition camcorder with true 24p capture and recording.

The GY-HD100U is a full resolution ProHD progressive camcorder, utilizing three newly developed 1/3-inch CCD image sensors, each one featuring an array of 1280x720 pixels (approximately 1 mega pixel), with micro lenses.

Eliminating the need for image scaling, its native resolution matches that of most HDTV displays, the manufacturer reports. In addition, the GY-HD100U provides real time playback in all major DTV formats, allowing easy conversion of recorded data to other formats without compromising the level of quality.

The GY-HD100U is ideal for documentary and news programs, as well as electronic cinematography. The camcorder enables recordings to be transferred to 16mm or 35mm film with full HD fidelity, without frame rate conversion. Utilizing a user selectable motion filter, this system is designed especially to provide smooth motion similar to that seen in motion pictures. The GY-HD100U is also designed to deliver spectacular quality SD recordings for those professionals not quite ready to fully transition to HD.

The camera includes a standard detachable 16x Servo Fujinon lens. Other available options include a 13x (3.5mm) wide zoom lens, a wide angle converter for the standard 16x lens, and an adapter allowing standard ½-inch lenses to be used on the camera. A patented ‘focus assist’ function exaggerates the detail in the viewfinder to facilitate focusing in high definition.

A variety of features on this camera make the recording, editing and archiving process simple. It has a built-in ProHD recording system that records full high definition images on inexpensive MiniDV cassettes. Data is recorded in the MPEG-2 format with full broadcast resolution and quality. In addition, the GY-HD100U can connect directly to an external hard disc recording module, allowing footage to be edited immediately thus eliminating time consuming transfers.

The GY-HD100U has two XLR audio inputs and records CD quality digital audio; with independent controls for each channel. The camcorder also features a variety of customizable settings that can be stored on a standard SD memory card, and loaded onto another GY-HD100U, if necessary.

In addition to providing superior quality HD recording in the 24p format, the GY-HD100U can output an uncompressed 720/P60 HD signal. This is ideal for live broadcasting, remote news and POV applications. A third party HDSDI converter can provide the full resolution uncompressed signal to an array of systems with no signal delay.

Similar to common shoulder style cameras, the GY-HD100U’s camera and viewfinder controls are located on the left side of the unit. A specially designed Fujinon HD lens provides automatic or manual iris control, with smooth servo zoom and backfocus adjustment. A convenient IEEE1394 bus interface allows for simple, quick connection to D-VHS or a PC for easy downloading, and editing or archiving.

Accessories for the GY-HD100U include shotgun microphone, Anton-Bauer Power system, Quick-Release tripod mounting plate, and DTE disc recording module.


EDIT - Just something else kind of cool. The SR-DVM70US . Not HDV but will play back DVD, Mini-DV and DvCam plus it has an internal Hard drive. SRP is $1,795.00 US.

Bob, I don't necessarily care about 24p as much as many of the other creative options the DVX-100A contains. It's a good piece of work.

And, except for Panasonic's (always notorious) short battery life, this camera rocks (and for much less than the Z1). I would certainly rather connect an expensive XLR to it. Oh, and you can edit it, at this moment - let's just say quickly.

I have shot film for over 40-years and 24fps doesn't bother me (it's a "feature", as some like to say) ;).

But, if we're talking antiquated tech, I don't think it would be unfair to put interlaced video on that list. I personally don't find that feature one that I would happily invest in currently.

No, my future HD camera will shoot progressive, because I'd be willing to bet the farm that the future will be going there - sooner than later. We’ll just have to see…

I'm all for progressive scan and I agree the DVX100 was a revolutionary camera. But last time I did a reality check I didn't see the world interlaced and moving things didn't blur and I've yet to see a car wheel rotate in the wrong direction, well not one being driven legally at least.
So what's this got to do with the creative process? I happen to think a lot.
Video hasn't got the spatial res of film, nor the latitude or the color space. In fact the ONLY thing it's got over film is better temporal resolution but how do we respond to that, we try to make it look like film by destroying its one advantage instead of using it to out advantage in a creative way.
This isn't the first time this has happened, many decade ago when still cameras were starting to challenge many of roles of the painter most still photographers were busting a gut trying to make photos look like paintings but there was one group who went the other way, the f64 club. Their goal was to record the most optically accurate image possible, a super reality if you like.
What I'd like to see is a video system that works at 60p in HiDef, I know we're not quite there yet, the data rates are a bit too high, but I'm betting the effect will be visually stunning. Maybe audiences will take a while to get used to it and it'll take a new creative approach to work with a medium that presents the viewer with a very 'in your face' reality on a large screen. I'm not saying this will be suitable for everything but I can imagine it'd put new life into the old car chase scenes. Beyond that I'm sure those with creative talents way beyond mine would find other ways to exploit the new found freedoms that such a medium would bring.
Just as an aside I see DVX100s getting a new lease of life shooting 3D, interesting idea, now if they cranked the frame rate up...
Bob.

.............. anything deserves buckets tipped on it it's this whole 24p joke, that's gotta be the con job of the century

Absolutely, dont care which cam involved, just a brilliant hype job. Seen it , shot several times with 2 brands of cams, still dont get it at all.
just my unsolicited opinion

Altough 24 fps usefullness can be debated, true progressive scan (be it 24 or 30 fps) is incommensurably better for multimedia applications and computer display. Just compare a DVX100 progressive output vs deinterlaced Sony or Canon XL1 camcorder output and you will appreciate the difference (i made it myself).

Funny you mention 3D Bob - as I was reading your posts about film I was thinking "has he ever seen Imax 3D?" Just my 4 cents here but film is film, it just "is". I went into some detail about this a while back, don't have the link in front of me, but I believe we are having a discussion here about this same sort of thing. People just sort of 'stuck" with the whole 24fps idea becuase less than than the flicker was too much and too much fps over that and it didn't look "real" so to speak. Douglas Trumbull tested the waters back in the late 70's/80's with shooting at super hi rate and projecting it back at that rate. People who saw the footage were blown away at how clear it was and how they felt like they could just walk into the picture. Problem is that also *was* the problem - it looked too real, hyper real. His idea though, Showcan somewhat became the "standard" in specialty theme park rides and than his company merged with Imax, which he is now feels is the way to do films. (You can download the most recent company profile in PDF format here: Imax Corporate Profile) This Past Christmas The Polor Express was released in IMAX 3D. So your comment of What I'd like to see is a video system that works at 60p in HiDef, I know we're not quite there yet... is a bit closer that you may think.

If you want a pretty good read here is a good article called Pursuing the virtual reality of Bazin's mythic "Total Cinema": Omnimax, Showscan, and Steadicam and the simulation of visual reality.

Just because somehting is "better" does not make it so in the eyes of the masses. If this was so Beta would have won the home VCR wars. I do not feel that 24p is in any way bad, and I can understand the concept of "why make something good look bad", but to dismiss it it as old school and usless is wrong...IMO. I don't see IMAX films becoming a standard anytime soon, considering there are only about 129 IMAX theatres worldwide it is still rather limited. Sure the IMAX stuff is going to look awesome in HD and it will bring it to the average user easier - but, like early 3D, Quad sound and even Stereo, things like this are still very specialized. Don't get me wrong - IMAX 3D is very stunning. My last visit was last October over at the New England Aquarium in Boston. They showed a promo for the upcoming (now playing) James Cameron IMAX film, Aliens of the Deep and it looked pretty awesome. But outside of IMAX I don't see the masses flocking to see something like this in a shoebox sized multi-plex in a mall theatre....nor do I see these "shoebox sized multi-plex in a mall theatre" suddenly wanting to expand and put in IMAX screens. On the other hand more and more theatres are allowing digital/HD screenings - sit becomes a bit closer to what you are saying, I think.