The Invaluable Guide to the AG-HVX200

I recently came across “The Invaluable Guide to the AG-HVX200,” a delightful document from Panasonic that provides a detailed description of the features and capabilities of the AG-HVX200 prosumer HD camcorder in a format that’s easy to read like a brochure, but with plenty of substance and details you’d expect from a well-written technical overview, it’s got lots of great illustrations. If you’re thinking about purchasing or renting this camera, you’ll want to download a copy from http://panasonic.biz/sav/p2/ (it’s a PDF document that comes in two versions, one for the AG-HVX200E European/PAL and the other for the AG-HVX200P US/NTSC versions of the camera (they are different in terms of the formats/frame rates they record).

To P2 or not P2, that is the question…

I discuss Panasonic’s P2 technology and workflow in Part 2 of my article about the Panasonic AG-HVX200 camera that appears in the most recent issue of New England Film. As part of my research for the article I put together a music video shoot using P2 workflow and spoke with several filmmakers about their experience including Barry Braverman. I spoke with him about his perspective on P2 technology and its implications on workflow.

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The little camcorder that could

I’ve been shooting a documentary with the Sony HVR-Z1U HDV camcorder and it’s a fine camera if you’re into the 1080i thing (I prefer a progressive approach to my imaging technology as with my politics). Working with this camera has convinced me that 2005 was the year affordable HD has come into its own and 2006 is the year of transition for both personal and professional video. The time has come to purchase a personal HD camcorder and portability is a factor. What to do?

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First Look: Panasonic AG-HVX200 DVCPro HD Camcorder

I wrote a detailed report of my first experiences with the HVX200 camcorder titled “First Look: Panasonic AG-HVX200 DVCPro HD Camcorder, Part 1” (a more orderly and polished version of my previous posts on the camera) for NEFilm this month, check it out. Some notes from my experience with the camera are captured in two previous posts: Taking the HVX200 out for a spin, Part 2 (which has links to a short sample movie) and Taking the HVX200 out for a spin, Part 1 (with links to still frames). Clicking on the image will take you to a photo tour of the camera on Flickr.

Taking the Panasonic HVX200 out for a spin, Part 1

I finally got a chance to take the Panasonic HVX200 DVCPRO HD Camcorder out for a spin this morning, courtesy of the fine folks at Rule Broadcast Systems.

My first impression is that it’s like using a slightly heavier and larger DVX100. The camera handles pretty much the same, and most controls are in a very similar location. So if you’re a DVX user, the transition to this camera will be very straight forward, at least in terms of handling.

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A conversation with David Leitner about “The Technical Writer”

Article Reprint

Originally published as “This Ain’t no DV, This Ain’t no HD, This Ain’t no Fooling Around: A conversation with David Leitner about ‘The Technical Writer’” in the The New York Independent Film Monitor, Volume 8, No. 4 (January 2003).

The Technical Writer, directed by Scott Saunders, tells the story of an agoraphobic technical writer who lives in a basement apartment in New York City. The film strikes a balance between noteworthy technical achievement (shot and posted in Sony’s IMX MPEG-2 Digital Format) and compelling visual aesthetics. I recently had a conversation with David Leitner, who played a unique triple role as Cinematographer, Producer, and Technologist.
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