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Filed under: Cameras •Hardware •

Review: Panasonic AG-HPX170P 1/3”, 3CCD P2 Camcorder

Conclusion

The AG-HPX170 is a tapeless, P2-only brother to the HVX200; by losing the DV tape drive, it becomes one of the lightest, best balanced 3-chip HD camcorders available.

The HPX170 has the same resolution as the older HVX200, but improvements in its sensors and image processing yield a smoother, cleaner, more pleasing image closer to that of the far more expensive, 2/3” HPX500. It inherits the 200’s LCD and EVF, yet improved focusing aids and a built-in WFM (unique among camcorders) make focusing and exposing the 170 much more certain.

The HPX170 retains all the P2-based flexibility of the older camera: 480, 720, and 1080-line formats, variable frame rates in 720p, and special recording modes like pre-record, loop record, single frame, and interval recording. It also retains the scene files, gamma settings, and matrices of the older camera, providing a wealth of looks and plenty of tweakability.

Its DV, DVCPRO50, and DVCPROHD recording gives consistent, predictable results regardless of scene motion, and its intraframe-coded files play well and render quickly in nonlinear editors.


If you need a comfortable, usable camcorder that you can operate handheld for long periods, with well-thought-out and well-positioned controls, then you should give the HPX170 a look. If you do a lot of run’n’gun, and need to focus and expose on the fly, it’ll give you the tools you need to succeed. If you already have a DVCPROHD-based production ecosystem, the HPX170 fits right in. If you work with standard definition video and/or 720P DVCPROHD, the HPX170 won’t disappoint you.

If you require the highest possible HD resolution, then you may want to keep looking—the HPX170’s HD images are very good, but a bit softer than the competition’s.

Pros

• Arguably the most operator-friendly handheld HD camcorder available.
• Shoots 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p.
• P2 solid-state recording.
• Pre-record, loop, interval, and single-frame recording
• Variable frame rate recording.
• 24p recording, including advanced pulldown in 480i, 1080i formats and native recording in 720p.
• Low weight, well balanced.
• Panasonic cine gammas.
• Good zoom lens with good wide angle coverage.
• Cleaner, smoother, better picture than HVX200.
• 10-bit HD-SDI output with audio and timecode.
• Excellent in-camera downconversion.
• Post-friendly DV/DVCPRO50/DVCPROHD formats.
• Good focusing aids.
• Excellent data displays including exclusive waveform monitor, vectorscope.
• Full remote focus/iris/zoom control.
• Unprecedented five-year warranty, if you register the camera with Panasonic.

Cons

• Lower resolution than some other HD camcorders.
• Comparatively low-res LCD, EVF.
• LCD image rendering is very angle-dependent.
• No Y/C output.

Cautions

• Most special functions (DRS, pre-rec, loop, digital zoom, etc.) work only in 60i and/or 60p modes.
• Expanded focus assist not available in standard-definition modes.
• Variable frame rates only in 720p modes.
• No live 1394 data stream for 720pn modes (but the FireStore can remove redundant frames from the non-PN 1394 stream, giving you much the same result).

Operating manual, spec sheet, and other data here: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=280234&catGroupId=34401&surfModel=AG-HPX170

Firmware updates, P2 drivers for Mac & PC, P2 Viewer, and P2 Contents Management Software: P2 HD Support

Background HVX200 articles:

HVX200 review on dv.com

Exploring the HVX on dv.com

Whither the HVX200? on PVC

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Adam:

Thanks for the great review of the 170.  About purchasing the camera, what do you know about “Import” models?  This one is quite a bit less—$3099 + $120 shipping, WITH a 16GB P2 E-series. What are the differences?  They offer a one year USA warranty but not from Panasonic.  And “customer satisfaction guaranteed”!

Dick

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  01/19  at  03:40 PM

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“...what do you know about “Import” models?”

Often these are gray-market (non-authorized) imports, with no warranty support available (and sometimes no repair services AT ALL from the manufacturer). Sometimes it’s a PAL model only; sometimes it’ll be missing things like manuals, software, battery charger, and other standard accessories. The manuals and menus may not be in English.

The low, low price is telling. As always, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is…. proceed only with EXTREME caution, and look up the vendor on http://www.resellerratings.com.

Me? I’d probably walk away without a second glance.

Posted by Adam Wilt  on  01/19  at  06:07 PM

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