We got the opportunity to play with a brand new Panasonic AG-HPX370 HD camera. This camera features the incredible AVC-Intra codec and the price is only around $10,000 with the lens! It’s essentially the baby brother of the Varicam, shooting on 1/3″ chips instead of 2/3″. Fujinon sent us a beautiful wide angle lens to play with as well.
And play with it we did. Geez, does it get much better than a classic tractor sitting out in a cornfield on a gorgeous afternoon? That’s editor / videographer Roger Mahr trying out the camera. It’s so easy it even makes an editor into a great photographer!
Left to right that’s Max Armstrong, Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue, Roger Mahr, Dana Simmons and Adrienne Latham. Hiding behind Roger is Rodney Miller. That tractor was originally purchased by the Governor’s father and after his passing, it languished in a field. Rodney had the entire tractor restored right back to original factory condition and then surprised the Governor with it at an event last year.
Governor Purdue had a great time driving the tractor around for some b-roll shots. That 370 camera is so light you can use it almost like the smaller 200 units. I know folks like the small cameras because they’re so small and light, but man, this camera fits the same bill AND you get the interchangeable lenses. I think Panasonic has really a sweet spot with this camera.
I got in and joined the team for a picture with the Governor. What a really nice guy and it was so nice of him to come out and join us for a pilot project.
Ok, nothing at all to do with the Panasonic camera, but how cool is this? For me two things really say “Americana.” A classic Bel-Air and a farm tractor. Given the choice, I would take the farm tractor!
I hope one day this will be my view as I go out and do “stuff” out in the yard…. This is a stunning Ford 641 Diesel.
Dana, Roger, Max, Adrienne on the tractor, Rodney and yours truly hanging out at Rodney’s barn with one of his “toys.” And that’s not just a showpiece, it’s a working tractor that he takes out to his cornfields as needed.
Yes, it WAS as fun as it looks. What were we doing? Well, I’ll have more details in the very near future.
But as for the Panny 370. It was ridiculously simple to use. Roger shoots from time to time, but is not a DP by any means. But the images produced by his work were just stunning. Bright sunshine, shadows, white accents on tractors, aluminum, shiny glass, you name it, we had it. Great details in the lights and shadows no matter what we threw at it. The reds from tractors did not bleed and set off beautifully from the blue skies.
Didn’t use up a single battery in about 5 hours of shooting, we were using those small Anton Bauer Dionic 2000 batteries and they were not only great, but much smaller and lighter. In fact the overall light weight made for a very pleasant day of shooting. Those really small cameras are nice for sure, but most folks don’t realize you can shoot all day very easily with a camera on your shoulder.
On the top of the camera is a port where you can install two optional wireless receivers for microphones. No velcro holding receivers on the back of the camera, or on the side. They sit right on-board which is very cool. This particular camera did not have that option installed so we didn’t get to try it out, but I’ll definitely add that option when the time comes to order one for the shop.
The Fujinon Lens was a very nice wide angle with no distortion making Roger’s life much easier during the shoot.
Looking at the images back on our 50″ HDTV in the shop, I was just blown away by the detail and sharpness. Again, light to dark, whites and high gloss, it was all there. So if you’re in the market for a new camera, I would definitely recommend checking out the Panasonic 370. Awesome price, incredible picture and very very easy to use.
Thanks so much to David Strupp at WH Platts Company, Jimmy McGinnis at Panasonic and the folks at Fujinon for setting up the demo and letting us try out the gear.
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