Camcorder Review:
Panasonic AG-HVX200 DVCPro HD Camcorder

Andrew Burke
Special Issue 2006

Panasonic has bypassed making an HDV camcorder and has gone straight for the jugular by introducing its full bandwidth HD camcorder, the AG-HVX200. This versatile prosumer camcorder packs an array of features into a handheld design. For recording video, the HVX200 includes a Mini DV tape mechanism along with two P2 (Professional Plug-in) card slots. The P2 cards allow for true variable frame rates and recording options that Mini DV tape can't offer. These include DVCPRO HD 1080/24p and 720/60p, along with normal interlaced video. We think these features are valuable for many different types of projects. If you have a project where compromise isn't an option, look into the HVX.

The HVX200 has exceptional features to go along with its exceptional size. It's larger than all other handheld prosumer camcorders, in height and width especially. The matte black melds smoothly from end to end, starting with a large rubberized lens hood and ending with a well-placed viewfinder. All of the buttons and switches are labeled in bold white type, except for the orange markings on the lens barrel. These are easy to read by you or your assistant. Many buttons along the side appear in nearly the same place as they do on Panasonic's DVX100 series cameras. The rear of the camcorder is much different, largely because of the flip-out door that protects the P2 slots. Two audio pots (with glow-in-the-dark paint) and the Scene File dial are placed in back too. The Scene File dial is useful in that it allows you to quickly jog through many different custom presets. This is a favorite among videographers who like to create and share their own settings.

A P2 card is essentially an oversized flash memory card made up of four smaller cards, each specially connected for recording video. While Panasonic's P2 card gives you more options, but also introduces new restrictions. A big drawback is storage size. At press time the storage capacity of a single card maxes out at 8 gigabytes. Unlike DV tape, your recording times vary depending on your shooting mode; 32 minutes of DV, 20 minutes of 720P/24PN, or 8 minutes of 1080i video will fit on an 8GB card. When shooting with P2, an assistant can be handy at swapping cards that fill up, and replacing them with fresh ones. Another drawback to P2 is cost. A single 8GB card will set you back $1,400 currently, though prices keep dropping. Still, P2 allows for a super-fast editing workflow. And, they're the most affordable way to record DVCPRO HD video. So, why ditch tape? Framerates and compression.

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