Panasonic either scared or out of their mind

[ogauchan]

Checkout this.
http://panasonic-pbts.cmail1.com/T/ViewEmail/y/82F3C61432A3ACE0/88AD08F28F266C756A4D01E12DB8921D

[Zac C]

are they calling RED a "camcorder"?

[Brandon Kraemer]

An aggressive move by Panasonic, and this camera will appeal to some people for sure, but comparing this to a Red One is like comparing Apples and Oranges.

Marketing... it's all smoke and mirrors.

[Steve Sherrick]

It's more of a market adjustment more than anything else. It's a nice camera, in fact very well suited for a lot of shooting situations. Uncompressed 4:4:4 option is very nice if you have a need for that.

I don't think Panasonic needs to be scared, I think they just need to continue to try and bring innovative products to market. Let's not forget, they were the ones that brought the DVX100 to market and that camera had a lot of influence on the industry at the time.

We should be rooting for companies to compete because it means the end user gets better products. Healthy competition = better tools.

[Jaime Vallés]

Well, it's a good deal for somebody who already owns an older, full size camera. $30K for the newest Varicam is quite nice, actually.

However, I don't really see who would trade in their RED for this. Completely different cameras made for different purposes.

[Peter Hodgins]

It's more of a market adjustment more than anything else. It's a nice camera, in fact very well suited for a lot of shooting situations. Uncompressed 4:4:4 option is very nice if you have a need for that.

I don't think Panasonic needs to be scared, I think they just need to continue to try and bring innovative products to market. Let's not forget, they were the ones that brought the DVX100 to market and that camera had a lot of influence on the industry at the time.

We should be rooting for companies to compete because it means the end user gets better products. Healthy competition = better tools.Right on, Steve! Panasonic ain't scared ... they must be respected ... anyone who goes up against them in the camcorder business better know what they're doing! Basically they're saying. "We're giving you 3700 performance cheaper than anyone else ... and we're doing it today!" What will they do tomorrow?

[R. Schorman]

Cash for clunkers?

I've got a 2/3" betacam collecting dust around here somewhere...

[Jaime Vallés]

Hmm. Thinking about this deal some more... I wonder if they allow trading in an old, old, OLD 2/3" camera. Is it just the camera body they're interested in? Or do you need to provide the lens/batteries/accessories as well?

Similarly, what's to stop somebody from buying a brand new Red One body ($17,500) and sending it over to Panasonic. They'd save $12,500 off the regular price of the Varicam!

[Mitch Gross]

Anyone who would like to discuss the Panasonic 3700 promotion can do so with a representative from Abel. It is a very good offer and we have a number of happy clients because of it.

[Tom Lowe]

On the one hand they are trying to degrade Red One as a "camcorder," but on the other, the mere fact that they are offering money for Red Ones shows that Jim has been eating their lunch. So it's nonsensical to take a dig at Red. BTW, what are they going to do with the R1s that get traded in? Crush them in a compactor?

I can imagine there might be people who shoot wildlife stuff -- cheetahs racing 70mph across the Savannah -- that might go for this, because of CMOS vs CCD.

When all is said and done, we can thank Jim for this type of change in business model. Canon did the same sort of bow to Jim when they offered their massive 5D2 manual control update via firmware.

[Simon Blackledge]

Well they do call the 3700 a camcorder also, though their usage is wrong as red drives are not inbuilt..

either way.. dvcproHD urghh.. please.


s

[hans de vries]

Hmm. Thinking about this deal some more... I wonder if they allow trading in an old, old, OLD 2/3" camera. Is it just the camera body they're interested in? Or do you need to provide the lens/batteries/accessories as well?

Similarly, what's to stop somebody from buying a brand new Red One body ($17,500) and sending it over to Panasonic. They'd save $12,500 off the regular price of the Varicam!

But wouldn't such a person stop halfway the procedure and just keep his superior Red? :biggrin:

[Roberto B]

pathetic

you knows guys.. me will trade in our 35 Ferraris for a 2/3 honda.. and pay for

[Steve Sherrick]

Two very different cameras, with potentially different markets. The only people trading in their Red in this deal are the ones who have found Red One doesn't fit their needs. I think most of the trade-ins will be older betaSP style cameras. If the Varicam makes sense for the style of production you do, this seems like a good offer. There will always be a place in the market for companies like Panasonic as long as they meet the demand of the market.

[Roberto B]

I think most of the trade-ins will be older betaSP style cameras. yeah.. me already started to look for at ebay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N8Wzig9nE8

[Ken Willinger]

I'd love to trade in my old Sony D600WS. Great camera but can't sell it anymore. If I had the bread I would take them up on this upgrade.

[Paul Hazlett]

I got an old sony D30 just waiting to be worth 30 grand. I couldn't get a thousand dollars
with lens from ebay

[Roberto Lequeux]

They may have run some numbers and noticed they could make a buck by trying to buy out all of Red's production and take it off the market? Lol... makes no sense...

[Stefan Christou]

Maybe they want first dibs on an Epic or two?

BTW Panasonic would call a Spitfire a camcorder if it had film and a lens. It's just rooted in their vocabulary.

[Roberto Lequeux]

Maybe they want first dibs on an Epic or two?

I thought the same, but for real... they HAVE to want to get a few and there is no question about it... maybe they need more than what they have, maybe they want to buy a bunch to put one on the desk of every single one of their R&D employee's with a post it saying "make us one of these". :coolgleamA:

[Stefan Christou]

Perhaps they're hoping for some low serial number versions to come through the door

[Michael Bravin]

Most likely the Sony PDW-800 shipping is what spooked em

[Jake Wilganowski]

Anyone know what framerates the new sony can shoot at? I think the P2 Varicam calls 30fps overcranking, what a handicap. What a strange offer from 'ol panny...

[Kris Anderson]

It's no different to Discreet buying up old Quantel systems a few years ago. One less competitor's product in the market place.

[jimhare]

And also the opportunity to plant the misguided idea that the Red One is aging and should be in the same category as an old Beta SP camera.

Clearly the thing to do is buy an old 2/3" camera for $1000 and trade it in!

Anyone who traded a Red would be an idiot, and I'm sure Panasonic know this and aren't expecting any. Just a jab.

[Emery Wells]

This is ridiculous. If you were interested in buying one of these cameras but did not already own a RED you could buy one to use for the trade in program and still save over $10,000. Im not sure that has the effect they were hoping for.