Finally, the review you’ve been waiting for! Adam Wilt has posted his extensive review of the AG-HPX170, Panasonic’s complementary camera update to the HVX200 and 200A series. The HPX170 dumps that old-fogey tape drive and captures DVCPROHD and DVCPRO50 to P2 instead. Adam is extremely complimentary of the 170, and it looks like a worthy addition to Panasonic’s already excellent line of HD camcorders.

“Just as the HVX200 built on the success of the standard-definition DVX100, adding multiformat recording and multiple frame rates, the HPX170 takes the best features of the HVX200 and builds on them. The 170 makes a better picture. Added functionality, like HD-SDI, more frame rates, and Dynamic Range Stretch, makes it more versatile. Its lighter weight, refined ergonomics, and built-in waveform monitor make it an operator’s delight.

The HPX170 (US$5700 list, $5200 street price) can be considered a slimmed-down, tapeless, feature-enhanced brother to the HVX200. The camera records DV25, DVCPRO50, and DVCPROHD on P2 cards. The 170 drops the 200’s tape drive (which only records standard-def DV25), resulting in a 20% loss of weight and a thinner, better-balanced body that’s much more comfortable to operate handheld for long periods of time. While resolution, sensitivity, and basic scene-file “looks” are similar to those on the HVX200, the CCD block and DSP have been upgraded for cleaner,smoother, more naturalistic images with markedly reduced aliasing, and numerous operational improvements make the camera easier to control.”

That’s just a snippet from the introduction. The review takes no prisoners, going on in detail for three pages, covering all the key areas of this exciting new camera. An excellent read, I recommend it highly. Great job, Adam!

B&H is currently accepting orders on the AG-HPX170, listed at $5,195 USD and including a 16GB P2 card along with Barry Green’s HVX and HPX reference book. As is always the case with B&H, cards aren’t charged until the camera is in stock, and orders will ship in the order they are received. Purchases made via that link help support FreshDV at no additional cost to you.