Matthew J. Walker

The Panasonic AG-HVX200 series, according to research, was released between 2005 and 2006, with each suffix used as an identifier, mainly used for distribution purposes. The first of the line, the AG-HVX200, also known as simply the HVX200, is the original PAL variant of the camcorder. Another more elusive PAL version designed for distribution in Europe is the AG-HVX200E, as suggested by user Vinnie Urgo on the Creative Cow forum in 2011 where they wrote that ”you have 25 and 50fps options.” Additionally, there were two NTSC versions of the HVX200, namely the AG-HVX200P for North America and the AG-HVX200K for Japan. Interestingly, ZDNet's 2006 article Panasonic's AG-HVX200K video camera enables a new age of video production conflicts with this, suggesting that 25fps is its lowest setting. Nonetheless, the AG-HVX200K is seldom to come by. While the suffix E, P, and K refer to distribution regions, the designations A and/or AP refer to something entirely different. According to a blog from the site Twisted Lincoln, LLC written in 2005 titled HVX200 vs HVX200a -- a side-by-side low-light comparison, the author tests the HVX200A against the HVX200. The blog author tested both cameras at factory settings shot at 24fps and 720p with “various light levels” to which they conclude "The difference was dramatic. The HVX200a performs much better at lower light levels than the HVX200. There is much less noise, and the picture is much brighter.” The author even posted two low light comparison photos for reference. Nevertheless, the ‘A’ suffix on the HVX200 refers to the upgraded CCD sensor. While there was never a PAL version of the HVX200A, it is speculated that the HVX205 is the latter. With insight that the AG-HVX200P is designed for the NTSC region and understanding that the AG-HVX200A is the same NTSC camera with an upgraded CCD sensor compounded with the fact that there is no manual (That I can find) for the AG-HVX200A but only the AG-HVX200AP, it is safe to suspect that the AG-HVX200A and AG-HVX200AP are the same camera; the acronyms are lost in translation from person-to-person and site-to-site. Hopefully this information is sufficient and I hope you soon fulfill your desire to own a Panasonic AG-HVX200. I may too. References: http://www.twistedlincoln.com/reviews/hvx200-vs-hvx200a https://www.zdnet.com/article/panasonics-ag-hvx200k-video-camera-enables-a-new-age-of-video-production https://creativecow.net/forums/thread/hvx200e-vs-hvx200p

Flicker in any form is incredibly annoying, especially for (presumably) a 16mm first-timer because it can be the result of so many different factors. I have experienced only a slight flicker a few times with 16mm film. The first time was due to cheap LED Christmas tree string lights and the second happened inside a restaurant, also a result of LED lights. My most recent flicker incident this summer lasted less than a minute of a roll outside under only sunlight while running at 150fps which, in my imagination, I attribute the to a low battery as I never found a reason otherwise and never experienced it since (Knock on wood). Nevertheless, for your situation, you must eliminate all other possibilities first such as frequency of the flicker, a faulty scan, or low camera battery among other things. The flicker should not the result of the sun because the sun is not running on electricity.

The Panasonic HVX200 DVCPRO HD is incredibly affordable in 2024 so, in my opinion, there is no reason for any digital filmmaker who loves the pictures this camera can produce not to own one aside from insufficient funds. I am easily possessed by any high quality CCD sensor as opposed to the current standard of CMOS sensors and now; one of the reasons I own an Olympus E-1 DSLR.

In comments section of the uploader's prior video Panasonic HVX200 DVCPRO HD - Beach Footage, a user did question the striking appearance of the digital footage to which the responded with a lengthy and detailed breakdown of the unusually simple editing process which involves simple editing and the use of basic filters. At first glance, it is easy to assume this color grade must be achieved with an elaborate LUT of some sort, but the facts are contrary. The uploader writes that no color modifications are made using the camera's software and that the effect is created with default camera settings thus a large degree of the color rendering is a result of the wrong white balance. Regarding exposure, the creator uses the Panasonic AG-HVX200 DVCPRO HD integrated ND filters, specifically "9 and 11", (A reference found in the HVX200 user manual) and a variety of iris settings to control the image which is something the uploader believes creates "washed out colors" which tones down the effects of an improper white balance. Interestingly, the uploader only uses simple image adjustments (Vibrance, brightness, contrast, levels, hue and saturation) and swears by Adobe After Effects because it "behaves very similarly to photoshop." However, the most jarring of admissions is the uploader's use of solid color layers with low opacity that the video uploader believes to "punctuate certain colors, like shadows and highlights." To myself, the latter reminds me of the old Telecine color grading process which consists of limited exposure to pure red, green, or blue light filters. Nonetheless, it turns out the images are neither some awesome LUT nor color grading skills, but rather the CCD sensor itself. It's funny because less really is always more.

I love my Arriflex SR2 as it was my first and only 16mm camera; it has always been reliable. I'm forever committed to the Arri brand.

@Dom Jaeger You were correct. A tooth on the belt skipped which was causing the timing issue with the shutter. Very simple fix as you suggested. And @Mark Dunn the technician also confirmed to me that it still would have been safe to run the camera with the skipped tooth. It’s all fixed now. Thanks guys.

I'm bringing it to get checked out tomorrow, thanks Dom!

Thanks! Would running the camera in it’s current sate cause further issues or would you suggest not running it until I bring the camera to a technician? Manually rotating the mirror shutter after each take would not be the worst thing in the world, however the last thing I’d want would be to cause any further mishaps or potential damage to any camera mechanisms.

After shooting with my SRII at 150 frames per second accompanied by some new unusual noise, I switched off the camera and noticed the mirror shutter had not stopped in the open position when the camera is powered off, but instead stopped closed. I'm unsure, but I may have forgotten to engage the roller on the take-up side of the coaxial magazine, which in the past has simply led to a jam, however the film that was shot seemed to have spooled normally upon removing the film from the magazine. I usually don't make mistakes like that but again, I'm unsure. Now as stated in the user manual, "each time the camera is switched off the quartz controlled motor stops the mirror shutter in such a position that the finder is open for viewing". This was always the case with my camera and suddenly this has changed. When looking through the film gate, light can be seen coming through the lens, however when looking through the viewfinder the mirror shutter appears closed. If I rotate the mirror shutter by hand, an image becomes visible through the viewfinder again but the film gate is covered by the mirror shutter. What exactly has happened?

The easiest way to find out if a lens can be adapted without potential removal of lens material is to simply find the flange focal distance of your lens. If the flange focal distance of the lens you want to convert is longer than the required flange focal distance of the lens mount that is on your camera body, you can adapt the lens. If the opposite happens you cannot adapt the lens unless either: A.) The desired lens mount adapter diameter is wider than the lens housing diameter at it's widest point. B.) Lens housing material is removed to compensate for the wrong flange focal distance. C.) The lens is completely rehoused. Then the issue becomes if you manage to adapt the lens, you then have to measure the amount of rear element that is sticking out past the new flange point to ensure the rear element is not protruding too far running into the shutter mirror or sensor when mounting.

You will eventually spend more on film stock and development in total than the entire cost of any 16mm camera out there so go for the best that you can possibly afford.

The yellow hue is just a grade they applied in post production.

Low contrast lighting.

Just get clear lenses. An anti reflective coating does not require any color tint, and the colors of the coating itself is so minimal it will not alter your perception of color. A perfect example is the Zeiss T* coating used on cinema lenses, binoculars, optical equipment, ophthalmology diagnostic machines, etc. for decades. It’s simply a thicker; Zeiss branded AR coating.

@Boris Kalaidjiev The matte box is on 15mm rods. I have a variation of the "bellows matte box" as per the SR II instruction manual. It is an Arri MB-10 that only takes 3x3 or 3x4 filters as opposed to 3x3 or 4x4. My SR II also came with the "Lighweight support" as described in the same instruction manual. If you can find and purchase the lightweight support I'm sure any modern matte box would work with it since they all slip onto 15mm rods as well, although keep in mind most take 4x4 filters which are quite expensive in comparison to 3x3 or 3x4 filters. Here is an excerpt from the instruction manual detailing the lightweight support as well as the different matte boxes that were available at the time. Lightweight Support The lightweight support has been constructed as an alternative to the tripod bridge plate, for filming from the shoulder. It is used as a support for the lightweight follow focus system as well as for the bellows matte box and is alsoused as a support for the lightweight matte box when standard lenses are used. The light-weight support is placed in the camera shoe (19) and fastened with the knurled screw (a) which is found between the two support rods. The accessories can now bevpushed on the rods, positioned as required, and held securevby tightening the screw (b). Matte Boxes In addition to the bellows matte box which was developed for use with the ARRIFLEX 16 SR II (it can also be used with the 35 III), the 16 St bellows matte box can also be used; the old holder must be replaced with a new guide rail which fits onto the lightweight support. Only certain lenses can be used; the16 St universal matte box cannot be modified. The bellows matte box is secured in two places: the upper part is fixed to a matte box rod and beneath it is supported on the light-weight support; it is secured in the required position with the screws a, b, c. It has a fixed slot and a rotatable stage for two 3" x 3" or 4" x 4" or 94 mm dia. filters. With the suitable adapter ring this matte box can be used with short focal length lenses (e.g. the 8 mm Distagon) as well as with long focal length lenses (e.g. the 10 - 150 mm Angenieux-Zoom.) The lightweight matte box is fastened to the front of the lens with a clamp ring. To ensure a close fit there are lens adapter rings for the different lenses. For zoom lenses (with the exception of the Zeiss-Vario-Sonnar f 1.8 / 10 -100) a round rubber hood should be used; for fixed focal length lenses (and the before-mentioned Zeiss-Vario-Sonnar) a rectangular rubber tube should be used. As the lightweight matte box is used mainly for news reporting, a rotatable filter stage is unnecessary. A holder takes two 3" x 3" filter frames. Should the Vario-Sonnar f 2.8/ 10 -100 mm be used, the focus lever can be extended forwards with an extension. With fixed focal length standard lenses which have a rotatable front ring for setting the iris diaphragm, we recommend the use of the additional support for attaching the lightweight matte box to the lightweight support. The 4" x 4" production matte box for 16 mm zoom, standard and high speed lenses, with its three filter planes, affords optimal operation versatility for motion picture productions. Two 4" x 4" filter frames are rotatable and slidable for graduated filters. The likewise rotatable filter ring which can be replaced by a reflex prevention ring, is designed to take 4 ½”, round filters. The production matte box is fastened to the support rods of the bridge plate (see also »The bridge and support plate«) or the support plate and can be swung away through 90° to change the lens.