Launched Today: Panasonic’s Box Video Camera, BGH1

Another box camera, micro four thirds. Price: US$2,000.

Lots of YouTube videos already. Two, from DP Review (Chris Niccolls/Jordan Drake) and B&H:

Screen capture from B&H's e-mail this morning.

Screenshot 2020-10-13 at 11.46.52 AM.png (469.29 KiB) Viewed 2268 times

I'd buy a BM version.

Re the exchange at 07:45 in the DP Review video linked above...

This exchange underscores the use of this camera in pandemic conditions for multi-location streaming and recording. DP Review is in Seattle. Jordan Drake and Chris Niccolls are in Calgary. Cross-border travel is limited to essential business travel, and If Drake and Niccolls went to Seattle, Canadian rules would require them to quarantine for 14 days on their return. Canada has no quarantine exemptions. As a practical matter, in person filmed exchanges with people who work in DP Review's Seattle office aren't possible, and won't be for the foreseeable future.

Pros:
- Nice metal box.
- A lot of function buttons.
- HDMI port is placed deeply inside body to protect HDMI cable connection.
- No need additional cage (hope those mounting points are rugged enough and will not shake over time)
- 422 10 bit.
- SDI, Genclock, Timecode as a bonus
- 24-Bit 96 kHz LPCM Audio

Cons:
- It is still larger and heavier than BMMCC+Cage.
- No small build-in display to show camera settings.
- From reviews seems buttons are not too tactile to press.
- Mounting points placed at very far distance and may be not compatible with normal cage rig accessories
- Not a best placement for HDMI port. They should place it front side (instead of on/off button) to provide smooth cable flow to attached top monitor (similar to Kinefinity Mavo, Canon, RED, ARRI, Sony professional cameras)
- I am not a big fan of Panasonic colors if compare to BM cameras with ColorChecker...
- It can't shoot RAW stills at all?

Is it a Z-Cam with a Lumix logo on it?

Setting aside the Panasonic brand and support, there's more value to go with the Z CAM E2-M4. The Z CAM has Prores RAW with select Atomos recorder wherein the $500 price difference can add to pay for that Atomos. My 2 cents.

I like the form factor. Add a screen for framing/menus, BRAW internal recording and cut the price in half - that'd be a winner!