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<br />learning the new camera easier. Staying with the same manufacturer gives more consistent image <br />quality and color rendering for multiple-camera productions mixing the new camera with <br />equipment from CTV North Suburbs. <br /> <br />The old City camcorder had an accessory package that was well suited to taping sports and other <br />events, with a tripod, external monitor, dual control arms, and remote zoom and focus controls. <br />This set up allowed the operator to stand up straight, monitor the composition, control the <br />camera with both hands, and have smooth control inputs. Wireless and wired microphones <br />provided a variety of audio input. The full size ENG shoulder-mount form factor was balanced <br />for handheld use. <br /> <br />Years of working with the cameras and accessories available through CTV North Suburbs have <br />provided an extended trial period and have informed the selection of accessory equipment for the <br />proposed package. A tripod with a single arm does not allow for controlled movement of the <br />camera as well as a dual-arm setup. The basic zoom control they purchased does not function <br />reliably, and the lack of an external monitor has meant hunching to the left side of the camera, <br />squinting at the fold-out monitor while reaching over and around the camera to focus and zoom. <br />Doing one basketball game like that triggers sore muscles; some years there have been five <br />games to tape on a single Saturday. <br /> <br />CTV North Suburbs does not have weather protection available for their cameras. Kevin <br />Helander was set to tape the LCRA Ice Fishing tournament in January, but between the heavy <br />snow and lack of protective equipment, made the decision to abort the shoot because he did not <br />have a way to keep the electronics safely dry. <br /> <br />The camcorder package includes the Panasonic AG-DVX200 camcorder, an extra high-capacity <br />battery, four 128 GB SD cards, camera-mounted shotgun microphone, UV/haze filter to protect <br />the optics, an equipment bag, an external recording monitor with accessory kit, tripod and head <br />system with additional pan arm, studio zoom and focus controls, wireless microphone kit, rain <br />protection, cold protection, and a trolley. <br /> <br />Pricing was obtained from B&H Photo Video, Adorama, Newegg, and Amazon. There were <br />some online sites that offered seemingly good prices but were rejected after further research <br />turned up numerous reports of consumer complaints and non-USA warranty supplied equipment. <br />Some of the sellers listed through Amazon had slightly better pricing for the camcorder by about <br />$50, but none of the sellers were familiar merchants nor were they listed on Panasonic’s website <br />as authorized distributors. There is a $700 rebate on the camcorder available through June 30, <br />2018, when purchased from Panasonic Authorized Distributors. Not all vendors sold all of the <br />equipment, so the price comparison included pricing from the lowest cost vendor to complete the <br />package. Prices ranged from $8,690.94 to $9,787.12, factoring in the rebate. <br /> <br />B&H participates in the National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance (IPA) cooperative <br />purchasing contracts for K12 education and state and local government. A quote review was <br />requested through this program which lowered the best available price by $372.79. The proposed <br />equipment package is $9,018.15 with free shipping as shown on B&H Photo Video quote