Panasonic AVCHD camcorders announced; plus AVC Intra (pre-NAB2008) at DVinfo.net

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2008, 02:35 PM

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL
AVCHD AG-HMC150 HANDHELD HD CAMCORDER

SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announces a new addition to its growing professional AVCHD product line that capitalizes on the phenomenal success of its popular DV-based AG-DVX100. The new, affordable AG-HMC150 handheld is scheduled for shipment later this year.

The HMC150 is designed to provide enhanced HD production capabilities for video enthusiasts who desire professional features, extended recording capability and the fast, simple and highly reliable workflow offered by tapeless, solid-state recording. The HMC150 features three native 16:9 progressive 1/3” CCD imagers with an optical image stabilization (O.I.S.) function to ensure stable shooting and a 28mm Leica Dicomar wide-angle zoom lens (35MM equivalent). The HMC150 handheld offers 1080i and 720p recording at 13Mbps, comparable to current HDV compression formats with bit rates of 25Mbps. In addition, an enhanced mode with a higher bit rate is planned to be incorporated into the HMC150 for higher-level use. It supports a full range of HD formats including 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 1080/30p, 1080/25p, 1080/24p native; 720/60p, 720/50p, 720/30p, 720/25p, 720/24p native; and it is 50Hz/59.94Hz switchable.

The advanced handheld utilizes the second-generation long GOP HD standard called AVCHD. Based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 high profile encoding, AVCHD provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency and considerably improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression used in HDV formats. Announced by Panasonic and Sony, this industry standard format is now supported by over 30 companies and implemented in numerous camcorders, NLE systems and consumer HD playback devices.

The HMC150 offers professional HD performance with the simplicity of a digital still camera. Since the solid-state handheld records onto SD and SDHC memory cards, professionals can benefit from the reliability and random access of tapeless recording and capitalize on the cost advantages, widespread availability, and growing capacity of standard SD consumer cards. Using the newly announced 32GB SDHC memory card and the camcorder’s 6Mbps recording mode, users can acquire up to 12 hours of HD video and audio on a single SD card.

Additional features of the HMC150 include professional XLR audio input connections and a wide range of data and signal interfaces including HDMI out, USB2.0, component out (D terminal), composite out and RCA audio out jacks, a 3.5-inch LCD monitor to display thumbnail images for quick viewing and playback, and a Time Code/User Bits menu. The camera also has remote jacks for focus iris and start/stop functions, a pre-record feature that allows the camera to capture footage occurring immediately before real-time recording begins, and a time/date stamp menu option for documentation purposes.

Panasonic’s AVCHD camera line brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Like digital still photography, recording onto SD/SDHC card offers a fast and simple IT-compatible workflow with ultra-reliable performance and resistance to shock, vibration and extreme temperatures and weather. SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive and widely available and can be reused repeatedly. Since AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media and transferred to future storage media as technology advances.

The HMC150 will be available this fall at a price to be announced.

About Panasonic Broadcast

Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The company is the North American headquarters of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Japan, and the hub of its U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, access the company’s web site at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2008, 02:35 PM

Panasonic AG-HMC70, Industry’s First Professional
AVCHD Shoulder-mount Camcorder, Ships In April

An Affordable, Second Generation Professional HD Camcorder

SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announced today that the AG-HMC70, the industry’s first AVCHD shoulder-mount camcorder, will be available in April at a suggested list price of $2,495. Joining the AG-HSC1U handheld in Panasonic’s professional AVCHD line-up, the HMC70 provides institutional customers, event videographers, and web content producers full high definition quality, professional audio and video connectivity, and the fast production workflow offered by tapeless SD card recording. Used to capture important events or send live widescreen video to a projector or flat screen display, the HMC70 is as easy to use as a digital still camera.

“The HMC70 is the latest product in our professional AVCHD camcorder line,” said Robert Harris, Vice President of Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast. ”AVCHD is a new industry-standard camera recording format, introduced by Panasonic and Sony, and now supported by over 30 different manufacturers.”

"This second generation HD format utilizes MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression and offers significant improvements in bandwidth efficiency and image quality over older MPEG-2 based systems such as HDV,” Harris said. “Implemented by Panasonic in professional camcorders using standard consumer SD cards, the Panasonic Professional AVCHD camcorder line offers a highly affordable HD video recording solution with tremendous advantages over older tape based products. Unlike HDV, AVCHD content can be captured on a standard SD card and played immediately in a growing number of inexpensive consumer products such as Blu-ray players, game machines, computers, and plasma displays. Now supported by most of the leading NLE products, AVCHD content can also be edited and rendered to almost any format or media. It is a fast and easy way for schools, churches, and businesses to enjoy the advantages of high definition video recording.”

The HMC70 utilizes the AVCHD High Profile video codec, which offers similar image quality to HDV 1080i but uses about half the bandwidth. This means longer recording times and half the storage requirement. Since the HMC70 uses standard SD cards, unlike tape, recording capacity will increase with higher capacity reusable cards, offers random access without fast forward or rewinding, and content is immediately available to editing systems without the ingest delay and additional cost of a playback deck.

The HMC70’s 3-CCD ¼” progressive image system captures 1080i HD, 16:9 images with excellent sensitivity, superb color reproduction and resolution. The camera is equipped with a 12X 38.5mm to 462mm (35mm equivalent) Leica Dicomar™ wide-angle zoom lens, one-push Auto Focus, and integrated Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) that ensures stable images, critical to high definition video display. Professionals can also capture 2.1 Megapixel still images with the camcorder, even during video recording.

With the release of higher-capacity SD cards, professionals have the ability to continuously record for hours. Users can record in one of the camera’s three recording modes – 6Mbps, 9Mbps or 13Mbps. The HMC70 can record over 2.6 hours at 13Mbps, the HMC70’s highest quality mode, or up to 6 hours at 6Mbps, the camera’s extended recording mode -- all on just one 16GB SDHC memory card. In addition, solid-state SD card recording eliminates mechanical wear associated with tape, optical disc, or hard drive based systems.

The HMC70 has a professional, yet lightweight, shoulder mount design that enables exceptionally stable shooting during long recording sessions. The HMC70 is equipped with Y/Pb/Pr BNC connections for playback or live feeds to video projectors or large displays for presenter magnification use in auditoriums and other large venues. It also has high quality audio features such as two locking XLR inputs with switches for mic/line, +48V Phantom Power, Auto/Manual level, mic attenuation, and front/rear assignment. It also features a headphone volume control to match the camera’s output to the shooters’ stereo headphones.

AVCHD editing is currently supported by numerous leading NLE companies on both PC and Mac platforms. In addition, AVCHD can be easily converted to P2 DVCPRO HD for editing on existing systems using a free AVCHD transcoder available on the Panasonic Broadcast web site, or transferred as uncompressed HD video utilizing a simple HDMI to HD-SDI converter.

The HMC70 comes standard with HD Writer software and a 2GB SD card. Optional accessories include a VW-VBG260 battery pack (7.2V 2,640mAh), VW-VBG6 battery pack (7.2V 5,800mAh), VW-AD20 AC adaptor, VW-LDC102 Light, VW-LF43N Filter Kit, VW-W4307H Wide Conversion Lens and a VW-T4314H Tele Conversion Lens.

About AVCHD

Panasonic’s AVCHD camera line brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 technology, AVCHD delivers twice the recording efficiency of older MPEG-2 codec technologies like HDV, ensuring crisp and clear HD images with exceptional color and motion performance. Like digital still photography, recording onto an SD/SDHC card offers a fast and simple IT-compatible workflow, with ultra-reliable performance due to resistance to shock, vibration and extreme temperatures and weather. SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive and widely available and can be reused repeatedly. Since AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media and transferred to new ones as advanced technology is introduced in the future.

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2008, 02:49 PM

HARMONIC’S RHOZET™ CARBON CODER TO SUPPORT
PANASONIC AVC-INTRA HD TECHNOLOGY

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. — FEBRUARY 19, 2008 — Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that its market-leading Rhozet™ Carbon Coder™ video transcoding solution will support Panasonic’s high-performance AVC-Intra high definition (HD) compression technology. Rhozet Carbon Coder will provide real-time transcoding of HD material using the AVC-Intra codec as a standard feature. Developed to provide greater image quality and flexibility in broadcast HD production, this intra-frame compression technology enables highly efficient compression without compromising HD quality. Carbon Coder with AVC-Intra support will be available in April 2008.

“The AVC-Intra format is fast gaining ground with broadcasters, offering significantly better compression efficiency than older codec families yet maintaining very high picture quality,” said David Trescot, Vice President of the Rhozet Business Unit at Harmonic Inc. “Support for AVC-Intra confirms our commitment to deliver the format support our customers require, for broadcast, broadband or mobile applications.”

The AVC-Intra compression scheme complies with the MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) open standard, and provides 10bit 4:2:2 full-raster compression at the same bit-rate as DVCPRO HD and achieves DVCPRO HD quality at half the bit-rate, effectively creating a new level of HD production while lowering storage and distribution costs. The intra-frame approach captures and preserves the greatest amount of information while offering greater flexibility. Unlike long GOP approaches, AVC-Intra was explicitly designed and optimized for broadcast and production use rather than low bandwidth distribution.

Harmonic’s Rhozet Carbon Coder is a universal transcoding application that facilitates the transfer of media between a variety of platforms, including acquisition, editing, playout, archive, the Internet and mobile devices. Carbon Coder can run as a stand-alone application or as part of a multi-node, fully-automated rendering farm. Carbon Coder provides high-performance, scalable and cost-effective transcoding for a broad range of business environments, from specialized studios to enterprise-scale installations. Carbon Coder solutions have been deployed by more than 100 customers including Amazon.com, Ascent Media, BT, CBS, Channel 10 Israel, Detroit Public Television, Entertainment Television, MSN, MTV Networks, News Broadcasting Japan, ProSieiben.Sat1, Sony, Technicolor, Telekom Austria, The FeedRoom, thePlatform, The Weather Channel, TVAzteca, and Yahoo!. For more information about Carbon Coder please visit www.rhozet.com.

About Harmonic Inc.

Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of versatile and high performance video solutions that enable service providers to efficiently deliver the next generation of broadcast and on-demand services including high definition, video-on-demand, network personal video recording and time-shifted TV. Cable, satellite, broadcast and telecom service providers can increase revenues and lower operational expenditures by using Harmonic’s digital video, broadband optical access and software solutions to offer consumers the compelling and personalized viewing experience that is driving the business models of the future.

Rhozet, a business unit of Harmonic Inc., is dedicated to providing accelerated high-quality media transcoding solutions. The Rhozet solutions are offered in both off-the-shelf and customized software configurations for the production and content delivery markets. For more information about Rhozet technology please visit www.rhozet.com.

Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company’s customers, including many of the world’s largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27(A) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements related to: Carbon Coder’s expected support of Panasonic’s AVC-Intra HD compression technology, the expected ability to provide real-time transcoding of HD material, AVC-Intra gaining ground fast with broadcasters, Harmonic’s commitment to deliver the format support that customers require, and the availability of Carbon Coder with AVC-Intra support in April 2008.

Our expectations and beliefs regarding the features, benefits and availability of Harmonic’s Carbon Coder video transcoding solution with support of Panasonic’s AVC-Intra high definition compression technology may not materialize, and actual results could differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Harmonic’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its recent Reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Harmonic does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.

EDITOR’S NOTE – Product and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2008, 02:54 PM

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES 64GB SOLID-STATE P2 MEMORY
CARD, DOUBLING CURRENT RECORDING CAPACITY

Permits Over an Hour of DVCPRO HD or AVC-Intra 100 on a Single P2 Card

SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic has announced a 64GB P2 solid-state memory card for its popular line of P2 HD and P2 solid-state camcorders and decks. With the arrival of the 64GB card in the fall, Panasonic will again have doubled the storage capacity of its P2 card from the current 32GB capacity, providing HD recording time dramatically greater than any tape or disc-based system.

The 64GB P2 card, model AJ-P2C064, is scheduled for initial deliveries in fall of 2008 at a price to be announced. The new 64GB P2 card will be offered in addition to the current 32GB and 16GB P2 card.

A 64GB P2 card is capable of storing over four hours of DVCPRO footage (64 GB X 4 minutes per GB), or more than two hour of DVCPRO50, AVC-Intra 50 (64 GB X 2 minutes per GB) or 64 minutes of AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD. With five 64GB P2 cards installed, an AJ-HPX3000 P2 HD camcorder can record for 320 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD (400 minutes in 1080/24pN) and 640 minutes (800 minutes in 24pN) in AVC-Intra 50 or DVCPRO 50.

“With these incredible recording times, the 64GB P2 card will minimize or eliminate the need for video professionals to switch out media on-set while working on long-form projects,” said Robert Harris, Vice President of Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast. “The P2 strategy, first introduced in 2004, called for P2 cards to double in capacity every year. With the introduction of a 64GB P2 card later this year, Panasonic is on track to fulfill this promise.”

P2 cards are designed for professional users to offer fast, easy IT-based operations and ultra high reliability. They are reusable so that P2 acquisition requires no media consumption, resulting in tremendous savings in media costs.

A P2 card is comprised of its own processor, firmware, a RAID controller, and gigabytes of the highest-quality nonvolatile solid-state memory chips. They manage data intelligently including a write-verification step for every byte of memory that is written to the card for fault-free operation. The P2 card can be connected instantly with laptop PCs and major non-linear editing systems. Packaged in a rugged, die-cast frame, the P2 card is resistant to impact, vibration, shock, dust and environmental extremes including temperature changes.

The 64GB P2 card will work immediately with all P2 HD camcorders purchased from May 2007 forward. P2 and P2 HD products purchased prior to that date will need a free, downloadable software upgrade available on the Panasonic website. Customers wanting to connect the card to an ExpressCard slot of a laptop can utilize a low cost PC card-to-ExpressCard adapter.

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2008, 02:55 PM

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES CRT PERFORMANCE
IN A NEW 17” LCD PRODUCTION MONITOR

120 Hz. BT-LH1760 Features Stunning Picture Quality

SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announced a revolutionary enhancement in the performance of high-quality production LCD monitors – the 120Hz 17” BT-LH1760. The new monitor offers wide off-axis viewing and color reproduction, and provides the motion handling and latency advantages formerly provided only in CRT monitors. The LH1760 is a widescreen high definition display that delivers impressive color reproduction and now offers a vectorscope function in addition to Panasonic’s standard built-in waveform monitoring function.

Utilizing a new In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel with 1280 x 768-pixel native resolution, the LH1760 produces faithful color reproduction with twice the response speed of other currently available professional LCD monitors, so images appear crystal clear, precise and true-to-life, even when displaying fast motion content.

The LH1760 features a 120Hz refresh rate*, double that of standard 60Hz LCD monitors. This enables the monitor to handle fast motion content exceptionally well, minimizing image blur to a level never before seen in a professional LCD display.

In addition, this high performance production monitor is equipped with a built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope that display all picture lines for signal level monitoring. For critical HD focusing and comparison, the LH1760 comes with valuable functions such as Pixel-to-Pixel matching, which allows the user to see an input signal pixel by pixel without any resizing, and Split Screen/Freeze Frame (live input vs. freeze frame).

The LH1760 features an array of input/outputs to support virtually any production task including DVI-D input, two auto-switching HD-SDI/SDI inputs, component video (Y/Pb/Pr), RGB, PC RGB, external sync, speaker and headphone outputs. Additional standard features include embedded audio, time code, closed caption, and an eight-channel audio level meter (via SDI).

Inheriting the rugged design of Panasonic’s line of production-tough monitors, the rack-mountable LH1760 is thin, lightweight and durable, with a die-cast aluminum build. The compact monitor has low energy consumption and, because there is no need for a fan, offers quiet operation.

The LH1760 will be available in April 2008 at a suggested list price under $5,000.

The high-performance LH1760 joins Panasonic’s BT family of production LCD monitors, which includes the 7.9” BT-LH80W, 8.4” BT-LH900A, 17” BT-LH1700W and 26” BT-LH2600W models.

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2008, 02:56 PM

PANASONIC TO SHIP THE COMPACT AK-HC1800 2/3"
2.2M MULTI-PURPOSE HD CAMERA THIS APRIL

SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Today, Panasonic announced plans to ship its compact AK-HC1800 HD multi-purpose camera this April. This new addition to Panasonic’s line of premium high definition cameras is equipped with 2.2-megapixel 3-CCDs that provide native 1080i video capture for high-level, high definition production.

The HC1800 is a high-end HD video solution for applications ranging from news studio use and weather forecasting to sports. It delivers high resolution HD output in 1080/59.94i and incorporates an advanced single-channel transfer system and spatial offset processing features that reduce aliasing and provide finer resolution. The camera has a high sensitivity of F10 (at 2000 lx) and a signal-to-noise ratio of 60dB, which ensures images are crisp and accurate.

The HC1800 incorporates a host of innovative technology signature to Panasonic’s multi-purpose camera line, including a 14-bit A/D converter with a 38-bit digital signal processor (DSP) for pristine high resolution images and a 12-axis color correction circuit that allows for fine adjustments of hue and saturation. It also offers professionals advanced color enhancing gamma functions including CineGamma™ curve, which reproduces images that match the look of film, as well as a Dynamic Range Stretching (DRS) function that greatly improves results when shooting high contrast scenes with varying degrees of illumination.

The camera also features an “intelligent” function that when enabled, automatically adjusts color temperature response and image settings - such as iris control, variable gain and ND filters - according to changes in the environment. This is a particularly important feature for tower camera applications, where the camera is mounted in distant locations often on high buildings or rooftops.

The remote controllable HC1800 is configurable with Panasonic’s comprehensive line of high performance indoor/outdoor pan-tilt systems, including the AW-PH400, AW-PH405, the AW-PH650 outdoor pan/tilt head, pan-tilt controllers and camera control units.

The compact, 3.3-pound camera unit comes equipped with a standard HD SDI output for flexible operation in remote studio production, sports and tower camera applications. It also features genlock, a mini 15-pin connector, tally function, iris and zoom/focus controls, motor driven optical filters (Clear, 1/4ND, 1/16ND, 1/64ND), DC 12V operation and a low power consumption of 12 watts.

The HC1800 will ship in April at a suggested list price of $28,000.

Chris Hurd · February 14th, 2008, 02:59 PM

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES AW-HE100, HIGH QUALITY
INTEGRATED PAN/TILT/ZOOM HD/SD CAMERA

HD/SD Camera System offers Easy Integration and Precision Control

SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announced today the new AW-HE100 multi-format HD/SD camera that features an integrated pan-tilt-zoom mechanism with a unique ergonomic-design. The all-in-one HE100 combines outstanding image quality, super smooth pan/tilt/zoom operation and flexible system configuration.

Perfect for an array of applications ranging from high-resolution distance learning and videoconferencing, to broadcast and event staging, the HE100 provides incredible quality and easy integration for high definition and standard definition production environments. The camera supports 1080i, 720p and 480i formats and can simultaneously output both HD and SD signals. The camera features three progressive 1/3” IT CCDs, a 14-bit A/D converter, and a 19-bit digital signal processor to produce incredibly clean, high resolution images in a wide range of lighting conditions and environments.

The HE100 incorporates a broadcast quality HD 13x auto/manual focus zoom lens with a fast f1.6 maximum aperture, and wide angle focal length of 4.2mm (35mm equivalent: 32.5mm). The integrated PTZ unit has a highly accurate True-Servo pan-tilt head that offers precise, fast, fluid movement in all directions, with an exceptional range of 350 degrees (pan) and 250 degrees (tilt). Able to smoothly follow a wide range of both slow and fast moving objects without visually distracting vibration, the camera delivers a maximum pan/tilt speed of 60 degrees a second. The unit operates in virtual silence, with a noise rating of NC30 (at 30/s motion), NC35 (at 60/s motion).

The AW-HE100 comes standard with a variety of outputs including HD/SD analog component and composite video and is equipped with RS-422 connectivity for precise remote control. An optional HD/SD SDI card is available for critical production applications. Other valuable standard features include programmable auto-image flip, three-step gamma correction, seven-step chroma level adjustment, up to 100 pre-set memories, electronic shutter (1/120 to 1/2000 a sec) with synchro scan, tally light, a ceiling mounting bracket, and an easy -to-use wireless remote that controls up to four HE100 cameras.

The AW-HE100 can easily be integrated with Panasonic’s AK-HC1500 convertible HD camera and SD convertible cameras, and is compatible with a wide range of professional RS-422 control systems including Panasonic’s pan-tilt controllers such as the AW-RP555, AW-RP655, and AW-RP400 (with the AW-IF400), to provide control from remote distances of up to 3,280 ft. The HE100 can also easily be controlled via a desktop or laptop computer.

The HE100 weighs about 14.3 pounds and can be surface or ceiling mounted.

The HE100 will be available in April at a suggested list price of $8,790. Optional accessories include an AW-HHD100 SDI output board, which provides two HD/SD-SDI outputs (BNC) for HD/SD switching.

Eric Stemen · February 14th, 2008, 03:23 PM

wow, lots of new info. Thanks.

Eugenia Loli-Queru · February 14th, 2008, 06:14 PM

The AG-HMC150 sounds sweet, but two things bug me:

1. No internal (swappable?) hard drive in addition to SD. This makes the camera even more expensive, and honestly, not as convenient as Panasonic would like us to think.

2. 13 mbps for 1080/60i (1440x1080) is not enough. We've seen it on other cameras and quality was not even better than the HV20 which is a $700 camera. Panasonic should give at least 18 mbps to 1080/60i and 24 mbps (full AVCHD spec) to 1080/24p/30p (1920x1080).

And 1080/60p would have been nice too, at around 40 mbps (even if they had to go over the AVCHD spec). But I understand that it might be a bit early for 1080/60p (the next big version of Bluray will support that, but that'd be in years from now).

Tim Polster · February 14th, 2008, 06:55 PM

Thanks for your posting Chris!

Evan C. King · February 14th, 2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugenia Loli-Queru

The AG-HMC150 sounds sweet, but two things bug me:

1. No internal (swappable?) hard drive in addition to SD. This makes the camera even more expensive, and honestly, not as convenient as Panasonic would like us to think.

I'm sorry but in the prosumer to pro space that won't happen and doesn't make much sense. SD is more than big enough and more than cheap enough. The point is to get away from moving parts, not add more. Convenience goes down when you've got to bring in your camera because the hard drive is toast.

Quote:

2. 13 mbps for 1080/60i (1440x1080) is not enough. We've seen it on other cameras and quality was not even better than the HV20 which is a $700 camera. Panasonic should give at least 18 mbps to 1080/60i and 24 mbps (full AVCHD spec) to 1080/24p/30p (1920x1080).

13mbps avchd on current panasonics is 1920x1080. Avchd is currently known to be used all the way up to 17mbps on the new canons.(When the reviews come in we'll probably see this as tying hdv)
Panasonic knows the market for this camera wants more which is why they said:
"In addition, an enhanced mode with a higher bit rate is planned to be incorporated into the HMC150 for higher-level use." It's pretty certain that it won't be a ful 24mbps though, and it probably won't need to, around 20mbps is pretty realistic and will almost definitely beats hdv.

Quote:

And 1080/60p would have been nice too

That frame rate at 1080p makes no sense, no can even support that, at any budget level and we're most likely talking about a sub $5000 camera.

Quote:

at around 40 mbps (even if they had to go over the AVCHD spec).

There is, it's called DVCPRO HD, for that you need P2 cards. There's already a camera that does that.

Quote:

But I understand that it might be a bit early for 1080/60p (the next big version of Bluray will support that, but that'd be in years from now).

So if you know 1080/60p is impossible why even suggest it? 4k res would be "nice" but obviously isn't happening so I've got no reason to even mention it, especially at this price level.

Ethan Cooper · February 14th, 2008, 08:19 PM

Something tells me that Panasonic is keeping a few new camera secret until the show. None of these cams use P2, so that tells me that none of these are the HXV replacement. I'm curious to see what they trot out at the show. Their version of "one more thing..."

Evan C. King · February 14th, 2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethan Cooper

Something tells me that Panasonic is keeping a few new camera secret until the show. None of these cams use P2, so that tells me that none of these are the HXV replacement. I'm curious to see what they trot out at the show. Their version of "one more thing..."

Yeah panasonic has been clear this isn't replacing the hvx. The lower number in the model is a nod to that. Basically above the dvx below the hvx.

A new hvx would be sweet, or at least an "a" model to address some issues. Like that crappy lcd!

Paul Leung · February 14th, 2008, 11:09 PM

We are definitely close to saying goodbye to tapes in the coming NAB. I wonder what Canon and JVC will bring us this year. Hopefully some new HDV cameras with multiple compact flash slots.

Eugenia Loli-Queru · February 15th, 2008, 01:29 AM

>I'm sorry but in the prosumer to pro space that won't happen and doesn't make much sense.

Sorry, but I do not agree with you at all. Having a hard drive for AVCHD is pretty standard, especially for such an expensive camera (compared to the consumer ones). The RED does hard drives, and in fact that it's main medium. The reason why Panasonic went SD only it's because it's a major flash manufacturer and wants yo to BUY, buy more, and even more, SD cards.

February 14th, 2008, 02:35 PM	#1
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Panasonic AVCHD camcorders announced; plus AVC Intra (pre-NAB2008) PANASONIC ANNOUNCES ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL AVCHD AG-HMC150 HANDHELD HD CAMCORDER SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announces a new addition to its growing professional AVCHD product line that capitalizes on the phenomenal success of its popular DV-based AG-DVX100. The new, affordable AG-HMC150 handheld is scheduled for shipment later this year. The HMC150 is designed to provide enhanced HD production capabilities for video enthusiasts who desire professional features, extended recording capability and the fast, simple and highly reliable workflow offered by tapeless, solid-state recording. The HMC150 features three native 16:9 progressive 1/3” CCD imagers with an optical image stabilization (O.I.S.) function to ensure stable shooting and a 28mm Leica Dicomar wide-angle zoom lens (35MM equivalent). The HMC150 handheld offers 1080i and 720p recording at 13Mbps, comparable to current HDV compression formats with bit rates of 25Mbps. In addition, an enhanced mode with a higher bit rate is planned to be incorporated into the HMC150 for higher-level use. It supports a full range of HD formats including 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 1080/30p, 1080/25p, 1080/24p native; 720/60p, 720/50p, 720/30p, 720/25p, 720/24p native; and it is 50Hz/59.94Hz switchable. The advanced handheld utilizes the second-generation long GOP HD standard called AVCHD. Based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 high profile encoding, AVCHD provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency and considerably improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression used in HDV formats. Announced by Panasonic and Sony, this industry standard format is now supported by over 30 companies and implemented in numerous camcorders, NLE systems and consumer HD playback devices. The HMC150 offers professional HD performance with the simplicity of a digital still camera. Since the solid-state handheld records onto SD and SDHC memory cards, professionals can benefit from the reliability and random access of tapeless recording and capitalize on the cost advantages, widespread availability, and growing capacity of standard SD consumer cards. Using the newly announced 32GB SDHC memory card and the camcorder’s 6Mbps recording mode, users can acquire up to 12 hours of HD video and audio on a single SD card. Additional features of the HMC150 include professional XLR audio input connections and a wide range of data and signal interfaces including HDMI out, USB2.0, component out (D terminal), composite out and RCA audio out jacks, a 3.5-inch LCD monitor to display thumbnail images for quick viewing and playback, and a Time Code/User Bits menu. The camera also has remote jacks for focus iris and start/stop functions, a pre-record feature that allows the camera to capture footage occurring immediately before real-time recording begins, and a time/date stamp menu option for documentation purposes. Panasonic’s AVCHD camera line brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Like digital still photography, recording onto SD/SDHC card offers a fast and simple IT-compatible workflow with ultra-reliable performance and resistance to shock, vibration and extreme temperatures and weather. SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive and widely available and can be reused repeatedly. Since AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media and transferred to future storage media as technology advances. The HMC150 will be available this fall at a price to be announced. About Panasonic Broadcast Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The company is the North American headquarters of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Japan, and the hub of its U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, access the company’s web site at www.panasonic.com/broadcast. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2008, 02:35 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Panasonic AG-HMC70, Industry’s First Professional AVCHD Shoulder-mount Camcorder, Ships In April An Affordable, Second Generation Professional HD Camcorder SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announced today that the AG-HMC70, the industry’s first AVCHD shoulder-mount camcorder, will be available in April at a suggested list price of $2,495. Joining the AG-HSC1U handheld in Panasonic’s professional AVCHD line-up, the HMC70 provides institutional customers, event videographers, and web content producers full high definition quality, professional audio and video connectivity, and the fast production workflow offered by tapeless SD card recording. Used to capture important events or send live widescreen video to a projector or flat screen display, the HMC70 is as easy to use as a digital still camera. “The HMC70 is the latest product in our professional AVCHD camcorder line,” said Robert Harris, Vice President of Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast. ”AVCHD is a new industry-standard camera recording format, introduced by Panasonic and Sony, and now supported by over 30 different manufacturers.” "This second generation HD format utilizes MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression and offers significant improvements in bandwidth efficiency and image quality over older MPEG-2 based systems such as HDV,” Harris said. “Implemented by Panasonic in professional camcorders using standard consumer SD cards, the Panasonic Professional AVCHD camcorder line offers a highly affordable HD video recording solution with tremendous advantages over older tape based products. Unlike HDV, AVCHD content can be captured on a standard SD card and played immediately in a growing number of inexpensive consumer products such as Blu-ray players, game machines, computers, and plasma displays. Now supported by most of the leading NLE products, AVCHD content can also be edited and rendered to almost any format or media. It is a fast and easy way for schools, churches, and businesses to enjoy the advantages of high definition video recording.” The HMC70 utilizes the AVCHD High Profile video codec, which offers similar image quality to HDV 1080i but uses about half the bandwidth. This means longer recording times and half the storage requirement. Since the HMC70 uses standard SD cards, unlike tape, recording capacity will increase with higher capacity reusable cards, offers random access without fast forward or rewinding, and content is immediately available to editing systems without the ingest delay and additional cost of a playback deck. The HMC70’s 3-CCD ¼” progressive image system captures 1080i HD, 16:9 images with excellent sensitivity, superb color reproduction and resolution. The camera is equipped with a 12X 38.5mm to 462mm (35mm equivalent) Leica Dicomar™ wide-angle zoom lens, one-push Auto Focus, and integrated Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) that ensures stable images, critical to high definition video display. Professionals can also capture 2.1 Megapixel still images with the camcorder, even during video recording. With the release of higher-capacity SD cards, professionals have the ability to continuously record for hours. Users can record in one of the camera’s three recording modes – 6Mbps, 9Mbps or 13Mbps. The HMC70 can record over 2.6 hours at 13Mbps, the HMC70’s highest quality mode, or up to 6 hours at 6Mbps, the camera’s extended recording mode -- all on just one 16GB SDHC memory card. In addition, solid-state SD card recording eliminates mechanical wear associated with tape, optical disc, or hard drive based systems. The HMC70 has a professional, yet lightweight, shoulder mount design that enables exceptionally stable shooting during long recording sessions. The HMC70 is equipped with Y/Pb/Pr BNC connections for playback or live feeds to video projectors or large displays for presenter magnification use in auditoriums and other large venues. It also has high quality audio features such as two locking XLR inputs with switches for mic/line, +48V Phantom Power, Auto/Manual level, mic attenuation, and front/rear assignment. It also features a headphone volume control to match the camera’s output to the shooters’ stereo headphones. AVCHD editing is currently supported by numerous leading NLE companies on both PC and Mac platforms. In addition, AVCHD can be easily converted to P2 DVCPRO HD for editing on existing systems using a free AVCHD transcoder available on the Panasonic Broadcast web site, or transferred as uncompressed HD video utilizing a simple HDMI to HD-SDI converter. The HMC70 comes standard with HD Writer software and a 2GB SD card. Optional accessories include a VW-VBG260 battery pack (7.2V 2,640mAh), VW-VBG6 battery pack (7.2V 5,800mAh), VW-AD20 AC adaptor, VW-LDC102 Light, VW-LF43N Filter Kit, VW-W4307H Wide Conversion Lens and a VW-T4314H Tele Conversion Lens. About AVCHD Panasonic’s AVCHD camera line brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 technology, AVCHD delivers twice the recording efficiency of older MPEG-2 codec technologies like HDV, ensuring crisp and clear HD images with exceptional color and motion performance. Like digital still photography, recording onto an SD/SDHC card offers a fast and simple IT-compatible workflow, with ultra-reliable performance due to resistance to shock, vibration and extreme temperatures and weather. SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive and widely available and can be reused repeatedly. Since AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media and transferred to new ones as advanced technology is introduced in the future. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2008, 02:49 PM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	HARMONIC’S RHOZET™ CARBON CODER TO SUPPORT PANASONIC AVC-INTRA HD TECHNOLOGY SUNNYVALE, CALIF. — FEBRUARY 19, 2008 — Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that its market-leading Rhozet™ Carbon Coder™ video transcoding solution will support Panasonic’s high-performance AVC-Intra high definition (HD) compression technology. Rhozet Carbon Coder will provide real-time transcoding of HD material using the AVC-Intra codec as a standard feature. Developed to provide greater image quality and flexibility in broadcast HD production, this intra-frame compression technology enables highly efficient compression without compromising HD quality. Carbon Coder with AVC-Intra support will be available in April 2008. “The AVC-Intra format is fast gaining ground with broadcasters, offering significantly better compression efficiency than older codec families yet maintaining very high picture quality,” said David Trescot, Vice President of the Rhozet Business Unit at Harmonic Inc. “Support for AVC-Intra confirms our commitment to deliver the format support our customers require, for broadcast, broadband or mobile applications.” The AVC-Intra compression scheme complies with the MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) open standard, and provides 10bit 4:2:2 full-raster compression at the same bit-rate as DVCPRO HD and achieves DVCPRO HD quality at half the bit-rate, effectively creating a new level of HD production while lowering storage and distribution costs. The intra-frame approach captures and preserves the greatest amount of information while offering greater flexibility. Unlike long GOP approaches, AVC-Intra was explicitly designed and optimized for broadcast and production use rather than low bandwidth distribution. Harmonic’s Rhozet Carbon Coder is a universal transcoding application that facilitates the transfer of media between a variety of platforms, including acquisition, editing, playout, archive, the Internet and mobile devices. Carbon Coder can run as a stand-alone application or as part of a multi-node, fully-automated rendering farm. Carbon Coder provides high-performance, scalable and cost-effective transcoding for a broad range of business environments, from specialized studios to enterprise-scale installations. Carbon Coder solutions have been deployed by more than 100 customers including Amazon.com, Ascent Media, BT, CBS, Channel 10 Israel, Detroit Public Television, Entertainment Television, MSN, MTV Networks, News Broadcasting Japan, ProSieiben.Sat1, Sony, Technicolor, Telekom Austria, The FeedRoom, thePlatform, The Weather Channel, TVAzteca, and Yahoo!. For more information about Carbon Coder please visit www.rhozet.com. About Harmonic Inc. Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of versatile and high performance video solutions that enable service providers to efficiently deliver the next generation of broadcast and on-demand services including high definition, video-on-demand, network personal video recording and time-shifted TV. Cable, satellite, broadcast and telecom service providers can increase revenues and lower operational expenditures by using Harmonic’s digital video, broadband optical access and software solutions to offer consumers the compelling and personalized viewing experience that is driving the business models of the future. Rhozet, a business unit of Harmonic Inc., is dedicated to providing accelerated high-quality media transcoding solutions. The Rhozet solutions are offered in both off-the-shelf and customized software configurations for the production and content delivery markets. For more information about Rhozet technology please visit www.rhozet.com. Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company’s customers, including many of the world’s largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27(A) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21(E) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements related to: Carbon Coder’s expected support of Panasonic’s AVC-Intra HD compression technology, the expected ability to provide real-time transcoding of HD material, AVC-Intra gaining ground fast with broadcasters, Harmonic’s commitment to deliver the format support that customers require, and the availability of Carbon Coder with AVC-Intra support in April 2008. Our expectations and beliefs regarding the features, benefits and availability of Harmonic’s Carbon Coder video transcoding solution with support of Panasonic’s AVC-Intra high definition compression technology may not materialize, and actual results could differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Harmonic’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its recent Reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Harmonic does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. EDITOR’S NOTE – Product and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2008, 02:54 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	PANASONIC ANNOUNCES 64GB SOLID-STATE P2 MEMORY CARD, DOUBLING CURRENT RECORDING CAPACITY Permits Over an Hour of DVCPRO HD or AVC-Intra 100 on a Single P2 Card SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic has announced a 64GB P2 solid-state memory card for its popular line of P2 HD and P2 solid-state camcorders and decks. With the arrival of the 64GB card in the fall, Panasonic will again have doubled the storage capacity of its P2 card from the current 32GB capacity, providing HD recording time dramatically greater than any tape or disc-based system. The 64GB P2 card, model AJ-P2C064, is scheduled for initial deliveries in fall of 2008 at a price to be announced. The new 64GB P2 card will be offered in addition to the current 32GB and 16GB P2 card. A 64GB P2 card is capable of storing over four hours of DVCPRO footage (64 GB X 4 minutes per GB), or more than two hour of DVCPRO50, AVC-Intra 50 (64 GB X 2 minutes per GB) or 64 minutes of AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD. With five 64GB P2 cards installed, an AJ-HPX3000 P2 HD camcorder can record for 320 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD (400 minutes in 1080/24pN) and 640 minutes (800 minutes in 24pN) in AVC-Intra 50 or DVCPRO 50. “With these incredible recording times, the 64GB P2 card will minimize or eliminate the need for video professionals to switch out media on-set while working on long-form projects,” said Robert Harris, Vice President of Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast. “The P2 strategy, first introduced in 2004, called for P2 cards to double in capacity every year. With the introduction of a 64GB P2 card later this year, Panasonic is on track to fulfill this promise.” P2 cards are designed for professional users to offer fast, easy IT-based operations and ultra high reliability. They are reusable so that P2 acquisition requires no media consumption, resulting in tremendous savings in media costs. A P2 card is comprised of its own processor, firmware, a RAID controller, and gigabytes of the highest-quality nonvolatile solid-state memory chips. They manage data intelligently including a write-verification step for every byte of memory that is written to the card for fault-free operation. The P2 card can be connected instantly with laptop PCs and major non-linear editing systems. Packaged in a rugged, die-cast frame, the P2 card is resistant to impact, vibration, shock, dust and environmental extremes including temperature changes. The 64GB P2 card will work immediately with all P2 HD camcorders purchased from May 2007 forward. P2 and P2 HD products purchased prior to that date will need a free, downloadable software upgrade available on the Panasonic website. Customers wanting to connect the card to an ExpressCard slot of a laptop can utilize a low cost PC card-to-ExpressCard adapter. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2008, 02:55 PM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	PANASONIC ANNOUNCES CRT PERFORMANCE IN A NEW 17” LCD PRODUCTION MONITOR 120 Hz. BT-LH1760 Features Stunning Picture Quality SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announced a revolutionary enhancement in the performance of high-quality production LCD monitors – the 120Hz 17” BT-LH1760. The new monitor offers wide off-axis viewing and color reproduction, and provides the motion handling and latency advantages formerly provided only in CRT monitors. The LH1760 is a widescreen high definition display that delivers impressive color reproduction and now offers a vectorscope function in addition to Panasonic’s standard built-in waveform monitoring function. Utilizing a new In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel with 1280 x 768-pixel native resolution, the LH1760 produces faithful color reproduction with twice the response speed of other currently available professional LCD monitors, so images appear crystal clear, precise and true-to-life, even when displaying fast motion content. The LH1760 features a 120Hz refresh rate, double that of standard 60Hz LCD monitors. This enables the monitor to handle fast motion content exceptionally well, minimizing image blur to a level never before seen in a professional LCD display. In addition, this high performance production monitor is equipped with a built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope that display all picture lines for signal level monitoring. For critical HD focusing and comparison, the LH1760 comes with valuable functions such as Pixel-to-Pixel matching, which allows the user to see an input signal pixel by pixel without any resizing, and Split Screen/Freeze Frame (live input vs. freeze frame). The LH1760 features an array of input/outputs to support virtually any production task including DVI-D input, two auto-switching HD-SDI/SDI inputs, component video (Y/Pb/Pr), RGB, PC RGB, external sync, speaker and headphone outputs. Additional standard features include embedded audio, time code, closed caption, and an eight-channel audio level meter (via SDI). Inheriting the rugged design of Panasonic’s line of production-tough monitors, the rack-mountable LH1760 is thin, lightweight and durable, with a die-cast aluminum build. The compact monitor has low energy consumption and, because there is no need for a fan, offers quiet operation. The LH1760 will be available in April 2008 at a suggested list price under $5,000. The high-performance LH1760 joins Panasonic’s BT family of production LCD monitors, which includes the 7.9” BT-LH80W, 8.4” BT-LH900A, 17” BT-LH1700W and 26” BT-LH2600W models. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!*

February 14th, 2008, 02:56 PM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	PANASONIC TO SHIP THE COMPACT AK-HC1800 2/3" 2.2M MULTI-PURPOSE HD CAMERA THIS APRIL SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Today, Panasonic announced plans to ship its compact AK-HC1800 HD multi-purpose camera this April. This new addition to Panasonic’s line of premium high definition cameras is equipped with 2.2-megapixel 3-CCDs that provide native 1080i video capture for high-level, high definition production. The HC1800 is a high-end HD video solution for applications ranging from news studio use and weather forecasting to sports. It delivers high resolution HD output in 1080/59.94i and incorporates an advanced single-channel transfer system and spatial offset processing features that reduce aliasing and provide finer resolution. The camera has a high sensitivity of F10 (at 2000 lx) and a signal-to-noise ratio of 60dB, which ensures images are crisp and accurate. The HC1800 incorporates a host of innovative technology signature to Panasonic’s multi-purpose camera line, including a 14-bit A/D converter with a 38-bit digital signal processor (DSP) for pristine high resolution images and a 12-axis color correction circuit that allows for fine adjustments of hue and saturation. It also offers professionals advanced color enhancing gamma functions including CineGamma™ curve, which reproduces images that match the look of film, as well as a Dynamic Range Stretching (DRS) function that greatly improves results when shooting high contrast scenes with varying degrees of illumination. The camera also features an “intelligent” function that when enabled, automatically adjusts color temperature response and image settings - such as iris control, variable gain and ND filters - according to changes in the environment. This is a particularly important feature for tower camera applications, where the camera is mounted in distant locations often on high buildings or rooftops. The remote controllable HC1800 is configurable with Panasonic’s comprehensive line of high performance indoor/outdoor pan-tilt systems, including the AW-PH400, AW-PH405, the AW-PH650 outdoor pan/tilt head, pan-tilt controllers and camera control units. The compact, 3.3-pound camera unit comes equipped with a standard HD SDI output for flexible operation in remote studio production, sports and tower camera applications. It also features genlock, a mini 15-pin connector, tally function, iris and zoom/focus controls, motor driven optical filters (Clear, 1/4ND, 1/16ND, 1/64ND), DC 12V operation and a low power consumption of 12 watts. The HC1800 will ship in April at a suggested list price of $28,000. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2008, 02:59 PM	#7
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	PANASONIC ANNOUNCES AW-HE100, HIGH QUALITY INTEGRATED PAN/TILT/ZOOM HD/SD CAMERA HD/SD Camera System offers Easy Integration and Precision Control SECAUCUS, NJ (February 13, 2008) – Panasonic announced today the new AW-HE100 multi-format HD/SD camera that features an integrated pan-tilt-zoom mechanism with a unique ergonomic-design. The all-in-one HE100 combines outstanding image quality, super smooth pan/tilt/zoom operation and flexible system configuration. Perfect for an array of applications ranging from high-resolution distance learning and videoconferencing, to broadcast and event staging, the HE100 provides incredible quality and easy integration for high definition and standard definition production environments. The camera supports 1080i, 720p and 480i formats and can simultaneously output both HD and SD signals. The camera features three progressive 1/3” IT CCDs, a 14-bit A/D converter, and a 19-bit digital signal processor to produce incredibly clean, high resolution images in a wide range of lighting conditions and environments. The HE100 incorporates a broadcast quality HD 13x auto/manual focus zoom lens with a fast f1.6 maximum aperture, and wide angle focal length of 4.2mm (35mm equivalent: 32.5mm). The integrated PTZ unit has a highly accurate True-Servo pan-tilt head that offers precise, fast, fluid movement in all directions, with an exceptional range of 350 degrees (pan) and 250 degrees (tilt). Able to smoothly follow a wide range of both slow and fast moving objects without visually distracting vibration, the camera delivers a maximum pan/tilt speed of 60 degrees a second. The unit operates in virtual silence, with a noise rating of NC30 (at 30/s motion), NC35 (at 60/s motion). The AW-HE100 comes standard with a variety of outputs including HD/SD analog component and composite video and is equipped with RS-422 connectivity for precise remote control. An optional HD/SD SDI card is available for critical production applications. Other valuable standard features include programmable auto-image flip, three-step gamma correction, seven-step chroma level adjustment, up to 100 pre-set memories, electronic shutter (1/120 to 1/2000 a sec) with synchro scan, tally light, a ceiling mounting bracket, and an easy -to-use wireless remote that controls up to four HE100 cameras. The AW-HE100 can easily be integrated with Panasonic’s AK-HC1500 convertible HD camera and SD convertible cameras, and is compatible with a wide range of professional RS-422 control systems including Panasonic’s pan-tilt controllers such as the AW-RP555, AW-RP655, and AW-RP400 (with the AW-IF400), to provide control from remote distances of up to 3,280 ft. The HE100 can also easily be controlled via a desktop or laptop computer. The HE100 weighs about 14.3 pounds and can be surface or ceiling mounted. The HE100 will be available in April at a suggested list price of $8,790. Optional accessories include an AW-HHD100 SDI output board, which provides two HD/SD-SDI outputs (BNC) for HD/SD switching. Attached Thumbnails __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2008, 03:23 PM	#8
Eric Stemen Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 378	wow, lots of new info. Thanks.

February 14th, 2008, 06:14 PM	#9
Eugenia Loli-Queru Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA, USA Posts: 348	The AG-HMC150 sounds sweet, but two things bug me: 1. No internal (swappable?) hard drive in addition to SD. This makes the camera even more expensive, and honestly, not as convenient as Panasonic would like us to think. 2. 13 mbps for 1080/60i (1440x1080) is not enough. We've seen it on other cameras and quality was not even better than the HV20 which is a $700 camera. Panasonic should give at least 18 mbps to 1080/60i and 24 mbps (full AVCHD spec) to 1080/24p/30p (1920x1080). And 1080/60p would have been nice too, at around 40 mbps (even if they had to go over the AVCHD spec). But I understand that it might be a bit early for 1080/60p (the next big version of Bluray will support that, but that'd be in years from now).

February 14th, 2008, 06:55 PM	#10
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Thanks for your posting Chris!

February 14th, 2008, 08:19 PM	#12
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	Not the HVX200 replacement? Something tells me that Panasonic is keeping a few new camera secret until the show. None of these cams use P2, so that tells me that none of these are the HXV replacement. I'm curious to see what they trot out at the show. Their version of "one more thing..." __________________ ∅ -Ethan Cooper

February 14th, 2008, 11:09 PM	#14
Paul Leung Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 173	We are definitely close to saying goodbye to tapes in the coming NAB. I wonder what Canon and JVC will bring us this year. Hopefully some new HDV cameras with multiple compact flash slots.

February 15th, 2008, 01:29 AM	#15
Eugenia Loli-Queru Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA, USA Posts: 348	>I'm sorry but in the prosumer to pro space that won't happen and doesn't make much sense. Sorry, but I do not agree with you at all. Having a hard drive for AVCHD is pretty standard, especially for such an expensive camera (compared to the consumer ones). The RED does hard drives, and in fact that it's main medium. The reason why Panasonic went SD only it's because it's a major flash manufacturer and wants yo to BUY, buy more, and even more, SD cards.