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Featured News: Page (1) of 1 - 04/13/08

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Panasonic intros VariCam 2700 and 3700 at NAB

Company also shows AG-HMC 150 AVCCAM and AG-HPX170 P2 Camera

By John Virata

Panasonic's Sunday press conference at NAB 2008 in Las Vegas featured the introduction of three new HD cameras. To be showcased all week at the annual broadcast event, Panasonic introduced at its press conference two P2HD VariCam cameras, the variCam 3700 and VariCam 2700, and successors to the DVX100 DV camcorder.

The VariCam 2700 features 2/3-inch native HD resolution 3-CCDs, master-quality, full-resolution 10-bit 4:2:2 AVC-Intra 100 recording; variable frame rates in 1-frame increments; 23.98PsF/24PsF HD-SDI output; advanced Gamma setting, variable frame rates, and two separate HD-SDI outputs.

Five P2 card slots are standard on the the VariCam 3700.

The VariCam 3700 offers full 1920 x 1080 image capture in AVC-intra 100, and independent frame recording with 10-bit 4;2;2 sampling. It features a 2/3-inch 2.2 megapixel 3-CCD camera, and 4:4:4 RGB dual-link live output. Both cameras are switchable between 59.94-Hz and 50-Hz recording. Both cameras feature five P2 card slots, enabling you to load them up with up to 160GB of storage (via five 32GB P2 cards), for recording up to 200 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 at 1080/24p, 400 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 at 720/24p, 320 minutes in other AVC-Intra 50 formats, and 160 minutes in other AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD formats.

Other features include 14-bit A/D processing, Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC), Dynamic Range Stretching, unique shutter angle settings, built-in scan reverse, and full control of matrix and color correction. Both cameras are expected to ship in Fall 2008.

Panasonic also introduced the successor to its DV-based DVX100 camcorder, the AG-HMC 150, an AVCHD (AVCCAM) handheld camcorder that supports both 1080 and 720 (21 Mbps/ Max 24Mbps) HD resolution and captures video to a standard or SDHC SD memory card. Slated to ship in the Fall 2008, the AG-HMC150 can record in four modes: PH mode (average 21 Mbps/Max 24Mbps), HA mode (approx.17 Mbps), HG mode (approx.13 Mbps) and HE mode (approx. 6 Mbps).

According to the company, the camera will support a range of HD formats, including 1080/24p, 1080/60i and 720/60p. It is built around 16:9 progressive 1/3â?? 3-CCD imagers, 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing. It features a 13X leica Dicomar zoom lens with a 28mm wide angle capabilities, 72mm diameter, and a cam driven manual zoom. Professional audio features include XLR two-channel audio input (48V phantom power) with mic/line select, manual two-channel audio level VR and RCA audio out jacks. It is expected to ship for around $4500 and will include a standard 5 year warranty.

Panasonic also showcased the AG-HPX170 at the Sunday event, a P2-based handheld camcorder that will also ship in Fall 2008. The AG-HPX170 is a 1080p capable camcorder that shoots with a 13x Leica Dicomar zoom lens with 28mm wide angle setting. It sports a 1/3-inch 16:9 3-CCDs and a digital signal processor with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing. It can record to 20 HD and SD formats and features two P2 card slots, for 64 minutes of recording using Panasonic's 32Gb P2 cards. The company announced that 64GB cards will ship in Fall 2008. The HPX170 features HD/SD-SDI output, IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0. It also features composite output, component output (mini D-terminal) and a time-code setting via FireWire. It sports a built in stereo microphone, two channel XLR audio input terminals that support 48V phantom power supply with selectable mic/line, manual audio level volume, clip preview on the camera's 3.5-inch LCD, instant recording startup, scene files, user assignable buttons, focus assist, and camera remote function. Pricing is not yet set. For more information, visit www.panasonic.com