Panasonic Announces New AG-HPX300 Camcorder
by David Kender
Published on Feb 11, 2009 12:47 PM
Panasonic announced today the release of the new AG-HPX300, a 2.2-megapixel, 1/3-inch 3-CMOS camcorder. The HPX300 records to P2 in both AVC-Intra and DVCPRO HD in 1080i/p, 720p, and standard definition. Featuring interchangeable lenses, a shoulder-mount design, and several new features, it is clearly designed to challenge the Canon XL H1S and JVC GY-HD250. The AG-HPX300 will retail for $10,700 (including a Fujinon lens) and is expected to become available in March 2009.
The CMOS chip inside the camcorder is newly designed. It features a on-chip chromatic aberration compensation, as well as dynamic range stretch, which reads the content of the image to compensate for overly bright or dark areas. Panasonic also claims that the pixel density on the CMOS chip is lower that comparable sensors.
The AG-HPX300 features a 1/2-inch LCOS viewfinder, which includes on-board focus assist, audio monitoring, and even a vectorscope. There is also a 3.2-inch LCD on the side of the camcorder.
Panasonic has also announced a matching studio configuration package for under $10,000.
NAB 2009: Panasonic Intros Low-Cost, High-Quality HD Camcorder
10-bit, 4:2:2 model will sell for $10,700
By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/11/2009 12:00:00 PM MT
Panasonic has introduced a new P2 HD solid-state camcorder with 10-bit, 4:2:2 image processing, the AG-HPX300, which will be available in March at a suggested list price of $10,700.
The camera, which was formally introduced at a press event in New York Wednesday where Panasonic detailed its plans for the NAB convention in April, uses Panasonic's AVC-Intra advanced compression scheme to record HD video at 100 and 50 megabit-per-second bit rates in both the 1080i and 720p formats using solid-state P2 memory cards.
The HPX300, which has a 1/3-inch imager with 2.2-megapixel 3-MOS technology, can also be used as a studio camera and is equipped with a remote control terminal (RCU) for use with the optional AJ-RC10G Remote Control Unit and compatible studio remote control systems. Panasonic says that later this year it will release a customized studio configuration system which will include the AG-BS300 base station, AG-EC4 extension control unit (ECU) and AG-CA300 remote control camera adapter. The optional studio add-on package will sell for less than $10,000.
"The HPX300 establishes a new benchmark for performance within this price range" said Robert Harris, Vice President, Panasonic Broadcast. "It not only captures full native 1920 x 1080 HD resolution, but it allows professionals to record at a quality level that no other camcorder in this price range can equal. Without the compromise of 8-bit, long GOP, 4:2:0 recording, the HPX300 provides master-quality, 10-bit, 4:2:2 individual frame capture using our award winning AVC-Intra codec. Video professionals will immediately realize that this camera is in a field of its own."
радует: 4:2:2 10 бит AVC-Intra, полнорастровые матрицы
не очень радует: 1/3" MOS (не понятно насчет шаттера global или rolling?)
added
официальный релиз европейского Панасоника
Panasonic unveiled the world’s first affordable professional camcorder with 10-bit, 4:2:2, individual frame recording and native 2.2 megapixel imagers. Incorporating an innovative, low profile shoulder mounted design, the 1/3” AG-HPX301E P2 HD camcorder offers the flexibility of interchangeable lens but comes standard with a 17x HD Fujinon lens.
The AG-HPX301E imager incorporates advanced 1/3” 2.2-megapixel 3-MOS technology to acquire full native resolution HD images. With a redesigned optical block and a high-precision prism bonding technology, these advanced 3-MOS imagers provide exceptional image quality while minimizing any flare and chromatic aberration. A new 20-bit digital signal processor (DSP) also enhances the HPX301E’s image performance. The solid-state 1/3” HPX301E offers the security of a five-year warranty program (1 year + 4 additional years with registration), ultimate quality and flexibility in an affordable, full-size HD camcorder.
”The HPX301E establishes a new benchmark for performance within this price range” said Nela Pertl, European Provideo Product Manager at Panasonic Professional & IT Systems Europe (PBITS). ”It not only captures full native 1920 x 1080 HD resolution, but it allows professionals to record at a quality level that no other camcorder in this price range can equal. Superseding the compromise of 8-bit, long GOP, 4:2:0 recording, the HPX301E provides master-quality, 10bit, 4:2:2 individual frame capture using our award winning AVC-Intra codec. Video professionals will immediately realize that this camera is in a field of its own.”
Delivering the impressive quality of AVC-Intra 100 and AVC-Intra 50, the HPX301E also records individual frame images in 100Mbps DVCPRO HD and in standard definition in DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV, which provides faster workflow and less degradation in multigenerational rendering.
The AVC-Intra 100 and 50 codecs let you record in a choice of HD video formats like Pal and NTSC frequencies. Moreover, it records also in SD frequencies in interlinear and progressive mode. The camera also supports 1080/23.98PsF output (via HD-SDI) for use in high-end movie production. The output of the camera can be set for down conversion or cross-conversion with letterbox, 4:3 crop or squeeze.
The HPX301E’s interchangeable lens design gives video pros the flexibility to utilize a wide range of broadcast and production HD lenses. The camera is equipped with numerous popular features including Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) to maximize lens performance, built-in scan reverse for use with film lenses, a Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) function to help compensate for wide variations in lighting, a waveform and vector scope display, and two focus assist functions – a picture expanding function and a focus bar.
For added creative flexibility, the HPX301E also has variable frame rate functions for creating fast and slow motion effects. In 720p mode, a user can choose between 20 variable frame steps between 12p and 60p. Because the HPX301E records images at the frame rate set in the camera, users can preview the speed effect right on the spot, without using a frame rate converter. When working with the camera’s advanced 1080/480 24pA mode, users have the option of using 2:3:3:2 pull down, which allows most nonlinear editing systems to easily extract 24 frames on ingest.
Equipped with two P2 card slots and new 64GB P2 cards, the HPX301E offers recording capacity that exceeds that of tape based camcorders. The HPX301E offers all the benefits of a faster, file-based P2 HD workflow including recording features like instant recording startup, clip thumbnail view for immediate access to video content on all cards, and a host of time-saving recording modes including continuous recording, card slot selection, hot swapping, loop, pre-record (three seconds in HD and seven seconds in SD), one-shot and interval recording. The camera also features an SD memory card slot for saving or loading scene files and user settings, or proxy data (optional AJ-YAX800G Proxy board required).
The HPX301E has advanced gamma functions offering six shooting scenarios, including the popular Cine-Like Gamma modes found on Panasonic’s popular VariCam camera, which gives recordings the characteristic warm tone of film recordings. A scene file dial on the side of the camera provides quick access to six pre-loaded settings; the dial can also be programmed with user-defined settings.
The camera’s interfaces include two SDI outputs (switchable between HD/SD-SDI output), video output (down-converted SD video only), IEEE 1394, USB 2.0 interface compatible with host mode, time code input/output (with built-in SMPTE time code generator/reader). Additional features include, Genlock input, 4-position ND optical filter controls, DC power input, color bar switch, three XLR audio jacks (one in the front, two on the rear), wireless microphone slot (2-channel UniSlot wireless receiver compatible) and programmable user buttons.
The HPX301E can also be used as a studio camera. It is equipped with a remote control terminal (RCU) for use with the optional AJ-RC10G Remote Control Unit and compatible studio remote control systems.
At eight pounds, the HPX301E’s lightweight, well-balanced design and ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to use. All operation switches, volume controls and card slots are on the left side for easier operation. The HPX301E is equipped with a widescreen 1,226,000-dot LCOS color viewfinder and a widescreen 921,000-dot 3.2-inch LCD color monitor. Its power consumption is low at only 18 watts.
The HPX301E will be available in March at a suggested list price of 9.500 € RRP.
Сообщение отредактировано beefeater: 12 Feb 2009 - 00:01
