LAS VEGAS: Panasonic is keeping the
emphasis on 3D, AVC-Intra and P2. Debutantes at this year’s NAB Show include:
The
AG-3DP1 3D HD Shoulder-Mount
Camcorder, left, with two, 1/3-inch imagers supporting 1920x1080 resolution and
AVC-Intra recording will be on hand. It sports dual 17x lenses and a 3.2-inch
LCD that switches from left to right to overlay. The 3DP1 is able to record up
to 80 minutes each on dual 64 GB P2 cards in AVC-Intra 100 1080/24pN. It will
be available in the fall. Suggested retail price was not disclosed.
The
TH-42BT300U and
TH-50BT300U 42- and 50- inch
professional plasma reference monitors, with slot card options for discrete 3D
left and right inputs, are now available.
Two new professional
AVCCAM HD
handheld camcorders, the
AG-AC160
and
AG-AC130,
are being debuted.
Both sport high-sensitivity 1/3-inch, full-HD 2.2 megapixel 3-MOS imagers for
capturing native 1920x1080 images; and a new, wider 21x HD zoom lens. New
features include two SD memory card slots, an enhanced viewfinder and DV
recording. The AC160, right, offers variable frame rate capability in 1080/23.98pN,
29.97p and 25p. Both are expected to become available in the fall, the 160 for
$5,500 and the 130, for $4,000.
AVCCAM Importer software
is a
QuickTime plug-in that eliminates the need to convert AVCHD files to ProRES422
files before editing in Final Cut Pro. It will be available this summer as a free
download.
The
AG- HPD24 P2 portable deck
features 3D synchronized record/playback with a second deck; native 24p
recording with variable frame rates; a USB 3.0 interface; and 24-bit,
four-channel audio recording in AVC-Intra 100/50. It allows for playback and
review of P2 card content on a 3.5-inch, 16:9 LCD screen. The HPD24 has two P2
card slots, is ½ RU in size and weighs 5.5 pounds. It will be available this
summer for $5,560.
The new
AG-HPX250 P2 HD handheld camcorder 
has 10-bit,
4:2:2 independent-frame, 1920x1080 resolution AVC-Intra recording in a
5.5-pound package. It uses a 1/3-inch imager and sports a 21x HD lens with an
optical image stabilizer function. The HPX250 accommodates variable frame rate
capability and a variety of recording formats. With two 64 GB P2 cards, it can
record up to 320 minutes of AVC-Intra 100 at 720/24pN. It’s due out in the fall
for around $6,500.
A
new wireless system for
Panasonic’s AJ-HPX3100 1080p P2 camcorder comprises the
AJ-WM30 wireless module and the
AJ-SFU3100 software key. Both promote seamless transfer of critical
camera information between the HPX3100 and “a vast population of intelligent
devices including PCs, iPads and iPhones,” Panasonic says. The module is
available for $150, the key, for $1,500.
The
BT-LH910 at right
is a new 9-inch LCD
monitor for field and studio use, with high brightness and contrast, 1280x768
WXGA resolution, and new 3D assist functions. The BT-LH910 has a 2x SDI IN
overlay and side-by-side display that provides a 2D view of 3D checks. It’s
available now for a suggested list price of $3,500.
AJ-SF110 Video Ingest
and
AJ-SF100 Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Archive
software accommodate FireWire or SDI, and convert files to P2 formats during
ingest. SF100 Video Ingest is priced at $2,500; SF100 LTO is priced at $5,000.
Both will be available in May.
The
AJ-PCD30 P2 drive is a new
three-slot P2 device with a USB 3.0 interface for offloading AVC-Intra 100 footage
at more than 15X real-time. The PCD30 can transfer data from up to three P2
cards simultaneously. It can be used externally or installed in the 5-inch bay
of a PC, and is Mac and Windows compatible. The drive will be available this
summer for $2,225.
AVCUltra
was teased as the next
generation of Panasonic’s version of H.264. It’s said to be able to record 4K
images at 4:4:4, and support “visually lossless” versions of 720p, 1080i and
1080p/24 and 1080p/60. AVC Ultra has been floating around for a couple of years
no, but no specific release date has been announced.
-- Television Broadcast