Panasonic announces new low-cost P2 camcorder

Panasonic has announced the new AG-HPX170 solid-state P2 HD handheld camcorder, a replacement for the company’s HVX 200 model.

The camcorder includes a 16GB P2 memory card and will be available next month. It weighs 4.2lb and features both HD and SD recording and an HD-SDI interface for connection to baseband recording systems.

With two slots for P2 cards, the AG-HPX170 provides independent-frame compression in 20 HD and SD formats, and records in a variety of 1080i/1080p and 720p formats in DVCPRO HD, 480i in DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO, and 480i in DV. It is switchable between 16:9/4:3 aspect ratios.

The camcorder has a 1/3in progressive 16:9 CCD imager and a digital signal processor with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing. It scans the initial image at a native 1080p/60.

The camcorder’s 3.9mm to 51mm 13X Leica Dicomar zoom lens has a cam-driven manual zoom ring, 10X digital zoom, manual focus ring and aperture control. HD focus assist functions include histogram, 2X center blow-up and a Focus Bar.

For more information, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.