Panasonic Introduces 64 GB P2 Card


(click thumbnail)Panasonic 64 GB P2 cardPanasonic has introduced the latest version of its P2 media card, now with 64 GB of storage for the Panasonic DVCPRO format.

The new card effectively doubles the storage capacity for P2 storage media from the next largest P2 card on the market, 32 GB. The 64 GB card, model AJ-P2C064 is scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2008 at a price to be announced (the 32 GB card currently goes for around $1650 MSRP). Panasonic will continue to offer both the 32 GB and 16 GB cards as well.

A 64 GB P2 card can store more than four hours of DVCPRO footage (64 GB X 4 minutes per GB), or more than two hours of DVCPRO50, AVC-Intra 50 (64 GB X 2 minutes per GB) or 64 minutes of AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD. With five 64 GB 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 for Panasonic Broadcast. “The P2 strategy, first introduced in 2004, called for P2 cards to double in capacity every year. With the introduction of a 64 GB P2 card later this year, Panasonic is on track to fulfill this promise.”

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 Web site. Customers wanting to connect the card to an ExpressCard slot of a laptop can utilize a low cost PC card-to-ExpressCard adapter.