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Top Panasonic AG-HVX200 Camcorder Reviews
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Panasonic AG-HVX200 News Release Summary:
Offers The Ultimate in Versatility: HD And SD Recording, From
DVCPRO HD To DV; And Variable Frame Rates For Creating Slow- And
Fast-Motion Effects
LOS ANGELES, CA (December 7, 2005) — Panasonic Broadcast
announced today that its powerful AG-HVX200, the world’s first
hand-held high definition solid-state memory camcorder, will
begin delivering to resellers on December 29th. The HVX200
uniquely combines multiple high definition and standard
definition formats, multiple recording modes and variable frames
rates, and the vast benefits of P2 solid state memory recording
in a rugged, compact design.
At a press briefing held here today, Panasonic announced
introductory pricing for the HVX200 including $5,995 suggested
list price of the camcorder only, a $7,295 list price for the
camcorder and two 4GB P2 cards, and a $9,995 list price for the
camcorder and two 8GB P2 cards. Pricing on other introductory
HVX200 packages are available at www.panasonic.com/hvx200.
“I want to thank the substantial number of customers who have
patiently awaited the HVX200’s arrival. The wait is nearly
over!” said John Baisley, President, Panasonic Broadcast &
Television Systems Company. “I am confident that the HVX200’s
powerful capabilities and stunning image quality will truly
inspire a new level of high definition users.”
With the ability to capture images in 21 video formats, the
ultra-versatile HVX200 records in high definition in 1080i and
720p in production-proven 100 Mbps DVCPRO HD quality. The DVCPRO
HD format offers users cost-effective, intra-frame compression,
where each frame stands on its own for editing, and its full
4:2:2 color sampling allows the image to hold up under color
correction. The camera records video on a P2 card as IT-friendly
MXF files in 1080/60i, 30p and 24p; in 720/60p, 30p and 24p; in
50Mbps DVCPRO50 and in 25Mbps DVCPRO or DV. With a pair of
Panasonic’s new 8GB P2 cards (model P2C008HG), the HVX200
records for 64 minutes in DVCPRO or DV, 40 minutes in 720p, 32
minutes in DVCPRO50, and 16 minutes in 1080/60 and 720/60. The
HD and SD video recorded on the P2 card can be rapidly
downloaded to a nonlinear editing system or server, or edited
virtually instantly from the P2 card by connecting to an IEEE
1394 or USB 2.0 interface. P2 cards mount like a regular hard
drive from a NLE system’s point of view, which eliminates the
time-intensive task of digitizing footage.
The multi-format camera has two P2 card slots, and offers a
variety of record modes including hot-swap recording to ensure
continuous recording; loop recording; pre-record (up to 7
seconds in DVCPRO and 3 seconds in DVCPRO HD); one-shot record
(from 1 frame to 1 second) and interval record (from 2 frames to
10 minutes). With cutting-edge P2, all moving parts are
eliminated from the recording path, which ensures that the
HVX200 is extremely reliable and resistant to environmental
conditions including the shock and humidity that threaten
camcorders based on mechanical recording transports. For added
flexibility, the HVX200 is also equipped with a Mini-DV tape
drive for shooting 4:3 and 16:9 images on DV tape in 60i, 30p
and 24p.
The HVX200 inherits the variable frame rate capability of
Panasonic’s popular, shoulder-mount AJ-HDC27 VariCam® HD Cinema
camcorder. The HVX200 can capture fast or slow action in 720p at
various frame rates — the first time this function is available
in a hand-held camera. The shooting frame rate in 720p native
mode can be set for any of 11 steps between 12fps and 60fps
including 24fps and 30fps. By using the camera to play back the
recording at the normal rate, the shooter can preview the
off-speed effect right on the spot, without the need for a frame
rate converter. Furthermore, the HVX200 can down-convert
off-speed recordings in 720p recorded on a P2 card and copy it
to a mini DV tape. This allows the user to create special
off-speed effects during DV production — a technique previously
possible only with a complete VariCam system.
And like VariCam, the HVX200 offers advanced Gamma modes; the
camera has eight gamma modes including Cine-Like Gamma to give
recordings the characteristic warm tone of film recordings. For
newsgathering, a news gamma curve assists a news photographer by
allowing him to suppress over-saturated highlight areas during
sudden contrast changes.
For exceptional image quality and flexible shooting, the
AG-HVX200 elegantly combines native progressive 16:9 1/3” 3-CCDs
and a wide-angle, 13X Leica Dicomar HD lens (with optical image
stabilization and a super-smooth, cam-driven manual zoom) to
cover a wide range from 4.2mm to 55mm (35mm equivalent: 32.5mm
to 423mm). Its large viewfinder and 3.5” LCD monitor make it
easy to view content. For example, in 16:9 wide-screen mode, the
camcorder can display images on the LCD monitor in letterbox,
which allows the user to view vital camera operating information
in areas above and below the image. In addition, the LCD permits
the shooter to view and select thumbnail clips to speed editing,
and allows random access to the thumbnail-displayed scenes (on
the P2 card) for instant playback and the creation of an
in-camera storyboard.
Audio performance is superb with 4-channel non-compressed
48KHz/16-bit digital audio in DVCPRO HD and DVCPRO50, which is
ideal for audio sweetening in post production; and two channels
in DVCPRO and DV. The HVX200 is loaded with system interfaces
(including IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0), and professional interfaces
including two XLR audio (with +48 volt phantom power) inputs, a
component (D4) output, composite in/out, S-video in/out, audio
(RCA) in/out, and headphone output.
For operator convenience, the camcorder is highly customizable
with features including six user scene files, three user setup
buttons, and Camera Setup Memory (up to four camera setups can
be saved to a SD Memory card for transfer to another camera).
Other key features include: jam sync for multi-camera shoots;
minimum illumination of 3 lux for low-light shooting; Shot Mark
function to speed editing; built-in SMPTE time-code
generator/reader; level-adjustable audio levels; ND Filter that
increases gain up to 18 dB; a Slow Speed and High Speed Shutter;
an Auto/Manual Mode Selector; White Balance with Auto Tracking
White Function; and Trigger and Zoom Controls on the camera’s
upper handle grip.
Established third-party nonlinear editing systems including
Apple Final Cut Pro; Avid Newscutter XP, Newscutter Adrenaline
FX and Xpress HD; and Canopus Edius HD are compatible with the
AG-HVX200.
The AG-HVX200 weighs just over five pounds, and is
ruggedly-built with a magnesium alloy diecast chassis for
outstanding reliability and durability.
For more information on the AG-HVX200, visit www.panasonic.com/hvx200.
About Panasonic Broadcast
Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading
supplier of broadcast, professional video and presentation
products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of
Panasonic Corporation of North
America. The company is the North American headquarters of
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Japan,
and the hub of its U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D
operations For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products,
access the company’s web site at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.
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