Panasonic Announces Availablity of P HD Camcorder with Native AVC-Ultra Recording

Panasonic announced availability and pricing for the new AJ-PX5000G 2/3 , 2.2M 3-MOS shoulder-mount, the company's first P2 HD camcorder with native AVC-ULTRA recording and built-in microP2 card slots. The PX5000G features 720p* and 1080p/i recording, and is also the first P2 HD camera that will record in full-resolution, 10-bit 1080/60p (in AVC-Intra100).The PX5000G will be available in October at a suggested list price of $25,000.

With its breadth of recording options, ultimate image quality, variety of professional I/Os and powerful expandability, the PX5000G will address niches in network news, documentary, high-end corporate, and sports production, as well as the rental market.

sonicPanasonic's AVC-ULTRA offers master-quality and/or low-bit-rate 10-bit, 4:2:2 recording in Full raster HD to meet a variety of user needs from mastering to transmission. Addressing the need for high-speed file exchange, its high-resolution AVC-Proxy encodes in parallel with higher bandwidth production formats, enabling fast, efficient offline editing, at bit rates from 3.5 megabits down to 800 kilobits per second.

Like the current AG-HPX600, the PX5000G provides innovative network functionality to improve workflows. The PX5000G's AVC-Proxy files and Network function (wired/wireless LAN) make it possible to configure a workflow for previewing images, editing metadata, editing playlists, and uploading motion images quickly and at low cost with a PC/Mac, tablet, or smartphone.** A new 3G/4G/LTE dongle for wireless workflow over a mobile network is scheduled for the near future.

The camcorder incorporates a choice of AVC-LongG quality levels, including AVC-LongG50 and AVC-LongG25. Designed for applications where file size is critical, these 10-bit, 4:2:2 sampled codecs record in a much smaller file size, saving storage cost and transfer times over MPEG-2 while maintaining equal or better video quality. In the future, lower bit rate AVC-LongG12* will be made available.

The PX5000G offers optional AVC-Intra200** recording, which at twice the bit rate per frame of AVC-Intra100 is visually lossless, delivering a master quality codec in an affordable, file-based camera. The AVC-Intra200 option will yield a cost-effective approach to network-level program acquisition, film-outs and higher levels of color correction. In addition to AVC-LongG and AVC-Intra100/50, the PX5000G offers standard recording in DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV. In addition to 1080/60i, the AJ-PX5000G supports 24p*, 30p*, 60p (AVC-Intra100 only), and 720p multi HD format and SD recording. Also, 50i, 50p, and 25p are supported by 59.94 Hz/50 Hz switching.

Weighing only 7.5 pounds, the camera has two microP2 slots and two standard P2 card slots***, as well as an SD card slot for proxy/metadata recording. MicroP2 cards are substantially downsized to match the size of an SD card, and offer a considerable reduction in cost compared to a P2 card.

Professional interfaces include MON out (can be set to output HD-SDI), HDMI out, HD/SD-SDI in/out, 3G-SDI out, genlock in for multi-camera operation, timecode in/out, USB 3.0 (host) and a two-channel UniSlot compatible wireless receiver.

The PX5000G's three 2.2M pixel MOS sensors deliver a horizontal resolution of 1000 TV lines; the camcorder achieves high F12 (59.94 Hz)/F13 (50 Hz) sensitivity and produces excellent images with an S/N ratio of 62 dB. The shoulder-type design accommodates a variety of interchangeable B4 mount 2/3 lenses.

The camcorder will be equipped with Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) to maximize lens performance; Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) function to optimize scene image contrast at the pixel level, reducing overexposure and crushed shadow content and dramatically improving human skin rendition; and a highly accurate flash band detection and compensation algorithm that minimizes partial image exposure due to strobe lighting. The PX5000G delivers seven-mode (HD/SD/FILMLIKE 1/FILMLIKE 2/FILMLIKE 3/FILM-REC/VIDEO-REC) gamma selection and extensive digital image settings.

Innovative features include a smart user interface that permits accessibility to the camera's extensive functions from an LCD display on the side of the camera; a 16:9, 3.5-inch, 920,000-dot resolution LCD color viewfinder, which doubles as a LCD monitor when open; a simplified waveform and vectorscope; a 10-pin remote terminal enabling remote camera operation; and an optional camera studio system.

Audio capabilities include two XLR audio inputs, and recording up to four channels of 48kHz, 24-bit audio in AVC-Intra formats (16-bit in AVC-LongG, DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO and DV).

Standard features include Scan Reverse for use with a cinema lens adaptor; Digital Zoom function for 2x, 3x and 4x boosts; Presettable Shutter Speed from 1/12 to 1/2000 sec plus fully variable Synchro Scan; two four-position optical filters, ND and CC, with four positions each. (The CC filters are 3200K, 4300K, 5600K and 6300K, NDs are Clear, 2, 4, 6 stops.)

In addition, an option supports operational integration with live video uplink transmitter devices from partner LiveU: the status, settings, and bandwidth condition for the LiveU LU40 Series can be displayed on the camera viewfinder, and uplink start/stop can be operated, allowing the camera operator to handle live relays comfortably and securely.

Optional color and black-and-white viewfinders are immediately available for the PX5000G.

* Available in March 2014

**Options available in March 2014

***The PX5000G does not support spanned recording between the microP2 and standard P2 cards slots.

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