Panasonic today announced availability and pricing for the new AJ-PD500, the first P2 HD recorder with native AVC-ULTRA recording, built-in microP2 card slots, and the ability to record in full-resolution, 10-bit 1080/60p (in AVC-Intra100). The PD500 will be available in October at a suggested list price of $14,000.With its range of format choices (including AVC-LongG and AVC-Proxy as standard, and AVC-Intra200 and AVCHD playback as options), variety of professional I/Os and multi-control JOG/SHTL/MENU dial operation, the PD500 is ideal for house or worship, production, post-production, long-form documentaries, live event systems, satellite facilities, reality television, news trucks, and as a redundant playback/record device in news facilities.
Panasonic'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.
The AVC-Proxy files and Network function (GigE LAN) make it possible to configure a workflow for previewing images, editing metadata, and manipulating/sharing content over networks.
The PD500 offers 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 near future, lower bit rate AVC-LongG12* will be made available.
The PD500 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 PD500 offers standard recording in DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV.
The rugged, half-rack designed recorder has two microP2 slots and two standard P2 card slots***, as well as an SD card slot for proxy/metadata recording. MicroP2 cards offer a faster transfer speed, smaller size (SD card size) and are lower cost compared to a P2 card.
The PD500's SuperSpeed USB 3.0 host interface permits super-fast transfer rates of up to 2Gbps. This allows users to easily transfer content to low-cost hard disk drives or solid-state drives for a fast and safe deliverable to clients. When attached to a computer, the USB device mode allows the PD500 to become a two-card microP2 or P2 drive. In addition, users can connect a hard drive to the PD500, allowing the preview of non-real-time content. This functionality allows for the confirmation of content copied to a drive, and for the reviewing of previously-shot content on a drive.
Other key features include a Gbit Ethernet LAN terminal, FTP client function, and FTP/Samba server function for file transfers over a LAN or the internet (an HTTP server function can also be accessed from a web browser to provide the following solutions: Proxy Preview, Metadata Editing and Playlist Editing); native 1080/24PsF* input/output; 3G-SDI for 1080/60 input/output; and high-quality 24-bit audio recording in AVC-Intra and AVC-LongG. This ultra-reliable, dedicated deck allows users to play back and review footage on its 3.5-inch, 16:9 LCD screen; manage clip files and metadata; via its HD-SDI input, record full resolution, 10-bit quality content from a wide range of Panasonic and non-Panasonic camera, as well as back up data onto external hard disk drives; and a gamma conversion function for cinema production. The unit plays back HD/SD content automatically (no need to change settings) and is internationally operable in 50Hz or 60Hz.
The recorder's HDMI output enables the transmission of uncompressed digital data to an array of consumer playback devices (video projectors, digital televisions). The deck offers an RS-422A control, thereby allowing it to be controlled as a video source by nonlinear editing systems and color correction systems. The PD500 also includes a headphone jack and speaker, timecode in/out and a reference sync input.
Additional valuable features include up/down/cross conversion, a USB keyboard connection for easy metadata input, waveform and vectorscope display functions, and a selection from among various functions for allocation to six user buttons. The PD500 offers 12V Battery DC or AC operation, and is light and easy to transport at only eight pounds.
The optional AJ-YCX500G encoder board, to be available in October, will provide playback of AVCHD content.
For further information about Panasonic professional video products, visit http://www.panasonic.com/broadcast.
*Available in March 2014
** The AVC-Intra200 option will be available in March 2014.
*** The PD500 does not support spanned recording between the microP2 and standard P2 cards slots.
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