Panasonic

 

SECAUCUS, NJ (December 21, 2010) – Panasonic Solutions Company has announced it is shipping the new AJ-HPX3100 master quality 1080p P2 HD camcorder, its most compact and lowest-price 2/3” 1080p 3-CCD camcorder.

Featuring three 2/3" high density 2.2 million pixel CCDs, the HPX3100 acquires full-raster 1920 x 1080 resolution imaging with 4:2:2 10-bit sampling using the advanced AVC-Intra codec. The camcorder records in multiple worldwide formats, in HD in AVC-Intra and in DVCPRO HD at 1080 in 24p, 25p, 30p, 50i and 60i, and in SD (480i/586i) in DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV.

 

Designed for scripted programming, documentary, nature, cinema and commercial production, the master-quality HPX3100 delivers new features including 24-bit audio in AVC-Intra 100/50, wireless metadata input capability via wireless LAN and high-quality proxy recording. The proxy board also provides uncompressed audio, which can enhance editing, especially for projects with a large amount of content, like reality TV and long-form projects.

 

The two-P2-slot HPX3100 is equipped with seven advanced gamma settings, including Film-Rec 600% mode (made popular by the VariCam), to capture increased dynamic range. It also features a built-in reverse scan that allows unique setups such as mounting the camera upside down or usage of an ultra prime lens or an anamorphic lens adapter to create a 2.35:1 aspect image.

 

Offering a new slim-line size (similar to the AG-HPX370)for added mobility, the HPX3100 sports a low center of gravity and weighs 8.6 pounds. The P2 HD camcorder’s superb performance is enhanced with advanced 14-bit A/D conversion and a 12-pole matrix color correction function. Additional high-end features include a Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) function that corrects for lateral chromatic aberration in lenses, and a three-level Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) function that reduces blocked shadows and blown highlights in scenes where bright and dark objects coexist. The HPX3100 has a high sensitivity of F11 at 2,000 lux in 1080i, and an S/N ratio of 59 dB (with Digital Noise Reduction turned On). Power consumption is about 34 watts.

 

The camcorder records on high data transfer speed E-Series P2 cards (capacity up to 64GB).The HPX3100 has dual optical filter wheels for separate control of ND and CC, and a flip-out, 3.5-inch color LCD monitor for easy viewing. There is an option for a color or black-and-white type viewfinder. Standard interfaces include an HD-SDI input for external line recording, IEEE 1394A in/out, USB 2.0 in/out, genlock in with HD Tri-Level Sync or VBS in, and SMPTE time code in/out.

 

The HPX3100 supports full 48-kHz/24-bit audio recording on all four channels (in AVC-Intra 100/50), and supports the optional AJ-RC10G and AJ-EC4 remote control units for superb image and control adjustment. Other valuable features include Digital Zoom and Digital Super Gain, and a One-clip REC function that records up to 99 consecutive cuts as a single clip, greatly facilitating editing. The HPX3100 also supports optional camera studio systems.

 

To lower total ownership costs, Panasonic offers a five-year limited warranty (the company’s normal 1-year basic warranty plus an extended warranty for years two through five upon registration).

 

The AJ-HPX3100 is available at a suggested list price of $19,950. The new AJ-YDX30 proxy board and wireless LAN will both be available in early 2011.

P2 HD all solid-state products offer high definition recording without the mechanical wear and environmental limitations of tape, hard disk, and optical disc based systems. P2 HD ensures the highest reliability, especially in challenging conditions of extreme temperature range, shock, and vibration. P2 HD products provide a significant reduction in maintenance costs, longer useful product life, and immediate access to recorded video (no need to digitize, ingest or create proxy video files) and metadata. P2 HD provides the reliability of solid-state production; the immediate connectivity to existing IT infrastructures; the speed, ease of use and portability of P2 cards; and interoperability with leading NLE systems.