HD Video Cameras by Panasonic

HD has been showing up in many more places besides HDTV. Panasonic is leading the way with compact and affordable HD products. All across the world, you'll see Panasonic launching HD products that are among the best and very affordable.

Broadcast
If your digital plans call for a transition to DTV first then HDTV later on down the road, or if you plan to take your station HD now, Panasonic has you covered by making HD both flexible and affordable.

Commercials
Whether your next commercial is a 30 second spot for TV or a two minute commercial, shoot it on DVCPRO HD without having to sacrifice quality. The 24P at 720 progressive resolution from Panasonic makes this very possible.

Corporate needs
The coporate level presentations demand the highest level of image quality. Professional presentations begin with 720p and 1080i cameras from Panasonic. By starting with the highest image quality available, Panasonic ensures that you'll have everything you need to exceed your corporate needs and demands.

Panasonic Pro AG-HVX200 High Definition Camcorder

The Panasonic AG-HVX200 is a handheld HD P2 camera recorder that's designed to meet the emerging needs needs in HD content production. The camera debuts and remains Panasonic's first HD video product to use P2, the cutting edge memory recording device that has the potential to revolutionize the entire production paradigm.

The AG-HVX200 can record HD, in either 1080i or 720p video acquired by a new optical system and high performance digital signal processor onto a P2 card using the broadcasting DVCPRO HD codec. This very system achieves a level of image quality that conventional handheld HD cameras simply can't match, while also supporting HD/SD multi-format and multi codec recording capabilities.

The visual frame rate recording is just one of the many features that makes this camera so very unique in its class. By using technology that makes the Panasonic VariCam camera a favorite in movie production, this powerful function will allow the over-cranking techniques used with film cameras to create fast motion and slow motion effects.

The P2 card offers you superb reliability, immediate playback, and amazing cost performance. It will also allow direct connection to other editing systems and streamlines the production work flow, by providing to the editing system data files ready to be edited, rather than a video tape that would require the tedious task of digitizing.

On top of all the advanced features and technology, the Panasonic AG-HVX200 inherits the refined design and easy operation that separates it from the rest. With the AG-HVX200 HD camera, professionals of all kinds will find a powerful tool to help them create and bring their creations to life - helping them achieve things they may have never thought to be possible.

The New Leica Dicomar HD Lens
Developed specifically for HD recording, this lens system features a large 82-mm (diameter) filter along with 15 lens elements in 11 groups, including three aspherical lenses. The Leica Dicomar lens incorporates Leica optical technology and know-how throughout. The use of low-dispersion glass reduces color aberration and increases resolution, while a multi-coating process minimizes flare and ghosting. This results in sharp, crisp, beautifully rendered images with delicate nuances and exceptional shading.

Wide-Angle, 13x Zoom Lens
The Leica Dicomar Lens is a powerful 13x zoom lens designed especially for HD video recording. Extending all the way to 4.2mm (equivalent to 32.5mm on a 35mm lens), this lens covers the full wide angle range needed in most broadcast and professional shooting. There's no need for a bulky wide-angle conversion lens. With a minimum object distance (MOD) of approximately 1.9 ft (0.6 meter) in telephoto mode, the AG-HVX200 has true handheld manoeuvrability. And with the same cam-driven zoom ring acclaimed in the DVX100 series, the AG-HVX200 gives you the superior operability and control you need in demanding applications.

The Superb Images and Sound of DVCPRO HD Codec
Using the DVCPRO HD codec recording system, the AG-HVX200 records HD video with outstanding image and audio quality onto a P2 card in file format. This codec, thanks to a low compression ratio at a video bit rate of 100 Mbps (1080/59.94i, 720/59.94p) and the easy-to-edit intra-frame compression system, is suitable for recording fast-moving subjects with no motion artefacts other than motion blur. The 4:2:2 sampling rate minimizes 'jaggies' at chroma edges and is advantageous in image and compositing. Sound quality is excellent too, thanks to DVCPRO HD's uncompressed 16-bit, 4-channel digital audio recording capability.

P2: The Next-Generation Media
The AG-HVX200 records HD, either 1080i or 720p video acquired by a new optical system and high-performance digital signal processor onto a P2 card using the broadcasting DVCPRO HD codec. P2, which stands for Professional Plug-in, is a compact solid-state memory card designed for professional AV use. Basically, four SD memory cards are packaged together to create a single P2 card. When striped as a RAID 0 array, this gives the P2 four times the transfer speed and four times the capacity of a single SD memory card. A slim, large-capacity 8-GB P2 card (AJ-P2C008HG) can hold 32 minutes of DVCPRO/DV codec recording yet weighs only about 45 grams. Compliant with PC Card standards (Type II), the P2 card plugs directly into the card slot of a laptop PC. AV data on the card mounts instantly, with each cut as an MXF file. The data can be used immediately -- no digitizing necessary -- for non-linear editing, or it can be transferred over a network. The P2 far surpasses all other AV media in transfer speed, too. The P2 cards transfer data at up to 640 Mbps, which can greatly speed up production processes.

Variable Frame Rate from 12 to 60 fps
Panasonic's VariCam -- named for its ground-breaking variable frame rate capability -- is widely used in the production of movies, TV programs and commercials. Now with the AG-HVX200, the variable frame rate function is available for the first time in a compact camera. In 720p mode, the frame rate can be set from the conventional 24p/30p to any of 11 steps between 12p and 60p. Like the VariCam, the AG-HVX200 allows the under-cranking and over-cranking used with film cameras to create fast-motion and slow-motion effects.

Panasonic Pro AG-HVX200
High Definition Camcorder

"My opinion on the HVX200: First off, I have been using the HVX for almost a year with my high school video program. The HVX is our main camera, so we have several.

Out of all the cameras I've used, I have to say the HVX is my favorite. Great HD quality, and amazing color. I almost always shoot in 720p 24pN or 30pN, and am completely satisfied. HDV cameras don't compare to the reliability, quality, and capabilities of the P2 codec. For one thing, there's less wear and tear. And another, less compression because the meta data is stored on tape, but rather solid state media (P2). Mind you, making the switch from tape-based to solid state cameras like the HVX does take a little getting used to (good file organization on the computer hard drive is key!!!!). The media cards are also extremely expensive should you need additional P2 cards (I believe the 32GB card is over $1,000).

Still, the Panasonic HVX200 provides similar functionality to higher end gear such as the Panny Varicam. It's a pro quality camera in a prosumer package... Being able to switch between recording formats (1080i 60i/30p/24p and 720p 60p/30p/24p) is an amazing feature... Also, one of my favorite things about the HVX is its Variable Frame Rate mode...it can overcrank to 60 frames per second and undercrank to 12fps. It's real fun playing around with that for slow motion or fast motion time lapse stuff. It even allows variable frame rates at small intervals such as 22fps or 26fps, which gives you subtle speed changes. Tape based cameras can't do that..."

extract from Yahoo! Answers