New AG-HVX200 News

From an HD/Studio e-mail newsletter:


Breaking News at NAB
Dual-format/Variable Acquisition for Under $10K: Wow.

Panasonic looks to have a genuine hit on its hands with the new AG-HVX200 1080i/720p/480i multi-format camcorder it debuted at NAB. Serving as a hybrid camera for those still undecided about whether to shoot in standard- or high-definition, it records 100 Mbps HD to solid-state P2 cards and SD (DVCPRO50, DVCPRO or DV) to a DVCPRO tape drive, while including variable frame rate (1080/60i, 30p and 24p; 720/60p, 30p and 24p) functionality. And the best part? With adequate storage included, it can be yours for under $10,000.

NLE providers including Apple, Avid Technology and Canopus have announced support to allow users to edit material as MXF files directly from the P2 card via an IEEE 1394 or USB 2.0 interface.

The camera features three native progressive 16:9 CCD HD imagers and a Leica Dicomar wide-angle zoom lens. Along with the existing 2 GB (approximately $1,700 each) and 4 GB (around $3,000) P2 cards shown last year, Panasonic introduced an 8 GB P2 card (cost unspecified) that holds 32 minutes of DVCPRO or DV (25 Mbps) material, 20 minutes of 720p/24, 16 minutes of DVCPRO50 (50 Mbps), and eight minutes of 1080i/60 and 720p/60 (100 Mbps) HD. The compact camcorder includes two P2 card slots, and the cards are hot swappable to enable continuous recording. The AG-HVX200 also captures 720p at various frame rates.

There's also a 4:3 viewfinder that displays a 16:9 image in letterbox and a 3.5-inch LCD monitor to assist shooting as well as to view and select thumbnail clips to facilitate editing. The LCD monitor allows random access to the thumbnail-displayed scenes (on the P2 card) for instant playback and the creation of an in-camera EDL.

Audio capability includes four-channel non-compressed 48KHz/16-bit digital audio in DVCPRO HD and DVCPRO50 and two channels in DVCPRO and DV. It includes two XLR audio (with +48 volt phantom power) inputs, a component output, composite in/out, S-video in/out, RCA audio in/out, and headphone output.

Six user scene files, three user setup buttons, and camera setup memory (up to eight camera setups can be saved to a SD Memory card) allow users to configure the camera any way they like. Other useful features include Shot Mark and Time Code Stamp functions, and interval recording in Mini-DV on tape.

The AG-HVX200, weighing a mere five pounds with battery, will be available in fall 2005 at a suggested list price of $5,995. Keeping to its pre-NAB promise of an