Panasonic AG-HPG10 P2 HD camcorder available

Panasonic’s
AG-HPG10, a rugged, highly affordable P2 solid-state high-definition/standard -definition
video viewer/recorder, is now available. Dubbed the P2 Gear, the 1.1-pound,
battery-operated AG-HPG10 provides a host of functions to support P2 workflow in
the field as well as within video production facilities, including P2 card
playback, transfer and recording, uncompressed HD-SDI transfer, clip file and
metadata management, and data back up onto USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 equipped hard
drives.

The AG-HPG10
features a 3.5” 4:3 LCD monitor and a two-slot P2 memory card drive. It
offers playback in multiple formats, including 1080i (24p, 24pA, 25p, 30p, 50i,
60i), 720p (24p, 24pN, 25p, 25pN, 30p, 30pN, 50p, 60p), 576i (25p, 50i) and
480i (24p, 24pA, 30p, 60i). It supports downconversion from HD (1080 or 720) to
SD (480) and cross-conversion (720 to 1080) for HD transmission.

The P2
Gear is equipped with two industry standard high-speed data transfer
interfaces, IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0, for transferring content to a PC- or
Mac-based nonlinear editor or FireWire-equipped DV/DVCPRO/HD tape deck. The
HD-SDI output allows playback to a larger HD production monitor or uncompressed
content transfer to HD-SDI equipped decks, post production systems and storage
networks. For added flexibility, the P2 Gear can record from IEEE 1394-equipped
DV/ DVCPRO/ DVCPROHD camcorders and decks. P2 cards can also be “hot-swapped”
for continuous recording.

To
expedite a user’s workflow, the AG-HPG10 features time-saving P2 clip management
functions. This portable recorder allows professionals to: copy select clips
from one P2 card to another for more efficient use of card capacity, shot mark
specific clips, update a clip’s metadata* with specific information such as
names and location, or save a text memo to individual clips when recording or
previewing.

The P2
Gear’s professional input/output interfaces include HD-SDI output (HD/SD and
four embedded audio channels supported), IEEE 1394, USB 2.0 with a host
function, SD video out, component and composite video output and audio output
(CH1/CH2 pin jacks), and an SD memory card slot. The P2 Gear also supports
playback of variable frame-rate sources and features invaluable functions such
as waveform/vector scope display (which displays the waveform and vector of a
playback video signal or IEEE 1394 input video signal) and continuous loop
playback. These can be quickly accessed via three programmable user buttons on
the unit. The P2 Gear has 50/60-Hz operation and comes standard with an AC
adapter and battery.

With
Panasonic’s forthcoming 32 GB P2 cards, available November 2007, the HPG10 can
record for over 60 minutes in intra-frame (independent frame) 720p 60 and
1080i, or for more than four hours in standard definition.

The AG-HPG10
P2 Gear is available now at a suggested list price of $3,995 including a 5-year
limited warranty program .