Panasonic Announces Pricing Of AG-HPX250 P2 HD Camcorder With Master-Quality 10-BIT, 4:2:2 AVC-Intra Recording

Panasonic Solutions Company today announced that the new AG-HPX250, its first P2 HD handheld camcorder with 10-bit, 4:2:2 independent-frame, full 1920 x 1080 resolution AVC-Intra recording, will be available later this month at the suggested list price of $5,995.

“The AVC-Intra codec is highly prized for the master-quality 10-bit, 4:2:2, independent frame images it produces,” said Joseph Facchini, vice president of sales and product management, Panasonic Solutions Company. “Now, for the first time with the HPX250, Panasonic offers an ultra-portable handheld camera with full-resolution, 10-bit, intra-frame recording in a one-piece unit without the need for an add-on recorder. This is an unprecedented level of image quality in such a lightweight camera.”

Weighing 5.5 pounds in a sleek body, the HPX250 incorporates high-sensitivity 1/3”, full-HD 2.2 megapixel 3-MOS imagers, and a 20-bit Digital Signal Processor to acquire native 1920 x 1080 resolution images. Offering a wide 28mm to 616mm (35mm equivalent) 22X HD lens with 3 independent adjustable rings (Zoom/Focus/Iris), the HPX250 covers most shooting situations without the need for a wide-angle conversion lens. The 22X lens also features an Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) function that ensures stable images during shooting.

The HPX250 offers variable frame rate capability in 1080p up to 30fps (17 steps) as well as 720p up to 60fps (25 steps) for undercranking/overcranking to create fast or slow-motion effects. In addition to AVC-Intra 100/50 recording, the HPX250 records in DVCPRO HD, as well as standard definition recording in DVCPRO50, DVCPRO, and DV. The HPX250 supports international HD and SD standards, an added benefit to producers with global clients. The HPX250 offers recording in 1080/59.94i, 29.97pN, 23.98pN, as well as 720p at 23.98pN and many other formats.

The HPX250 offers Genlock/timecode input for multi-camera operation, as well as an HD-SDI output, an HDMI output, and an IEEE 1394 in/out. The camcorder is equipped with a Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) function in 60i or 60p to help compensate for wide variations in lighting, a waveform monitor and vectorscope display, and two focus assist functions – a picture expanding function and a focus bar. The HPX250 features two locking XLR inputs with switches for mic/line, two RCA audio outputs, +48V Phantom Power capability, and records four channels of 48kHZ/16 bit digital audio.

Equipped with two P2 card slots, the HPX250 can record for up to 320 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 at 720/23.98pN, 160 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 1080/23.98pN, and 128 minutes in other AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD formats on two 64GB cards.

The P2 HD handheld offers all the benefits of a faster, file-based P2 HD workflow, including native AVC-Intra compatibility with leading nonlinear editing systems and video servers. It is also equipped with recording features such as instant recording startup, clip thumbnail view for immediate access to video content on all cards, and a host of time-saving recording modes including continuous recording, card slot selection, hot swapping, loop, pre-record (three seconds in HD and seven seconds in SD), one-shot, and interval recording. The camcorder also features an SD memory card slot for saving or loading scene files and user settings.

Additional features include 4-position ND optical filter controls, auto focus with face detection, white balance, mode display, zebra display, color bar, tally lamps, slow shutter, and synchro-scan shutter functions, a multi-language menu, and three programmable user buttons.  A wireless remote is also included.

For easy HD viewing, the camera is equipped with a widescreen 1,226,000-pixel LCOS color viewfinder, and a widescreen 921,000-pixel 3.45-inch LCD color monitor. Its power consumption is low at only 15 watts.

The HPX250 is backed by a five-year limited warranty program (1 year + 4 additional years with registration).

Password must contain the following:

A lowercase letter

A capital (uppercase) letter

A number

Minimum 8 characters

;
SVGLogoHR_NOTAG-200

The Latest in Sports Video Production & Technology
in Your Inbox for FREE

Daily Email Newsletters Monday - Friday