2/3-Inch, 3-Chip EFP Camera Offers 12-bit 4:4:4 Recording for Commercial Production and Indie Filmmaking, and 4:2:2 10-Bit for Sports, Natural History, Documentaries & Live Events; with Native 1080p, AVC-Ultra Recording and Expanded Off-Speed Shooting
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 7, 2013) -– Panasonic today advanced its VariCam® brand with the announcement of a third-generation model that improves upon the camera’s signature features—off-speed shooting and film-like image production—while incorporating the company’s new AVC-ULTRA family of video codecs.
This third-generation VariCam utilizes three advanced, full 1920 x 1080p wide dynamic range MOS imagers for native 1080/60p recording/operation. The camcorder boasts a true RGB imager/prism system that provides full resolution color. With an EFP-style body, the VariCam’s 2/3” B4 lens mount enables use of native format prime lenses and servo zooms, eliminating the expensive and cumbersome workarounds required when using such optics on larger formats.
Among the camcorder’s top-level production features are real-time high frame rate, off-speed recording to 120fps in full 1080p (in AVC-Intra Class100), a wide dynamic range and 24-bit LPCM audio. A powerful Color Management System provides an exceptional color gamut, and the new Log functionality provides powerful creative control over image contrast. The third-generation VariCam will have both standard P2 and Panasonic’s new microP2 slots.
“Panasonic’s original tape-based VariCam revolutionized digital acquisition with off-speed effects and cinematic imaging, followed by our second-generation P2 HD VariCams that added the exceptional reliability of solid-state, file-based recording,” said Steve Cooperman, Product Manager, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Our third-generation VariCam with AVC-ULTRA recording will become equally at home on the sidelines, in the jungle, or in the studio. The new VariCam will allow video professionals and rental managers to utilize all their 2/3″ optics and accessories while providing new formats and higher frame rates.”
The camera will feature a range of high-quality recording formats including AVC-Intra Class100 (up to 120p), AVC-Intra Class200 (up to 60p) and AVC-Intra Class4:4:4 (up to 30p). Both AVC-Intra Class200 and AVC-Intra Class4:4:4 deliver spectacular performance in applications where image quality is the utmost consideration.
In the new VariCam, AVC-Intra Class4:4:4 supports 12-bit recording for 1080p content, allowing file-based 4:4:4 workflows with the unparalleled ability to handle the finer tonal graduations and color control capability that the 12-bit format provides. AVC-Intra Class4:4:4 is ideal for high-end commercial work, filmmaking, green screen and where critical archiving of the camera originals is required.
AVC-Intra Class200 recording, at twice the bit rate per frame of AVC-Intra Class100, is visually lossless, delivering studio master quality for recording network-level programming and archiving. AVC-Intra Class200 is ideal for field capture of content for film-outs; the higher quality provides for easy color correction, as well as green screen and compositing applications. Recording premium programming in AVC-Intra Class200 today will facilitate up-rezzing to higher-level formats in the future.
The third-generation VariCam adds Log to the well-respected FilmRec, VideoRec and Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) image contrast management controls. DRS helps compensate for wide variations in lighting.
The camcorder features Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) to minimize lateral chromatic aberrations and dramatically improve the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of the optical system.
With its familiar EFP body style and fast power-up, the new VariCam will afford exceptional mobility for real-time shooting.
The third generation VariCam will be available early next year, with pricing to be announced. For further information about Panasonic professional video products, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast
Panasonic Solutions for Business
Built on a celebrated engineering foundation, Panasonic architects business technology solutions that help build a better world. Customers in government, healthcare, production, education and a wide variety of commercial enterprises, large and small, depend on integrated solutions from Panasonic to help them acquire, manage and interpret the information that drives innovation. The complete suite of Panasonic solutions addresses unified business communications, mobile computing, security and surveillance systems, retail information systems, office productivity solutions, high definition visual conferencing, projectors, professional displays and HD video production. As a result of its commitment to R&D, manufacturing and quality control, Panasonic engineers reliable and long-lasting solutions as a partner for continuous improvement. Panasonic solutions for business are delivered by Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, which is a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation.
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