Industry observers wondering how Panasonic would respond to HDV camcorders from JVC and Sony received their answer at NAB: the AG-HVX200, a compact DVCPRO HD P2 camcorder.
The unit supports 1080i and 720p at 100 Mbit/s in DVCPRO HD. P2 recording modes include 1080/60i, 30p and 24p, plus 720/60p, 30p and 24p. The camera inherits several functions from the AJ-HDC27 VariCam, including variable frame rates, a cine-like gamma curve and a cine-like colour matrix for a film-style image. It also includes a DV tape mechanism for 16:9 DV recording, while HD is recorded to P2 cards. Support for European 50i and 25p standards had not yet been confirmed.
The camcorder costs US$5,995, placing it in the same price range as JVC and Sony HDV models. Its data rate is four times higher than HDV, while P2 media imposes its own limitations. Buyers will need to decide where their priorities lie and may even adopt both formats. Panasonic plans availability in the fourth quarter of 2005.
