Archive notice: This article was originally published on April 27, 2006. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Panasonic does not want to release any more new developments in SD; there are to be new products only for HD. However, attention is to be paid to compatibility with SD. Uwe Rohr, General Manager Broadcast and Professional AV, explained this on the sidelines of NAB. The aim is to bring HD devices onto the market at SD prices. In the HD field, both 720p and 1080i and all interesting derivatives are supported.
Rohr does not want the support for the H.264 codec announced during NAB to be understood as a departure from DV, but as a decision pointing toward the future. Panasonic has developed its own I-frames-only version of the codec and is currently seeking support for it. There are to be three versions with 50, 100 and 150 Mbit/s.
Rohr also explained that Panasonic had already sold 1.000 units of the AG HVX 200 camcorder in Europe within the first four weeks since its market launch. Another 1.000 had been sold but not yet delivered.
The company is using NAB to present a whole range of new products, including the AJ HDX 900 camcorder for all HD formats. It is to cost 25.000 euros.
Panasonic’s commitment to its in-house P2 memory cards is clearly recognizable in the new products in this area: The P2 HD station AJ-HPS 1500, for example, is intended to form a bridge into the IT world. LAN and ISA-Net connections are present on it just like the option of connecting external hard disks. The device is available from the middle of this year and will be priced at 20.000 euros.
With the AJ HPM 100, a device that is portable P2 editing suite as well as an in and out station is expected to be available from December 2006. The AJ HPM 100 is to cost 12.000 euros in Germany.
With the AJ HPC 2000, Panasonic is showing a camcorder that supports both SD and HD. This camcorder will not be available in Germany until mid-2007 and will then cost around 28.000 to 30.000 euros.
ZDF has already been a P2 development partner of Panasonic for some time. During NAB, the two partners now announced further cooperation that also provides for larger investments by ZDF in P2 technology.
Further links:
- Panasonic P2
