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Panasonic AG-AC90 professional camcorder: three CMOS sensors in a handheld package for $2,250
While filmakers have gone gaga over huge sensor'd video cameras, there's still a need for smaller chips and pro features -- to that end, Panasonic has just announced the AG-AC90 AVCCAM. Destined for event and corporate users, it features three smallish 1/4.7-inch CMOS sensors ("3MOS" in company-speak), a 12X zoom, native 1,920 x 1,080 at 60p, 60i, 30p and 24p, and a five-axis image stabilizer. As for video quality, there's a new "premium professional" recording mode with 28 Mbps throughput at 60p, on top of 24 Mbps and 17 Mbps modes. With two memory card slots, the camcorder supports Panasonic's proprietary UHS-1 cards, and fortunately works with SDXC and SDHC to boot. It's slated to arrive in "late fall 2012," according to the company, and will ring the register at $2,250. So, if the first thing that pops into your mind is not DOF, but zebras, timecode and XLR inputs, check the PR for all those specs.
Steve Dent08.15.2012
Panasonic refreshes HD camcorder range: 3MOS, 1MOS and Waterproof offerings
Alongside its new Lumix snappers, Panasonic just dropped a bunch of new HD camcorders at CES. It's the 1MOS models that get the most vigorous make over, with six new 1920 x 1080 shooting cams in total. The HC-V700 and HC-V700M are the new top of the 1MOS line; armed with a proprietary High Sensitivity Sensor, promising better indoor and night-time shots, there's also 3D capture when used with the new VW-CLT2 conversion lens, plus a 21x optical and 46x "high-powered' (we guess digital) zoom. The mid-range HC-V500/M cameras have a 2D to 3D image conversion function (also found in the V700s) as well as Natural, Pop, Dynamic & Classical special effects modes and 38x optical / 50x digital zoom. For the less feature-fanatical are the HC-V100 and HC-V100M which have lower power consumption for longer shooting despite a smaller 2.028 x 2.343 x 4.429 inch form. If you were wondering what makes the M models different, the answer would be 16GB built-in storage. Three other single models also got a trotting out, starting with the HC-X900M, for those who find just one MOS simply isn't enough. The HC-X900M is Panasonic's new full HD 3MOS video shooter and is the follow up to last year's HDC-HS900. Full 1080p at 28Mbps is complemented by Panasonic's new 3MOS System Pro imaging system, which it claims reduces noise by 40 percent over the HDC-HS900. To round out the features we have 32GB onboard storage (with SD expansion), improved O.I.S., zoom mic functionality (linked to the zoom action) and a 1,150,000-dot 8.8-cm / 3.5-inch LCD. Next up is the waterproof HX-WA2, which will survive a three meter dip in the pool (or nine feet, eight inches). Other treats for adventurous types include 14 megapixel stills shooting, a panoramic mode (simply pan the camera up,down,left and right) and 15x zoom. Oh and will it will be available in blue or orange, of course. Last, and kinda least is the HC-V10, a compact HD cam for those on-the-go moments. With iA auto mode and pre-rec function -- that starts recording when you aim at a subject -- this model is clearly built with those OMG youtube moments in mind. You also get a crazy 63x optical zoom and a choice of colors: black, silver or red. There's no word on price or availability yet, but Panasonic tells us it'll part with these crucial details at least 30 days prior to when the devices finally ship. In the meantime you can check the full PRs below for more info.
James Trew01.09.2012
Panasonic's AG-3DA1 camera will shoot 3D video, Robonaut vlogs on the International Space Station
NASA's Robonaut 2 is something of a celebrity around these parts, owing to his dashing good looks and insatiable appetite for publicity, which can now be put to good use with a new toy the landlubbers are sending his way: a professional 3D camera. The human-aiding robot that presently calls the International Space Station home will soon be joined by Panasonic's AG-3DA1, a full 1080p 3D video recorder with twin lenses and dual 2 megapixel 3MOS sensors. Panasonic is also loading up the next Space Shuttle Atlantis flight to the ISS (scheduled for June 28th) with 25.5-inch 3D LCD monitors and rugged Toughbook laptops to help with documenting proceedings aboard the research vessel. The new shooter costs a whopping $21,000, and though it's not clear whether NASA paid for it or Panasonic just decided to be charitable, the space agency should have the cash to splash after deciding to shelve the James Cameron-approved project to slap a zoom-equipped 3D imager on its next Mars rover. We're just wondering if the human world is quite ready for 3D video blogs from its favorite robotic astronaut.
Vlad Savov04.11.2011
Panasonic HDC-HS350 allows you to record over 30 hours of HD
If you liked the HDC-TM350, then we can pretty much guarantee you'll be a fan of the HS350, unveiled by Panasonic today. Essentially identical to its elder brother -- but for the hard disk bump on its right side -- the new AVCHD camcorder ups internal storage from 64GB to 240GB and retains all other salient features: 10.6 megapixel 3MOS sensor, 12x optical zoom and SDHC expansion up to 32GB per card. The increase in storage allows for over 30 hours of continuous full HD recording, meaning that your battery will give out long before you need to fiddle with your storage options. No word on the when, where and how much questions, but if we had to guess we'd say soon, everywhere and plenty.
Vlad Savov07.08.2009
Panasonic's HDC-HS300 HD camcorder reviewed, thoroughly enjoyed
Panasonic's HDC-HS300 was unleashed amidst a flurry of other camcorders at CES this year, but according to Trusted Reviews, it won't be hiding under the shadows of everyone else for long. Rather than bogging you down with details, we'll just get right to the punch -- critics didn't hesitate to suggest that this "could well be the best [consumer] camcorder released all year." The most important aspect (yes, we're talking about image quality) was said to be "nothing short of stunning in virtually all conditions," and low light performance was deemed "particularly amazing." There were plenty of outputs, a swank touchscreen LCD and a very impressive cross-shaped array of microphones that could record 5.1 audio. Add all that up, and you've got a real winner; in fact, these guys suggested that even Canon's stellar line of VIXIA camcorders should watch closely, 'cause the HS300 is stepping all up in that rarefied air.
Darren Murph02.08.2009
Panasonic's HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 AVCHD camcorders, now with extra MOS
Ready for some new terminology? Good, try on "3MOS" -- Panasonic's newest sensor adaptation which, judging by machine translated text, is a trio sensors capturing twice the light of a single CMOS of the same 1/6-inch size. Think 3CCD applied to CMOS sensors. The result is said to be superior image quality and impressive low-light recording capability -- twice the sensitivity of its own 3CCD camcorders thanks to what Panny calls its new "heavy lifting iA" enabling them to shoot in a mere 2 lux of available lighting. That's just a glimpse at what you'll find inside the solid state HDC-SD100 (supporting up to 32GB of SDHC) and the HDC-HS100 hybrid offering both SDHC and a 60GB hard disk for storage. These 1080i AVCHD camcorders also features Panasonic's improved optical image stabilization, a 12x optical zoom, 5.1-surround mic, and HDMI-out.The ¥130,000 (about $1,205) SD100 and ¥150,000 (about $1,390) HS100 should hit the Japanese retail block on July 12th.Update: English press release now available.
Thomas Ricker06.18.2008