New Panasonic AG-DVX100A Now Available
December 18, 2003
Secaucus, NJ - Panasonic has announced that the AG-DVX100A, the second-generation of its progressive-scan camcorder is available immediately, with significant advances. As with its predecessor, the four-pound, hand-held AG-DVX100A is set apart by its exclusive CineSwitch technology supporting 480i/60 (NTSC), cinema-style 480p/24fps and 480p/30fps image capture.
The AG-DVX100A is equipped with more than 20 new user-requested features including: enhanced 24p and 30p progressive mode functions; improved color reproduction; new cine-like gamma curves and enhanced image adjustments; a slow shutter function for higher sensitivity and dramatic motion effects; smoother zooming and focusing; a new squeeze mode for 16x9 recording; and new auto focus assist and interval recording modes for improved ease and versatility.
Panasonic has outfitted the AG-DVX100A with a new prism system (with color separation filters) to deliver the best picture quality in its class. Its new on-chip lens design delivers more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution, lower flare and smear, and a high F11 sensitivity, which allows the camera to record at three lux (at +18dB) for nighttime acquisition. Its native progressive-scan CCDs eliminate interlace artifacts including horizontal jaggies and motion-edge tearing, the manufacturer reports.
Its precision wide-angle zoom Leica Dicomar lens (4.5mm to 45mm with a 56-degree viewing angle) allows the run-and-gun shooter to be "one step closer" to the action without the added expense, weight, distortion and inconvenience of an add-on adapter. The minimum object distance from lens to subject has been significantly improved to 0.6 meter (from the standard one [1] meter) in telephoto mode.
The AG-DVX100A features a 12-bit A/D converter (the same 12-bit processing as in high-level broadcast camcorders) that precisely digitizes the gradation and colors captured by the progressive CCDs, and the unit's Optical Image Stablizer (OIS) virtually eliminates blurring caused by hand shake.
With its unique CineSwitch selectable operation, the camcorder records in either 480p/24fps, 480p/30fps, and 480i/60 (NTSC) to serve the widest range of users. The AG-DVX100A offers new functions in its 24p and 30p progressive modes. Those improvements include auto focus assist, gain up (+12dB maximum) and SMPTE color bar display and output in progressive modes.
Also new in the AG-DVX100A are three modes for shooting 16x9 wide-screen video. With its standard wide-angle lens, users can record 16x9 images in letterbox mode or newly-added squeeze mode, which "squeezes" the 16x9 image to fit into the 4x3 video on tape. Panasonic also offers an optional 16x9 conversion lens.
In addition, a new interval recording mode has been added where recording times can be set from 0.5 seconds to two seconds at intervals from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. There's also a One-Shot mode for animation-style filmmaking.
In the AG-DVX100A, Panasonic has greatly expanded Cine-Like gamma curves, which produce images strikingly similar in tone to film images. New gamma curve settings - Cine-Like D, Cine-Like V and Black Press -give users a total of seven to work with. The new "Enriched" color matrix setting permits the recording of even more saturated colors. To help imaginative cinematographers create different "looks," new picture-enhancing features --- Vertical Detail Level, Coring, and Knee (Auto, Low, Mid and High) - allow the subtlest of picture adjustments.
The AG-DVX100A assures quick, sharp focusing that can be accomplished manually or automatically. Its slow shutter function uses image accumulation to enable shuttle speeds with frame rates reduced by half or more, delivering the ultra-high sensitivity needed for nighttime shooting without illumination, as well as dramatic frame-by-frame motion or soft focus effects.
When the user turns the zoom ring, he experiences a similar kind of resistance as with popular 35mm lenses. The AG-DVX100A is equipped with a servo-driven zoom that allows slow zooming at a speed 50% slower than its predecessor. Slow zoom has been extended from 20 seconds to a more dramatic 30-second duration.
The AG-DVX100A now provides three user-assignable buttons, each of which can be assigned to any one of 11 set-up functions. Its Scene File Dial can quickly be set for any discrete shooting condition, and the user can later retrieve the settings instantly. Six preset files are also provided. The unit offers a raised guard to protect the Scene File Dial from unintentional changes. The camcorder also includes a three-position White Balance with Auto Tracking White Function.
In addition to phenomenal video quality, the AG-DVX100A delivers professional 16-bit/48kHz digital audio with two-channel, built-in XLR inputs; phantom power supply (+48V); and Line/Mic switching. Unlike consumer DV camcorders, the audio is locked to video with a Phased-locked loop circuit.
The AG-DVX100A has the same type of "glow-in-the-dark" level-adjustment dials as in broadcast-level camcorders. Auto gain limiter control can be turned on and off, and the input mic level (-50dB/-60dB) can be selected from the menu. Headphone output level has been increased by +6dB and the volume control is now active in Record mode.
The camcorder is equipped with IEEE-1394 in/out interface for the fast, easy upload/download of digital video to a computer or to another DV recorder. Its IEEE 1394 in/out circuit features a new synchro lock function that allows the AG-DVX100A to remotely start and stop an external DV device.
The camcorder's large electronic viewfinder (EVF) tilts upward 100 degrees for easy, low-angle shots. The AG-DVX100A also adds a black-and-white display mode (with the same high resolution as its color display) and features separate image adjustments on the menu. Its large 3.5" color LCD monitor rotates 270 degrees, facilitating high-angle shots or self-recordings. The AG-DVX100A introduces a new detail Peaking function in the EVF and flip-out LCD monitor for edge enhancement to aid in focusing.
This well-balanced camcorder's short body and light weight make it highly maneuverable and ideal for use on cranes and jibs. The camcorder features a magnesium alloy diecast chassis similar to Panasonic's broadcast-grade cameras. The AG-DVX100 also sports a new color -- diamond graphite/black.
Among the AG-DVX100A's comprehensive list of standard features are two built-in, easily accessible ND filters (1/8 ND, 1/64 ND); 2-pattern zebra and marker (now extending to 99); tally lamps; and a reversible eye cup for left and right-eyed shooters. The camcorder's standard accessories include 1.6Ah battery, AC adapter/charger, microphone holder, remote control, shoulder strap, lens cap, 63-minute DV Master tape and instruction manual.
The AG-DVX100A is available at a suggested list price of $3,995.
For more information, visit
www.panasonic.com/broadcast
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