video guide A <strong>Sound</strong> Pro’s Guide To VideoCamcorders: Video <strong>Media</strong>>newsComputer memory and storage gets bigger andcheaper seemingly every month. As broadcastingmoves ever closer to IT so the same developmentsand benefits are being seen for video equipment.During the recent NAB ConventionPanasonic introduced a 64GBversion of its P2 solid-statememory card, doubling theamount that can be recordedon to its solid state HD and SDcamcorders and decks.The AJ-P2C064 64GB P2 card is due to begin deliveriesduring the third quarter of this year and will be soldalongside the existing 32-GB and 16-GB cards. The newsampling and 1080 and 720 operation; and theshoulder-mounted PDW-F335, which can shoot in50i/59.94i/23.98p/25p/29.97p for both DV and HD.The Solid State ApproachPanasonic mounted a strong challenge to Sonyand its disc camcorders by taking an opposingtechnological stance. Its approach was to producea tapeless version of DVCPro using solid statememory cards, a radical departure for broadcastvision. Although the technology was beingaccepted for audio recording, there were severedoubts over how reliable, efficient, and effectivesolid state would be for video.The initial doubts were soon overcome andPanasonic’s P2 range has become immenselypopular, particularly for newsgathering. Just asIkegami promotes its Editcam under the bannerof DNG, so Panasonic also claims to have created anew genre of broadcasting, ING (IT newsgathering).By removing not only tape but also disks Panasonicdid away with moving parts and mechanisms, whichwear out and can be affected by weather and dirt.Central to Panasonic’s tapeless camcordersis the P2 (Professional Plug-in, so PP) series solidstate memory card. This records in either DVCPro50, DVCPro or DV, with the cards fitting intoports on P2 camcorders and VT decks and theninto the corresponding slots on a PC for loadinginto non-linear editing workstations and otherdevices, without the need for digitisation.Interconnection is through the MXF format.Leading the P2 SD camcorder range are theAJ-SPX900 and AJ-SPX800, which have five P2 cardsslots, with seamless, continuous recording fromone to another.The move to HD came in 2005 with theAG-HVX200 P2miniCam, which offers progressivenative 16:9 HD 3CCD imaging and a HD quality LeicaDicomar wide-angle zoom lens. The P2miniCamrecords in both 1080i and 720p, working at theDVCPro HD compression video bit rate of 100Mbps.It is also able to shoot in standard definition usingDVCPro50, DVCPro, and DV.During 2007 Panasonic introduced four newmodels: the handheld AG-HPX200, the AG-HPX500,an entry-level professional camcorder, theAG-HPX2100, a P2 version of the HDX900, andthe higher-end AG-HPX3000, which operates inmedia can store over four hours of DVCPro material, inexcess of two hours of DVCPro 50 or AVC-Intra 50, or 64minutes of AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPro HD. This means anAJ-HPX3000 P2 HD camcorder runningfive 64GB cards can record for 320minutes in AVC-Intra 100 or DVCProHD and 640 minutes in AVC-Intra 50or DVCPro 50.Also launched at NAB 2008 wasa new P2 HD camcorder, theAG-HPX171. This handheld modelalso works in SD, has a wide zoom lens and an HD-SDIinterface, enabling it to connect to a basebandproduction and distribution network.native 1080. These new cameras work on H.264codecs and have two modes; 50Mb/s, comparableto DVCPro quality, and 100Mb/s, giving HD D5performance. The P2 range was expanded yet againat the recent NAB Convention (see news story).We Can TooBroadcasters have embraced ING and the P2concept to such an extent that last year broughtsomething of a u-turn from Sony when itintroduced a solid stateXDCAM model. ThePMW-EX1 uses a newFlash memory card, theSxS PRO, which canrecord up to 100 minutesof HD material at 35Mbps,or 140 minutes at25Mbps on to two 16-GBcards. SxS is based onthe ExpressCard, whichis used widely in PCs andlaptop computers.During NAB 2008 theXDCAM EX range wasexpanded by the arrivalof the PMW-EX3 ‘semishoulder’camcorder, thePMW-EX30 deck, andthe PHU-60K professionalhard-disk unit.The PMW-EX3 is able toaccommodate differentlenses and offers gen-lock,timecode, and remotecontrol, making it suitablefor studio use. This HDcamcorder can work witha variety of frame rates,including 59.94i, 50i, andnative 23.98P, as well asrecording in both 1080iand 720P. The PMW-EX3also has a high qualitymode, running at 35Mb/s,and a HDV 1080i setting.Sony also demonstrateda prototype SxS PRO cardwith 32GB capacity.Like its competitors Thomson (Grass Valley)entered the tapeless arena in 2005, although itsInfinity range has progressed fitfully since then.This may be because the company ambitiouslyclaimed that it was not only doing away withtape but also format barriers, as the technologyis designed to work on multiple standards,including PAL, NTSC, 720, and 1080 and is intendedfor newsgathering, field production, documentariesand videography.Thomson slightly hedged its bets as Infinitytakes both the hard disk and solid state routes,using Iomega REV PRO removable disks, storingup to 35GB for over two hours of SD or 45 minutesat HD, and the professional version of CompactFlash media memory, which can handle up to 8GB.The Infinity Digital <strong>Media</strong> Camcorder is a threeXensium 2/3-inch CMOS imager SD/HD device,with 14-bit digital imaging. It can operate in 525i60,625i50, 1080i50, 1080i60, 720p50 or 720p60, whileSD formats can be recorded in 16:9, 4:3 andletterbox aspect ratios.Next MonthVideo Guide now ends its lengthy explorationof the world of camcorders but stays withinthe realms of cinematography, moving on nextmonth to the developing area of digital camerasfor feature films and television drama. ∫AUDIO MEDIAFrankfurt PodcastThe Latest <strong>Audio</strong> <strong>Media</strong> Podcastis now online!Check out all the latest news and hotproducts at ProLight + <strong>Sound</strong> withexclusive interviews fresh from theshow floor. Go to audiomedia.comtoday for full download details.Sponsored by TC ElectronicAUDIO MEDIA MAY 200865
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