PANASONIC AG-HPX170E P2HD SOLID-STATE PAL CAMCORDER

The Panasonic AG-HPX170E is a PAL handheld P2HD camera which builds on the tradition and success of the AG-HVX200. The camera's enhanced sensor provides lower noise levels while increasing sensitivity in low-light situations. Unlike the AG-HVX200AE, the AG-HPX170E does not include a tape drive, opting for a lighter and more durable frame. In this case "less" certainly means more; removal of the deck translates into a variety of extra features, including a lens with improved wide-angle capability, vector scope, waveform monitor, HD-SDI output, a 6-Pin locking FireWire port, and 3 focus-assist modes.

Good Things Come In Small Packages

The AG-HPX170E feels much like the acclaimed AG-DVX100, as opposed to its more similar and larger cousin, the AG-HVX200AE. Reducing weight makes the camera easy to hold; at 4.2 lbs the camera is very comfortable on long shoots.

Professional Camera Functions

The AG-HPX170E comes equipped with a variety of professional features usually unheard of for a camera in its class. Features include an HD-SDI output for shooting uncompressed footage directly to a deck or computer. The camera also comes with a 6-pin locking FireWire port making it more robust and less prone to accidental yanks. Other functions include a waveform monitor, histogram, vector scope and delete-last-clip button.

P2 Flash Memory Recording Storage

P2 is a recording medium for professional systems. Since P2 cards use no drive mechanisms, they provide superior resistance to impact, vibration and temperature changes. There is currently a choice between 16GB, 32GB and 64GB P2 cards. A 64GB card will record 64 minutes of the highest quality HDTV video, 176 minutes of 720p/25 frame video or over 4 hours of standard definition DVCPRO25/MiniDV video.

Superior Quality Lens

The 13x zoom lens system features 13 lens elements in 10 groups, including three aspherical lenses. Panasonic has reduced the front lens element from 67mm on the AG-HVX200AE to 53.2mm on the AG-HPX170E. The use of low-dispersion glass reduces color aberration while a multi-coating process minimizes flare and ghosting.

Super Sensitive CCDs

Each pixel has a large light-receiving area, giving this advanced 1/3" progressive CCD the kind of high sensitivity not available in previous compact HD cameras. This advanced CCD combines with a newly developed 14-bit digital signal processor (DSP) to achieve a balance of high resolution and high S/N ratio that rivals even the most sophisticated HD broadcasting cameras.

Advanced Digital Signal Processor

The AG-HPX170E advanced digital signal processor uses 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit inner processing to attain unprecedented accuracy. While the camera does not record 1080/50p, it is from this capture that all other signals are made. The DSP performs a variety of adjustments, including eight types of gamma settings, for each of the R, G and B channels. It also converts the signals to HD or SD format. With a performance equivalent to the processors used in many higher-end HD cameras, this DSP helps the camera deliver beautiful images in all video formats.

DVCPRO HD Codec

Using the DVCPRO HD codec recording system, the AG-HPX170E records HD video with outstanding image and audio quality onto a P2 card in file format. This codec, thanks to a low compression ratio at a video bit rate of 100 Mbps (1080/50i, 720/50p) and the easy-to-edit intraframe compression system, is suitable for recording fast-moving subjects with no motion artifacts other than motion blur. The 4:2:2 sampling rate minimizes jaggies at chroma edges and is advantageous in image and compositing. Sound quality is excellent too, thanks to DVCPRO HD's uncompressed 16-bit, 4-channel digital audio recording capability.

VariCam Functions

The AG-HPX170E inherits many of the functions of the popular VariCam which enhanced the production of movies and television programs. It has variable frame rate features that respond to fast and slow action. Its true 25p progressive video, cine-like gamma curves, and cine-like color matrix capture images and scenes with much the same look and feel as footage from a film camera. All controls and system interfaces are designed to meet professional needs.

Optical Image Stabilizer

The optical image stabilization system ensures glass smooth images even with moderate shaking while shooting hand-held.

Specifications

Signal System                                       PAL, NTSC

                                                                                1080/60i, 1080/50i, 25p

                                                                                720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p,

                                                                                576/50i, 24p

                                                                                480/60i, 30p, 24p

Image Device                                                       3-CCD, 1/3"

                                                                                16:9 Native Aspect Chips

Lens                                                                       Leica Dicomar 13x Zoom

                                                                                3.9-51mm f/1.6-3.0

                                                                                (35mm Equivalence 28-368mm)

                                                                                72mm Filter Diameter

Signal-to-Noise Ratio                                          Not Specified By Manufacturer

Horizontal Resolution                        1080 Lines

Sensitivity                                                             Not Specified By Manufacturer

Minimum Illumination                       3 lux

Vertical Smear                                     Not Specified By Manufacturer

Built-in Filters                                       1/8 ND, 1/64 ND

LCD Monitor                                                        3.5", 210,000 Pixels

Viewfinder                                                            0.44" Color, 235,000 Pixels

Scan Matching                                     Yes

                                                                                Different Ranges for Different Record Modes

Memory Card Slot                                              SD Memory Cards for Scene-File Sharing

                                                                                Two P2 Card Slots for Video

Shutter Speed Range                                          50i/50p mode

                                                                                1/50(OFF), 1/60, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000 sec.

                                                                                25p mode

                                                                                1/25, 1/50 (OFF), 1/60, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec1

                                                                                60i/60p mode

                                                                                (Preset) 1/60 (off), 1/100, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000,1/2000s

                                                                                30p/30pN mode

                                                                                1/30, 1/50 (off), 1/60, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000s

                                                            24p/24pA/24pN mode

                                                                                1/24, 1/50 (off), 1/60, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000

Gain Selection                                      0-18dB Range

Audio

Audio Signal Format                                           16 bit/48kHz Four Channels

Audio Frequency Response                               20Hz to 20kHz

General

Input and Output Connectors                           Component Video: Video Terminal (x1 Output)

                                                                                Composite Video: RCA (x1 Output)

                                                                                HD/SD-SDI: BNC (x1 Output)

                                                                                Analog Audio L/R: 3-Pin XLR (x2 Input)

                                                                                Line: Pin-Jack (x1 Output)

                                                                                FireWire: 6-Pin Locking

                                                                                USB 2.0: MiniB

                                                                                Camera Remote: 2.5mm Super Mini (Zoom), 3.5mm Mini (Focus/Iris)

Power Requirements                                           7.2VDC (with Battery)

                                                                                7.9VDC (with AC Adapter)

Power Consumption                                           10.9W (without LCD Monitor)

                                                                                11.7W (with LCD monitor)

                                                                                13.8W (Max)

Operating Temperature                      32-104