Panasonic today announced availability and pricing for the new AJ-PX5000G 2/3”, 2.2M 3-MOS shoulder-mount, the company’s first P2 HD camcorder with native AVC-ULTRA recording and built-in microP2 card slots. The PX5000G features 720p* and 1080p/i recording, and is also the first P2 HD camera that will record in full-resolution, 10-bit 1080/60p (in AVC-Intra100).The PX5000G will be available in October at a suggested list price of $25,000.
 
With its breadth of recording options, ultimate image quality, variety of professional I/Os and powerful expandability, the PX5000G will address niches in network news, documentary, high-end corporate and sports production, as well as the rental market.
 
Panasonic’s AVC-ULTRA offers master-quality and/or low-bit-rate 10-bit, 4:2:2 recording in Full raster HD to meet a variety of user needs from mastering to transmission. Addressing the need for high-speed file exchange, its high-resolution AVC-Proxy encodes in parallel with higher bandwidth production formats, enabling fast, efficient offline editing, at bit rates from 3.5 megabits down to 800 kilobits per second.
 
Like the current AG-HPX600, the PX5000G provides innovative network functionality to improve workflows. The PX5000G’s AVC-Proxy files and Network function (wired/wireless LAN) make it possible to configure a workflow for previewing images, editing metadata, editing playlists, and uploading motion images quickly and at low cost with a PC/Mac, tablet, or smartphone.** A new 3G/4G/LTE dongle for wireless workflow over a mobile network is scheduled for the near future.
 
The camcorder incorporates a choice of AVC-LongG quality levels, including AVC-LongG50 and AVC-LongG25. Designed for applications where file size is critical, these 10-bit, 4:2:2 sampled codecs record in a much smaller file size, saving storage cost and transfer times over MPEG-2 while maintaining equal or better video quality. In the future, lower bit rate AVC-LongG12* will be made available.
 
The PX5000G offers optional AVC-Intra200** recording, which at twice the bit rate per frame of AVC-Intra100 is visually lossless, delivering a master quality codec in an affordable, file-based camera. The AVC-Intra200 option will yield a cost-effective approach to network-level program acquisition, film-outs and higher levels of color correction. In addition to AVC-LongG and AVC-Intra100/50, the PX5000G offers standard recording in DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV. In addition to 1080/60i, the AJ-PX5000G supports 24p*, 30p*, 60p (AVC-Intra100 only), and 720p multi HD format and SD recording. Also, 50i, 50p, and 25p are supported by 59.94 Hz/50 Hz switching.
 
Weighing only 7.5 pounds, the camera has two microP2 slots and two standard P2 card slots***, as well as an SD card slot for proxy/metadata recording. MicroP2 cards are substantially downsized to match the size of an SD card, and offer a considerable reduction in cost compared to a P2 card.
 
Professional interfaces include MON out (can be set to output HD-SDI), HDMI out, HD/SD-SDI in/out, 3G-SDI out, genlock in for multi-camera operation, timecode in/out, USB 3.0 (host) and a two-channel UniSlot compatible wireless receiver.
 
The PX5000G’s three 2.2M pixel MOS sensors deliver a horizontal resolution of 1000 TV lines; the camcorder achieves high F12 (59.94 Hz)/F13 (50 Hz) sensitivity and produces excellent images with an S/N ratio of 62 dB. The shoulder-type design accommodates a variety of interchangeable B4 mount 2/3” lenses.
 
The camcorder will be equipped with Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) to maximize lens performance; Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) function to optimize scene image contrast at the pixel level, reducing overexposure and crushed shadow content and dramatically improving human skin rendition; and a highly accurate flash band detection and compensation algorithm that minimizes partial image exposure due to strobe lighting. The PX5000G delivers seven-mode (HD/SD/FILMLIKE 1/FILMLIKE 2/FILMLIKE 3/FILM-REC/VIDEO-REC) gamma selection and extensive digital image settings.
 
Innovative features include a smart user interface that permits accessibility to the camera’s extensive functions from an LCD display on the side of the camera; a 16:9, 3.5-inch, 920,000-dot resolution LCD color viewfinder, which doubles as a LCD monitor when open; a simplified waveform and vectorscope; a 10-pin remote terminal enabling remote camera operation; and an optional camera studio system.
 
Audio capabilities include two XLR audio inputs, and recording up to four channels of 48kHz, 24-bit audio in AVC-Intra formats (16-bit in AVC-LongG, DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO and DV).
 
Standard features include Scan Reverse for use with a cinema lens adaptor; Digital Zoom function for 2x, 3x and 4x boosts; Presettable Shutter Speed from 1/12 to 1/2000 sec plus fully variable Synchro Scan; two four-position optical filters, ND and CC, with four positions each. (The CC filters are 3200K, 4300K, 5600K and 6300K, NDs are Clear, 2, 4, 6 stops.)
 
In addition, an option supports operational integration with live video uplink transmitter devices from partner LiveU: the status, settings, and bandwidth condition for the LiveU LU40 Series can be displayed on the camera viewfinder, and uplink start/stop can be operated, allowing the camera operator to handle live relays comfortably and securely.
 
Optional color and black-and-white viewfinders are immediately available for the PX5000G,
 
For further information about Panasonic professional video products, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.
* Available in March 2014
**Options available in March 2014
 ***The PX5000G does not support spanned recording between the microP2 and standard P2 cards slots.
 
Panasonic Solutions for Business
Built on a celebrated engineering foundation, Panasonic architects business technology solutions that help build a better world. Customers in government, healthcare, production, education and a wide variety of commercial enterprises, large and small, depend on integrated solutions from Panasonic to help them acquire, manage and interpret the information that drives innovation. The complete suite of Panasonic solutions addresses unified business communications, mobile computing, security and surveillance, retail point-of-sale, office productivity, high definition visual conferencing, visual communications (professional projectors, displays, digital signage) and HD video production. As a result of its commitment to R&D, manufacturing and quality control, Panasonic engineers reliable and long-lasting solutions as a partner for continuous improvement. Panasonic solutions for business are delivered by Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, which is a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation.
 
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About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Based in Newark, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and services for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation, and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic is committed to becoming the electronics industry's leader in green innovation by its one-hundredth anniversary in 2018. In the 2013 Interbrand Annual Best Global Green Brands ranking, the Panasonic brand jumped two spots to number four: http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2013/Best-Global-Green-Brands-2013.aspx. As part of its continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Panasonic Corporation of North America relocated its operations to a new eco-efficient office tower adjacent to a mass transit hub in Newark, NJ in July. Information about Panasonic Eco Ideas initiatives is available at http://panasonic.net/eco/ecoideas. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.