Press release from Panasonic Australia
SBS Television has joined a growing number of broadcast companies now using Panasonic P2 HD technology to enhance its newsgathering and field production systems.
SBS Television has deployed 11 AJ-HPX2100 P2 HD Camcorders as well as three AJ-HPM200 P2 HD Mobile and three AG-HPG20 P2 Portable tools across its news operations in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. The company has also purchased various P2 Card Readers including the AJ-PCD2, AJ-PCD20, AJ-PCD35 and AG-MSU10.
John Lock, Capital Development Manager, SBS Television, said, “Panasonic’s P2 HD product suite ticked all the right boxes, offering SBS a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution that enables us to deliver news content in a reliable, flexible and efficient way. Panasonic’s solid-state production technology has helped us achieve a faster workflow by dramatically improving the way we capture, transfer and distribute video content.”
Mr. Lock added, “I was concerned that the migration to P2 HD format would be disruptive to our field teams, however Panasonic’s customer support was extremely helpful in ensuring the transition was smooth and resulted in very little down-time.”
SBS joins over 950 television networks around the world that have adopted the P2 format. P2’s solid-state design – from camera to media with no moving parts – has been integral in most television network format decisions.
Commenting on the deal, Mathew Alexander, Product Manager – Broadcast, Panasonic Australia, said, “Panasonic is delighted that SBS Television has selected our P2 HD technology to support the upgrade of its newsgathering and field production systems. We are confident that the deployment of this technology will revolutionise the way SBS gathers and transmits news content now and in the future.”
Backed by a five year warranty, Panasonic’s P2 HD products have become the preferred standard across the globe for newsgathering and production.
AJ-HPX2100 P2 HD Camcorder:
The AJ-HPX2100 is the first shoulder-mounted memory card camera-recorder (P2 cam) to support both SD and HD recording in multi-format.
The AJ-HPX2100 combines a high-image-quality, high-sensitivity HD camera with a memory card to provide all of the advanced P2 solid-state functions. Its multi-format capability lets you record in 1080i/720p HD or SD. The AJ-HPX2100 brings new solutions to the production of news and information programs with the recording functions made possible by P2 multicard slots, such as card selection, hot-swap and loop rec. It also provides immediate transmission with a clip thumbnail display and the convenience of proxy and metadata.
It expands HD's production flexibility by putting IT workflow into your hands with its outstanding mobility, operational readiness and cost-efficiency. The AJ-HPX2100 offers a host of functionality designed to enhance broadcasting applications, including high-sensitivity digital super gain, DRS (Dynamic Range Stretcher), and digital zoom.
AJ-HPM200 Mobile:
With new editing and recording functions, expanded AV/IT connectivity and optional AVCHD support, the new AJ-HPM200 P2 HD Mobile field is the most versatile 10-bit, independent frame, 4:2:2 quality HD field recorder and can be used with virtually any camera.
The AJ-HPM200 offers all of the popular features found in its predecessor, the AJ-HPM110, and adds new functionality including: enhanced cuts editing with separate source and record windows, full-frame rate playback from external disk drives, AVCHD compatibility with the AJ-YCX250G option card, up-conversion of live video inputs in real-time, e-Sata and Giga-bit Ethernet interfaces for expanded network connectivity and 24p Time Code input for production applications, including use as a source for a traditional dailies process.
The AJ-HPM200's ability to record in master-quality AVC-Intra (100/50) as well as DVCPRO HD/50/25 and DV gives it the flexibility to be used at the centre of any production from tape-based digital cameras to high-end cinema cameras with 1080/24PsF output. Now with optional AVCHD compatibility, the AJ-HPM200 gives professionals simple, easy-to-use solution for managing HD content for distribution, storage and playback using SD memory cards.
Professionals can play AVCHD files directly from an SD card using the unit's SD slot, convert P2 content to AVCHD for low bit rate distribution over a network, convert AVCHD to P2 to edit in a P2 project, and record P2 and AVCHD simultaneously for backup or distribution.
New e-Sata and Giga Ethernet interfaces allows users to playback and edit content directly from hard disk drives and share files across FTP networks faster, whether working with high resolution P2 or lower-bit rate AVCHD.
Additional features added include up-conversion of live video inputs in real-time, full frame rate playback from external disks, 24p Time Code input for production applications, including use as a source for a traditional dailies process.
The versatile AJ-HPM200 is ideal for a wide range of applications including broadcast (transitioning ENG users to HD field production), sports trucks, live events, studio and post production, and more.
AG-HPG20 Portable:
Featuring AVC-Intra recording, the powerful, 1.1kg (2.5-pound) AG-HPG20 P2 Portable brings easy playback, recording and file copying of 10-bit, 4:2:2 content to field and studio work. Equipped with two P2 card slots and a 3.5-inch LCD monitor, the P2 Portable lets you view content immediately in a variety of formats — whether it's 10-bit, 4:2:2 AVC-Intra or DVCPRO HD or in standard definition in DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV.
With professional inputs/outputs (IEEE 1394, USB 2.0 and HD-SDI) and AVC-Intra support, the P2 Portable serves as a low-cost, master-quality deck for fast, file-based recording in high quality production workflows. The unit's HD/SD-SDI input terminal gives the flexibility of HD or SD line recording from a wide range of video sources, bridging content to and from older tape-based systems and new HD-SDI infrastructures. The shock-resistant, solid-state recorder features a wide range of clip playback and management functions (including metadata editing), speakers and easy-to-use controls.
The battery-powered AG-HPG20 is compatible with Panasonic's range of camcorders and camera systems and can work with a broad range of non-Panasonic camera systems. It is also Windows PC and Mac compatible.
The versatile P2 Portable is an essential workflow tool for these uses:
P2 card playback/transfer (alone or connected to computer/NLE system)
HD or SD playback to large screen and production displays
Solid-state backup recording with tape-based camcorders (via IEEE1394)
Lower Resolution recording for proxy work
Signal recording (with metadata) for broadcast field operations such as news crew pool feeds
Master-quality recording using AVC-Intra workflow (transfer via uncompressed HD-SDI for post-production systems and storage networks)