Cameras: News and Updates

Free Downloadable Update Offers Improvements in CMOS Performance, Picture Quality, Flash Band Effect and More

(Secaucus, NJ) Panasonic Broadcast announced the immediate availability of a free flash band compensation firmware update with new performance enhancements for its AG-HPX300 10-bit, 4:2:2 P2 HD camcorder with AVC-Intra recording.

The new firmware update improves CMOS imager performance and compensates for the “flash band” effect experienced by most MOS-based imagers.* The update allows the camera to use a specially developed LSI signal process that removes “flash” artifacts commonly caused by the rolling shutter feature in these imagers. It detects the “flash band” frame and combines it with the previous unaffected frame image to compensate for divided flash band frames and maintain the natural frame sequence.

The update is available now at
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/cs/csregistp2m/ep2main/soft/upghpx300_e.htm.

An instructional video covering the flash band compensation improvement as well as shooting techniques for working with skew is available on Panasonic Broadcast’s channel on YouTube at www.youtube/user/PBTSProVideo.

The update will also make the HPX300 compatible with the new E Series P2 cards, reduces noise in 1080/24p and 1080/30p recording modes and when using the scene file F3 setting (SCENE SPARK), and adds Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) functionality when using the slow shutter modes.

Panasonic also announced that a PAL (50Hz) compatibility upgrade is now available for the HPX300 camcorder at an additional cost of $800. For more information or to purchase, email pbtscservice [ at ] us.panasonic [ dot ] com. Eligible HPX300 units must be registered to a US-based customer and have a U.S.-issued serial number.

For more information on the HPX300 and other P2 HD products, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.

About the HPX300

The AG-HPX300 provides the ultimate quality and flexibility in an affordable, full-size HD shoulder-mount. Incorporating an innovative, low profile shoulder mounted design, the HPX300 P2 HD camcorder offers independent frame AVC-Intra recording, variable frame rates and the flexibility of interchangeable lens. The two-slot camera records stunning images in a variety of formats from master quality AVC-Intra and production quality DVCPRO HD to standard definition DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV. Features such as selectable gamma, Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) and Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) ensure optimum performance in a wide range of applications.

About Panasonic Broadcast

Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video products and systems.  Panasonic Broadcast is a Unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations.  For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.

*As there is still a possibility for the appearance of discontinuous motion with excessive camera movement or when recording very high-speed objects, care should be taken in these shooting conditions.