Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. today announced pricing and availability for its forthcoming AG-DVX100, a new Mini-DV camcorder with the ability to capture imagery at the 480i/60 NTSC standard, as well as cinema-style 480p/24 and 480p/30. Panasonic claims the new camera is the world’s first and only 24p DV camera.
Featuring Panasonic’s “CineSwitch” technology, the AG-DVX100 can operate in 580i/60 mode — NTSC standard — as well as 480p/30fps and 480p/24fps. In 480p/24 mode, the AG-DVX100 is designed to capture “cinema-like images” for a variety of applications like documentaries, music videos and independent filmmaking. It’s also ideal as a teaching tool for film and drama schools, according to Panasonic. The camera also sports CineGamma, functions that enable you to create video with film-like gamma contrast characteristics.
The AG-DVX100 incorporates newly developed 1/3 inch progressive-scan 410,000 pixel 3 CCD imagers which deliver more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution — that’s a 25 percent quality improvement over analog, according to Panasonic, which added that the native progressive CCDs help to eliminate interlace artifacts like horizontal jaggies and motion-edge tearing. The camera also features low smear and flare, a low light performance of 3 lux (at +18dB) and a high sensitivity of f11 at 2000 lux.
The new camera also features a wide-angle zoom lens (4.5mm to 45mm) with a 56-degree viewing angle. Users also gain control over subtle picture adjustments with a variety of manual controls, including Servo/Manual Zoom (with stops and barrel markings), Auto/Manual Focus (at f1.6) with 72mm filter size, and Auto/Manual iris. It incorporates a large, centrally-located pivoting electronic viewfinder suitable for left or right eye use, as well as a flip-out 270 degree 3.5 inch LCD panel.
The AG-DVX100 also provides 16-bit/48kHz digital audio via two-channel, built in XLR inputs, a 48v phantom power supply, manual audio volume controls, and Line/Mic switchability. Of course, the mini DV camcorder also features an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) data port, for digital video download or upload to FireWire-equipped Macs and PCs.
The camera can record using the conventional 4:3 aspect ratio — good for fullscreen video work — or the 16:9 aspect ratio “letterbox” mode preferred by filmmakers and digital video enthusiasts. It weighs about 4.2 pounds.
Look for the AG-DVX100 to appear in October. The new camera carries a suggested retail price of US$3,795.
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