HDD) and SDR-H00 (60GB internal HDD) are hard disk drive-based, while the SDR-S26 records on SD cards. The cameras include an Easy YouTube Upload function, optical stabilization and face recognition, plus Scene Selector, which picks the right mode setting for optimal results. Panasonic also introduced six full-HD camcorders ranging from basic affairs to prosumer level. The pro-oriented HDC-HS300 (shown), HDC-TM300 and HDC-HS250 are the first to use a new 3MOS sensor system, which record 9.15 million pixel movies and 10.6MP still images or 8.3MP resolution stills when simultaneously capturing video. Other features include AF tracking, scene detection and automatic shooting mode selection, and optical image stabilization.
For details and pricing of all of the models, read the Panasonic USA press releases:
Panasonic Introduces New Camcorders with World’s First and Most Powerful 70x Ultra-Zoom Lens
Three New Camcorders, the SDR-H80, SDR-H90 and SDR-S26, Feature Advanced Optical Image Stabilization and Intelligent Auto Technologies
Las Vegas, N.V. (January 7, 2009) – Panasonic today expanded its 2009 camcorder line with the addition of two Hard Disk Drive (HDD) models, the SDR-H80 and SDR-H90%3B and one SD Card model, the SDR-S26 – all of which feature the world’s first and most powerful 70x optical ultra-zoom lens*. All three models also include an advanced Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) system which helps reduce blur caused by a shaky hand and Panasonic’s proprietary Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies, making the camcorders easy to use.
“Before today, traditional camcorder lenses could zoom up to 50x, but with the extra 20x our new camcorders provide, Panasonic is the first to offer such a powerful solution,” said Dennis Eppel, Vice President, Network Business Group, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Panasonic understands that consumers sometimes need that extra zoom to truly capture dynamic colors, expressions and motions when the subject is far away, such as during an on-stage school play or sporting event.”
The powerful 70x optical ultra-zoom lens is supported by Panasonic’s advanced O.I.S. system which reduces the effect of hand-shake even when subjects are zoomed to maximum magnification. Gyrosensors detect hand shake, and the advanced O.I.S. shifts the lens to correct the optical axis and repeats this detection and correction process about 4,000 times per second. This superb correction performance, which produces sharp, clear motion images far better than electronic image stabilization systems, is critical for a camcorder with such a long and powerful zoom.
Panasonic’s iA technology detects the shooting conditions and automatically selects the most suitable modes and settings so features like Advanced O.I.S. and Face Detection, which adjusts the exposure so faces are captured perfectly, engage seamlessly. Also included in iA is the Intelligent Scene Selector, which determines which Scene mode will provide the optimal results. For example, it can determine and choose the proper Scene mode from the following four patterns: Scenery (landscapes), Portrait (people), Spot Light (bright and dark areas), Low Light (indoors and outdoors).
The SDR-H90 can capture and store video to an SD/SDHC Memory Card or its 80 GB** internal HDD, which can record up to 72 hours (in LP mode), while the SDR-H80’s 60 GB internal HDD, which can record up to 54 hours (in LP mode). Both HDD camcorders can protect data extremely well, thanks to the reliable SDHC/SD Memory Card, which does not require any kind of drive mechanism, in addition to the camcorders’ Anti-Shock Shield that helps protect the built-in hard disk from the effects of external impact.
Other features of the SDR-H80, SDR-H90 and SDR-S26 include:
Easy YouTube Upload – this convenient function makes it fast and easy to upload video clips to YouTube.com for easy sharing. Simply install VideoCam Suite software that comes with the model and connect to a PC using the USB interface. ***
Quick Start Mode – Takes just 0.8 seconds for the camcorders to start up in quick start mode, ensuring that sudden shooting opportunities are not missed.
Easy Copy to DVD – Most people use their camcorders for three main purposes: to shoot, play, and archive video recordings. They want each of these functions to be as easy as possible. This feature lets the user save data onto DVDs without all the fuss. By connecting the camcorder to the VW-BN1 DVD Burner (optional) using a USB cable, video recordings can easily be copied to a 12-cm DVD (DVD-RAM/-RW/-R/-R DL). The disc can then be played back on DVD players.
The SDR-H80 has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $449.95 and will come in four colors, silver, black, red and blue models%3B while the SDR-90 has an SRP of $499.95 and will come in black only. The SDR-S26 has an SRP of $329.95 and will come in champagne, black, blue and red models. All three camcorders will be available in April 2009.
Panasonic Introduces Six New Full-HD Camcorders Including the First Models with 3 High Definition Sensors
Panasonic Expands Line of High Definition Camcorders, Including Model with World’s Highest Total Pixel Count*
Panasonic Offers HD Camcorders for Experienced and New Users
Las Vegas, N.V. (January 7, 2009) – Panasonic today expanded its 2009 High Definition (HD) camcorder line with six new full-HD models, ranging from introductory to semi-professional. Three new models, the HDC-HS300, HDC-TM300 and HDC-HS250, are more advanced and feature a newly developed 3MOS chip system, while the three other introductory models, the HDC-HS20, HDC-TM20 and HDC-SD20, offer features ideal for first-time users wanting simple but powerful video capabilities. All six High Definition models feature Panasonic’s first camcorder touch-screen that allows icons displayed on the LCD to be easily operated by touching them with a fingertip.
Panasonic’s new 3MOS system, available in the HDC-HS300, HDC-TM300 and HDC-HS250, assures high image quality for both motion and still images by using three full-HD MOS sensors to provide the world’s highest total pixel count of 9,150,000 pixels (3,050,000 pixels x 3)*. These three semi-professional camcorders are equipped with a newly developed, large-aperture Leica Dicomar lens (filter diameter: 43 mm) and a 1/4.1-inch image sensor. They also record still images with a 10.6-megapixel resolution and feature an 8.3-megapixel resolution for still images when simultaneously recording with video. The HDC-HS300, HDC-TM300 and HDC-HS250 have a luminance of 1.6 lx, allowing them to shoot video in very low-light conditions.
“More and more, we are moving towards a High Definition lifestyle, and Panasonic’s camcorders are no exception,” said Dennis Eppel, Vice President, Network Business Group, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With the introduction of six new models, we are answering a consumer demand to record videos in High Definition quality that are ready for viewing on High Definition TVs. We also recognize that not all users are the same – so we are introducing HD models appropriate for both advanced and new users alike.”
All the semi-professional camcorder models feature more advanced Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies, making them intuitive to use to help users more easily create high-quality video. Panasonic’s iA features include:
Shooting Mode: Chooses the most suitable shooting mode based on the subject.
Auto Focus (AF) Tracking: Once the user touches a selected subject on the touch-screen – the subject can be at the center of the screen or at an edge — and locks the focus on the subject, AF Tracking keeps the subject in focus even if it moves or turns to one side. This records the subject with the optimal AF/AE (auto focus/auto exposure) settings.
Scene Detection for Motion and Still Images: The iA automatically selects the most suitable settings from Portrait, Scenery, Macro, Night Portrait, and Night Scenery modes.
Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S): Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and a lens unit shifts to correctly align the optical axis, so that images are sharp and help reduce blur. The corrections happen at a remarkable rate of 4,000 times per second. Users can capture clear, sharp images even when shooting long-distance zoom shots at times when hand-shake is typically a big concern. These models also have two O.I.S. modes designed exclusively for still-image shooting.
The HS300 and HS250 both feature an internal 120 GB** Hard Disk Drive (HDD), which can store up to 50 hours of recording (in HE mode). The HS20 has an 80 GB HDD and can record 33 hours and 20 minutes in HE mode. These camcorders can easily copy recorded video from the SDHC/SD Memory Card to the hard disk, or vice versa.
New to Panasonic’s camcorder line are two twin memory models, the HDC-TM300 – part of the semi-professional line and HDC-TM20, one of the introductory models. A “twin memory” camcorder means the model can record to the built-in memory or an SDHC/SD Memory Card (optional), and feature a Relay Recording function. With this feature, when the built-in memory becomes full, the camcorder switches the recording media to the SDHC/SD Memory Card to provide uninterrupted recording***. Also, camcorders with a built-in memory versus an HDD are lighter, making them more portable. The HDC-TM300 has a 32 GB built-in memory, allowing for 12 hours of recording (in HE mode), while the HDC-TM20 comes with a 16 GB built-in memory for 6 hours of recording (in HE mode).
The HS300/TM300 models come equipped with a manual ring, an electronic viewfinder and a microphone terminal – all ideal for semiprofessionals looking for more expressive video shooting. These models allow delicate and precise fingertip control of the zoom, focus, aperture, shutter speed and white balance. The HDC-HS250 was designed to be a compact HD camcorder and is virtually identical to the HS300/TM300 models in camera performance, but without the manual functions and electronic viewfinder, thus providing the same high image quality, but in a smaller body for those who want high-quality shooting in a portable body.
New Introductory High Definition Camcorders HDC-HS20/TM20/SD20
The HDC-HS20, HDC-TM20 and HDC-SD20 are Panasonic’s introductory HD camcorder models, recommended for new or intermediate users wanting an easy-to-use camcorder that still produces beautiful and vivid video worthy of sharing with friends and family. All three models feature a 16x optical zoom and a Leica Dicomar lens, but differ in recording media and thus vary slightly in overall size and weight.
The HDC-HS20 is a hybrid model capable of recording onto its internal 80 GB hard disk drive or an SDHC/SD Memory Card (optional accessory). The HDC-TM20 is a twin memory model that can record onto its built-in 16 GB memory or an SDHC/SD Memory Card (optional accessory), and comes in three body colors: black, silver and red. The HDC-SD20 uses an SDHC/SD Memory Card as a recording media and thus is extremely compact and lightweight. All three models also feature AF Tracking.
All Panasonic’s 2009 High Definition camcorder models enable the transfer of recorded data to an Apple Macintosh computer so that recorded video clips can be edited in HD image quality using iMovie software. Other new features of all six High Definition camcorders include:
Highlight Playback – This new feature is designed for users who want to view recorded images as quickly as possible. It detects zooming, panning, scene changes, increases and decreases in sound level, faces and more in recorded images as “highlights” by using Panasonic’s Intelligent Index System.
Auto Power LCD – Automatically adjusts the brightness of the LCD screen according to the shooting conditions. In indoor dark places, it reduces the LCD brightness to 1/3 the normal level to conserve energy. While in well-lit outdoor locations, the LCD is twice as bright as normal level to make the image on the LCD easier to see in the bright surroundings. Manual adjustments are also possible if the user desires.
1.9-sec**** Quick Power On – Helps Catch Sudden Shooting Opportunities – When the camcorder is switched on, it is in recording standby and ready to shoot in just 1.9 seconds. This quick power-on time allows the camcorder to stay in standby mode, thus saving energy. When added to the Quick Start mode, which allows the camcorder to start up in just 0.6 seconds, this is an extremely fast camcorder.
5-Microphone, 5.1-Channel Surround Sound System – The camcorders feature a 5.1-channel surround sound system with 5 microphones. When the recording is played on a 5.1-channel home cinema system, viewers are surrounded by clear, detailed sound that makes them feel as if they are right in the middle of the action. A Zoom Mic function links the microphone’s action to the camera’s action.
Networking – The camcorder is compatible with Panasonic’s VIERA LinkÔ. Connect it to a VIERA HDTV via an HDMI mini cable, and operate the camcorder using the TV remote control and following on-screen prompts. This adds extra ease and convenience to the fun of viewing full-HD videos.
SD Networking with VIERA and Blu-ray Disc™ Player – The VIERA Image Viewer Function lets the user view recorded images on the large screen of a Panasonic VIERA Series Plasma or LCD ***** HDTV by simply inserting the SD Memory Card into the SD Memory Card Slot on the TV. This allows instant playback of video clips recorded in the AVCHD format in full-HD quality. Similarly, video recordings can be easily played by using a Panasonic Blu-ray Disc™ Player******.
Suggested retail prices for all camcorders are as follows: $1,399.95 for the HDC-HS300%3B $1,299.95 for the HDC-TM300%3B $999.95 for the HDC-HS250%3B $799.95 for the HDC-HS20%3B $649.95 for the HDC-TM20%3B $599.95 for the HDC-SD20. All models come in black and will be available in April 2009.
