Six pre-set 'scene files' handle common challenges like fluorescent lighting, or creating a film-like color curve and contrast. The iris can be controlled with a manual dial or it can be set on automatic. The camera has physical switches for gain, white balance and neutral density filters. There is a manual zoom and focus ring as well as an auto focus setting and a focus assist that enlarges part of the image to improve accuracy. The camera is equipped with a respectable, although not interchangeable, lens-a Leica Dicomar F1.6, with a 13x zoom and sharpness and speed suitable for high definition. And it is also a fully equipped SD camera capable of shooting 480/60i, 24p or 30p in 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios onto miniDV tape. In the 720p mode you can also shoot in variable frame rates for true fast or slow motion, emulating film frame rates from 12 fps to 60 fps. In high-definition mode, you can choose to shoot 1080 (60i, 24p or 30p) or 720 (60p, 24p or 30p). The Panasonic HVX200 captures digital video on three 1/3-inch CCDs in all existing formats. The HVX200 delivers full HD in the DVCPRO HD format: 1/6.7 compression with a data rate of 100 Mbps and 4:2:2 sampling.

The Panasonic HVX200 is notable for two reasons-it records full HD in all existing formats, and it records onto solid-state media. It is important to look at this camera now because it's bound to create a ripple effect of innovative offerings at NAB2006.Īll of the other HD camera contenders in this price bracket employ the HDV format, which relies on MPEG-2 compression. Panasonic stirred up the waters at last year's NAB by releasing the AG-HVX200, a revolutionary, handheld HD camcorder that records on P2 memory cards.

Panasonic p2 hd video camera