Panasonic launches new AG-HPX172 compact, light-weight P2HD handheld camcorder

Panasonic will release a new P2HD handheld camcorder, AG-HPX172, this month. This new model has been added to the P2HD series solid-state memory recording system for broadcast use.

The body weight has been significantly reduced by adopting a newly developed 13x Leica Dicomar zoom lens with the widest angle in the 1/3-inch class and using only P2 cards as storage media.

The AG-HPX172 is equipped with a newly-developed 1/3-inch progressive 3-CCD system, which substantially improves signal-to noise (S/N) ratio and prevents smear. Its lens has a focal length of 28mm (35mm equivalent) at the widest angle, which has been achieved by further refining the wide-angle lens design of the highly-reputed Leica Dicomar lens used in the existing HVX202 model.

Adoption of this new lens and use of only P2 cards as storage media accounts for the reduction of body weight by 25 per cent from the existing model, allowing more mobile HD shooting with less load on the hands. The number of steps of the variable frame rate function, which allows recording of overcrank/undercrank images for camera effects, has been increased from 11 to 20.

Furthermore, the AG-HPX172 features a focus assist function to strongly support HD shooting, a Waveform Monitor (WFM) / Vector Scope(VSC) display function, and an SDI (HD/SD switchable) output compatible with a variety of applications.