SECAUCUS, NJ (September 24, 2009) – Panasonic Broadcast has announced pricing and delivery of its new AG-HMR10 AVCCAM compact field recorder/player and the ultra-slim AG-HCK10 remotely controlled 3-MOS HD camera head. Both of these products are versatile additions to the company’s growing AVCCAM line of professional solid-state high definition products.
The AG-HMR10 handheld recorder and the AG-HCK10 compact camera head, which can be connected via optional cables (in 3-meter and 20-meter lengths), will be available next month at suggested list prices of $2,600 and $1,800, respectively. Shipments of the HMR10 recorder will come initially (through March 2010) bundled with free Neo 2 video editing software (Retail Value: $199).
 
The HMR10 professional AVCCAM recorder provides the flexibility of low cost, SD memory card based recording and full 1080 and 720 resolution capture in a small, portable unit. The new AVCCAM recorder utilizes AVCHD (MPEG-4/AVC High-Profile) compression and is ideal for applications in video production, sports coaching, healthcare, public safety, remote imaging and much more. Equipped with an HD-SDI input and output, the HMR10 AVCCAM recorder is also suitable for back-up recording from any HD-SDI-enabled camera or for use in studio or event production. The 1.2-pound unit features a lightweight, ergonomic design suited for handheld use (3.78” W x 2.07” H x 5.24” D) and has four 3mm threaded holes for flexible mounting.
 
The HMR10 records stunning full HD 1920x1080 resolution images in three recording modes – the highest quality PH mode* (average 21 Mbps/max. 24 Mbps), HA mode (approx.17 Mbps) and HG mode (approx.13 Mbps). The fourth recording mode, HE (approx. 6 Mbps), records at 1440x1080. The HMR10 records in HD formats including 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 720/60p and 720/50p. With input from the AG-HCK10 camera head, the HMR10 will also record 1080/30p, 1080/25p and 1080/24p. It also supports downconversion from HD to SD output.
 
With the HMR10, users can capitalize on the compact size, cost advantages, solid-state reliability and the widespread availability and low cost of SD and SDHC memory cards. Using just one 32GB SDHC memory card, a user can record three hours of full resolution 1920x1080 video and audio in PH mode, four hours at HA mode and 5.3 hours at HG mode. In the HE mode, the camera can record up to 12 hours of 1440x1080 HD content – all on a single 32GB SDHC card. SDHC cards containing AVCCAM recordings can be played directly in a growing number of affordable Panasonic Blu-ray players, plasma displays, Sony PlayStation 3® ** game machines, PCs and other devices.
 
In addition to HD-SDI input/output and an external mic input (stereo), the HMR10 comes standard with interface connections including the HDMI out and USB 2.0, and is compatible with TC/UB recording. It also has a built-in speaker and headphone stereo mini jack. The lightweight handheld’s 3.5-inch color LCD monitor displays content in thumbnail images for quick viewing. (The HCK10 camera head can be remotely controlled while images are checked on the LCD monitor.) Additional features include waveform monitor, simplified vectorscope display, zoom, start/stop, color bar and tone, key lock, convenient playback and recording functions such as shot mark, record check, pre-record, last clip delete, auto record, metadata recording, and 11 one-touch operation buttons. The HMR10 is compatible with camera remote controllers for the AG-DVX100, the AG-HVX200 P2 HD, and the AG-HMC150 and AG-HMC40 AVCCAM camcorders. It operates on battery or 7.3V DC power (AC power supply included).
 
For editing or playback, professionals can instantly transfer content from the SD card to Mac or PC computers with an SD/SDHC card reader or by connecting the HMR10 recorder directly via its USB 2.0 interface.
 
The ultra-compact HCK10 camera head, nicknamed POVCAM, is equipped with three newly-developed 1/4.1-inch 3.05-megapixel HD resolution 3-MOS imagers to deliver high-quality image quality. Weighing a little over a half pound, the HCK10 camera head is ultra-slim (2.1” W x 2.2” H x 4.8” D) and features a 12x optical zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) and Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS), a dynamic range expansion tool that simultaneously compresses highlight information and boosts shadow detail in real time. DRS, mic settings, iris, focus, zoom control and power are supplied from the HMR10 recorder.
 
Other features include a built-in microphone, 1/4" 20 socket for mounting and 43mm lens filter size. Cables connecting the camera to the recorder will be available in lengths of 3 meters (9.85 ft.) for a suggested list price of $300, and 20 meters (65 ft.) for a suggested list price of $600. The cables are detachable at each end for added flexibility.
 
Panasonic’s AVCCAM series brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals with a range of products. In addition to the HMR10 and HCK10, the AVCCAM line includes the new compact AG-HMC40, the very popular AG-HMC150 handheld, and the shoulder-mount AG-HMC70. AVCCAM products record stunning professional AVCHD video onto inexpensive, reusable SD/SDHC cards, like digital still photography, providing a fast and simple, file-based workflow with ultra-reliable performance. AVCHD digital files can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) or optical storage media and transferred to future storage media as technology advances.
 
AVCHD, an MPEG-4 /AVC Hi Profile-based format, provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency with improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression used in HDV formats. It is supported by a wide range of editing options including Apple Final Cut Pro 6.0.5, Adobe Premier Pro CS4, Grass Valley EDIUS Pro 5 and EDIUS Neo 2. In addition, a free transcoder, available for download from the Panasonic Broadcast web site, will convert AVCHD files to DVCPRO HD P2 and down-converted DV files for use with most existing professional editing packages.