SOURCE: Panasonic

June 18, 2008 04:01 ET

Panasonic Adds Two New HD Camcorders to Its Line -- World's First AVCHD Models With a 3MOS System

New High Definition Camcorders Offer Increased Manual Functions for More Creative Use and Intelligent Auto Mode to Make Shooting More Intuitive

SECAUCUS, NJ--(Marketwire - June 18, 2008) - Panasonic today expanded its High Definition (HD) suite of products, with the announcement of two new full-HD camcorders, the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100, the world's first* AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system which provides superb video image quality. The HDC-SD100 records to SD Memory Card, while the hybrid HDC-HS100 records to both SD Memory Card and to its internal 60 GB* hard drive. Both models include manual functions for the user wanting more precise control over zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed and white balance. The models also include Panasonic's new Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, an intuitive set of technologies that automatically activate, making video shooting an easy, seamless process.

"The camcorder market is moving swiftly to High Definition and superior image quality is now a must-have feature. Moreover, many consumers are also demanding higher-level features, and the ability to be more creative," said Zoe Susice, Group Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "For these users, we introduce two new full-HD 3MOS models -- the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 -- with manual functions that give users the power to create dramatic, artistic images. At the same time, we also have our Intelligent Auto mode, which activates several technologies automatically, so the user doesn't need to make any adjustments, and shooting video is an easy and enjoyable experience."

The world's first AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system are newly developed by Panasonic and based on the company's 3CCD technology, an already-established and renowned system that provides excellent color reproduction. With their expanded light-receiving areas, the MOS sensors also significantly improve image quality, even in low lighting. The three MOS sensors process the red, green, and blue components of incoming light separately, so color reproduction is superb. These sensors also have about double** the light-receiving area of CCD sensors, so image quality when shooting in low light is much higher. Compared with a conventional 1MOS, Panasonic's new 3MOS system captures more vibrant, true-to-life colors, greater detail and richer gradation. This high-precision imaging element is first in the world*** to shoot in lighting as low as 2 lux and helps the SD100 and HS100 capture exceptionally clear, bright images.

Adding to the 3MOS sensor, Panasonic HD Advanced Pure Color Engine and a new Leica**** Dicomar lens -- helps the SD100 and HS100 deliver the outstanding images in full-HD 1920 x 1080 recording*****. Full-HD recording, with its total of 2,070,000 pixels, provides exceptional image details and rich colors. The Leica Dicomar lens system used in camcorders comprise 12 lenses in 9 groups, including aspherical lenses to improve resolution and contrast and an LD (low-dispersion) lens to help prevent color bleeding. Also, a special multi-coating process is applied to all lens elements to minimize chromatic aberration, so images are crisp, clear, and free of flare and ghosting. The use of a highly refractive lens also made it possible to have both 12x zoom power and a compact body.

To maximize the capabilities of the new HD-level 3MOS sensor featured in the SD100 and HS100, Panasonic further enhanced the company's renowned Advanced Pure Color Engine image processor with the introduction of the new HD Advanced Pure Color Engine. A noise reduction circuit combines with the Intelligent Contrast Control circuit to boost image quality while reducing power consumption. The dynamic range is also about twice that in previous Panasonic models, which helps prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows and allows more natural color expression. Offering both higher image quality and longer battery life, the HD Advanced Pure Color Engine takes camcorder performance to new heights.

Panasonic's iA mode, automatically activates several convenient shooting functions at once, so the user does not have to manually change any settings. These include:

--  Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) detects hand-shake and
    then triggers the lens to shift to correctly align the optical axis,
    helping to ensure videos are sharp and reduce blur. This happens at a rate
    of 4,000 times per second.
--  Face Detection automatically adjusts the exposure, contrast, skin
    complexion effect, and focus so that faces are always clear. Face Detection
    can detect up to 15 faces in a frame.
--  Intelligent Contrast Control continually measures the ambient light
    intensity and adjusts the contrast as it changes, helping to prevent a
    washed-out look in bright parts of an image and black-outs in parts with
    shadows.
--  Intelligent Scene Selection which determines the shooting environment
    and automatically selects the appropriate scene setting for optimal
    results.
    

Both camcorders come packaged with HD Writer 2.6 software for Windows, and also support iMovie '08 for Apple, which let users directly edit the high-quality full-HD moving pictures they capture with their camcorders. The SD100 and HS100 are compatible with Panasonic's VIERA Link™, allowing users to connect the camcorder to a VIERA HDTV via an HDMI cable, and operate the camcorder using the TV remote control, and following on-screen prompts. Furthermore, users can also take the SD Memory Cards from the camcorders and slip it into the SD card slot on a Panasonic PZ850 series VIERA HDTV, or a Panasonic BD50 or BD30 Blu-ray Disc™ Player, and enjoy easy, instant large-screen viewing of stunning HD video.

Both Panasonic models will be available in September 2008 for manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $1,299.95 for the HDC-SD100 and $1,099.95 for the HDC-HS100. For more information, please visit www.panasonic.com.

*1GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes.  Usable capacity will be less.
** Compared with the HDC-SD9/HDC-HS9.
*** For HD camcorders as of June 18, 2008, shooting in Low Light mode at a
shutter speed of 1/25.
****Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH, and
Dicomar is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.
***** In HA/HG/HX mode. "Full-HD video with 1920 x 1080 pixels" in
Panasonic home-use camcorders refers to video recordings with 1,920 pixels
in the horizontal direction and 1,080 pixels in the vertical direction.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.