February 13, 2009
Panasonic's solid-state AG-HPG20 P2 Portable recorder/player with AVC-Intra capability will be available in March for $5,295 with a five-year limited warranty program. An optional mounting bracket, P2-Mount (for mounting the P2 Portable onto large cameras), will be available for $190.
The AG-HPG20 offers users greater P2 workflow flexibility, a bridge to higher recording quality or tapeless workflow for older HD-SDI equipped cameras, and a solution to a multitude of other high-quality-recording challenges.
With AVC-Intra, DVCPRO HD/50/25 and DV compatibility, the HPG20 P2 Portable is a 10-bit, 4:2:2 master-quality deck for fast, file-based recording. Its removable solid-state P2 cards offer recording times that exceed those of tape or optical disc-based products.
Featuring built-in 10-bit AVC-Intra recording/playback, the HPG20 P2 Portable makes 10-bit, 4:2:2 master-quality video more affordable and portable. This workflow tool allows users to play back and review P2 cards on its 3.5-inch LCD screen, manage clip files and metadata, record content from a wide range of Panasonic and non-Panasonic cameras via its HD-SDI input, and back up data onto hard disk drives. With two P2 card slots and battery operation, the P2 Portable’s rugged, solid-state design holds up to the demands of field production, yet it is small and light enough (2.5 lb.) for easy transport.
The HPG20 supports a wide range of high-definition and standard-definition recording formats. Recording and playback formats include 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 720/60p, 720/50p in the AVC-Intra and DVCPRO HD 4:2:2, independent frame codecs; and 480/60i, 576/50i in DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV. The unit plays back HD/SD content automatically (no need to change settings) and can operate in 50Hz or 60Hz. For added versatility, the P2 Portable supports up-, down- and cross-conversion for HD or SD transmission. Additionally, the HPG20 offers simplified confidence playback of P2 video clips stored on a hard disk drive.
The unit’s HD/SD-SDI and IEEE 1394 input interfaces open the door for endless applications in HD or SD production. The P2 Portable can be connected to DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV tape-based camcorders via IEEE 1394 for solid-state backup recording in the field. It also accepts and records signals (with metadata) from any camera with an HD-SDI output, making it an essential tool for broadcast field applications such as news crew pool feeds. Additionally, there is 4:3 marker that can be displayed over incoming video for safe-shooting requirements.
The P2 Portable can play back to large HD production monitors or transfer uncompressed content to HD-SDI-equipped decks, postproduction systems and storage networks. When connected to a laptop’s IEEE 1394 output, the portable recorder serves as a transcoder to HD-SDI-equipped monitors for real-time playback from the timeline. Using the HPG20’s USB slot (in Host mode), users can easily transfer content to a low-cost USB hard drive for a seamless, IT-based deliverable for clients. Versatile playback functions include format auto playback, slow-motion and double-speed playback, single-clip playback and repeat playback.
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The HPG20 P2 Portable features a host of time-saving P2 clip management functions. In addition to viewing recorded files in clip thumbnail view, users can copy or transfer select clips from one P2 card to another, copy selected clips from a hard disk drive onto a P2 card, shot-mark specific clips, edit a clip’s metadata (support for multiple languages included), or save a text memo to individual clips when recording or previewing. P2 cards can also be hot-swapped for continuous recording. Additional features include an SD card slot for loading metadata or saving user files, and helpful recording functions like a waveform/vectorscope display, loop record and auto record commands that accompany the HD-SDI signal.
Eight-channel audio input/output, an internal speaker and headphone (M3 mini) jacks are also included. For ease of use, the unit offers three assignable user buttons.
When using two 64GB P2 cards in the P2 Portable’s two card slots, the unit can record for 128 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD, 256 minutes in AVC-Intra 50 or DVCPRO50, or 512 minutes in DVCPRO.
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