Panasonic announced the immediate availability of 16GB and 32GB models in its lower-cost E Series P2 card line. The 16GB E Series P2 card (model AJ-P2E016X) sells for $420; the 32GB E Series P2 card (model AJ-P2E032X) is $625. The E Series P2 cards provide high-quality recording for an average of five years with normal operation. The 64GB E Series P2 card will be available in August at a suggested list price of $998.

Panasonic's standard extended lifetime 16GB, 32GB and 64GB P2 cards (A Series) continue to be available. Panasonic list prices for the A Series and E Series P2 cards are available here.

	Panasonic AJ-P2E032X 32GB E Series P2 card

Incorporating a newly-developed memory technology, E Series P2 cards transfer recorded content at a faster rate (up to 1.2Gb/s) than professional solid-state memory cards offered by other manufacturers. For example, users can transfer a full 16GB E Series card’s content (any format) in less than two minutes. E Series cards offer the same high-quality recording and capacity as standard Panasonic P2 solid-state memory cards, and feature Panasonic’s signature aluminum die cast casing for exceptional durability compared to plastic-based memory card products.

E Series P2 cards are reusable for up to five years when recorded on once daily, at full capacity (100 percent); when used at half capacity (50 percent), the cards can continue to record for up to 10 years. A notification is given (in the camcorder’s LCD/viewfinder or the card reader’s display) as the card approaches the end of its life cycle.

The E Series cards are designed to work with Panasonic’s full line of P2 camcorders, recorders and workflow tools. A free E Series firmware upgrade for P2 equipment is required for optimum performance. Additional free downloads available via Panasonic’s Web site include the P2 Driver upgrade (required for operation of cards on Mac or Windows platforms), and the P2 Formatter, a computer software that allows users to display and track the P2 card’s capacity and life.

Unlike other disc-based or solid-state recording systems, P2 cards are a high-speed bit bucket, offering high-quality video recording and optimum flexibility, including reliable performance, instant access to content and compatibility with all P2 camcorders, P2 recorders and workflow tools and all major nonlinear editors and servers. P2 cards store content in the complete range of P2-supported frame rates and formats, from high definition to standard definition and from DVCPRO to AVC-Intra 100. P2 cards offer recording of video, audio and metadata in any environment, even in challenging conditions of extreme temperature.

Panasonic P2 memory cards can be connected instantly to laptop and desktop PCs and are supported by major nonlinear editing systems. For connection to laptops with ExpressCard slots or desktop computers, professionals can utilize compatible third-party PC-card-to-ExpressCard adapters or the Panasonic AJ-PCD35 five-slot P2 solid-state memory card drive.