Panasonic AJ-PD500 P2HD/ microP2 Memory Card Recorder

The Panasonic AJ-PD500 is the first P2 HD recorder with native AVC-ULTRA recording, built-in microP2 card slots, and the ability to record in full-resolution 10-bit 1080/60p (in AVC-Intra100). With Its range of format choices (including AVC-LongG and AVC-Proxy as standard, and AVC-Intra200 and AVCHD playback as options), variety of professional I/Os and multi-control JOG/SHTL/MENU dial operation, the PD500 is ideal for house of worship, production, post-production, long-form documentaries, live event systems, satellite facilities, reality television production, news trucks, and as a redundant playback/record device in news facilities.

Panasonic’s AVC-ULTRA offers master-quality and/or low-bit-rate 10-bit 4:2:2 recording in full raster HD to meet a variety of user needs from mastering to transmission. Addressing the need for high-speed file exchange, its high-resolution AVC-Proxy encodes in parallel with higher bandwidth production formats enabling fast; efficient offline editing, at bit-rates from 3.5 megabits down to 800 kilobits per second. The AVC-Proxy files and network function make it possible to configure a workflow for previewing images, editing metadata, and manipulating/sharing content over networks.

The PD500 offers a choice of AVC-LongG quality levels; including AVC-LongG50 and AVC-LongG25. Designed for applications where file size is critical, these 10-bit, 4:2:2 sampled codecs record in a much smaller file size, saving storage cost and transfer times over MPEG-2 while maintaining equal or better video quality.

The Panasonic AJ-PD500 offers optional AVC-Intra200 recording, which at twice the bit rate per frame of AVC-Intra100 is visually lossless, delivering a master quality codec in an affordable, file-based camera. The AVC-Intra200 option will yield a cost-effective approach to network-level program acquisition, film-outs and higher levels of color correction In addition to AVC-LongG and AVC-Intra100/50, the PD500 offers standard recording in DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO, and DV.

The rugged, half-rack designed recorder has two microP2 slots and two standard P2 card slots, as well as an SD card slot for proxy/metadata recording. MicroP2 cards offer a faster transfer speed, smaller size (SD card size) and are lower cost compared to a P2 card.

The PD500’s SuperSpeed USB 3.0 host interface permits super-fast transfer rates of up to 2Gbps. This allows users to easily transfer content to low-cost hard disk drives or solid-state drives for a fast and safe deliverable to clients. When attached to a computer, the USB device mode allows the PD500 to become a two-card microP2 or P2 drive. In addition, users can connect a hard drive to the PD500, allowing the preview of the non-real-time content. This functionality allows for the confirmation of content copied to a drive, and for the reviewing of previously-shot content on a drive.

• Native 1080/24PsF input/output
• 3G-SDI for 1080/60 input/output
• HD-SDI input allows recording of full resolution, 10-bit quality content from a wide range of Panasonic and non-Panasonic cameras as well as the ability to back up data onto external hard disk drives
• HDMI output enables the transmission of uncompressed digital data to an array of consumer playback devices (video projectors / digital televisions)
• High-quality 24-bit audio recorded in AVC-Intra and AVC-LongG is supported
• Plays HD/SD content automatically (no need to change settings) and is internationally operable in 50Hz or 60Hz
• A Gbit Ethernet LAN terminal, FTP client function, and FTP/Samba server function for file transfers over a LAN or the internet. An HTTP server function can also be accessed from a web browser to provide the following solutions: Proxy Preview, Metadata Editing, and Playlist Editing
• 12V battery DC or AC operation and light and easy to transport at 8 pounds
• 3.5-inch, 16:9 LCD screen, manage clip files and metadata
• RS-422A control, thereby allowing it to be controlled as a video source by nonlinear editing systems and color correction systems
• Equipped with a headphone jack and speaker, timecode in/out and a reference sync input