Panasonic AG-HMC41 | Professional Compact AVCHD Camera

The Panasonic AG-HMC41 is an AVCHD solid state based camcorder that uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 high profile encoding, which provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency and improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression formats (e.g. HDV, DVD, etc.). AVCHD high definition recordings look clean and crisp, even during fast motion, reducing the image degradation or dropout associated with older HDV recordings.

The lightweight AG-HMC41 records full HD to low cost SD/SDHC memory cards. This tapeless camcorder features a full resolution 3-megapixel, 1/4.1-inch 3MOS imager that produces stunning 1920x1080 HD images with high sensitivity. The camera captures still images with 10.6-megapixel resolution directly onto the SD card as a JPEG image. The handheld offers a 12X optical zoom, (includes 2X, 5X, 10X) and professional image functions like Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) that helps compensate for wide variations in lighting, and a Cine-Like Gamma mode which gives recordings a more film-like aesthetic.

The Panasonic AG-HMC41 is compact and weighs less than 1kg. However, despite its compact size, it offers invaluable professional features including full HD 3MOS imagers, high-resolution 10.6-megapixel still photo capture and 12X optical zoom. It also incorporates Panasonic's broadcast/professional-use colour reproduction system, auto focus plus various focus-assist functions, such as facial recognition, focus bar display and enlarged display and touch-type auto focusing. Other features includes waveform monitor display, time date stamp, user assignable focus ring, zebra display, synchro-scan shutter function, three programmable user buttons, time code/UB recording, remote control terminal (for zoom, focus, aperture, REC start/stop controls).

The AG-HMC41E comes standard with HDMI output, USB 2.0 (miniB-type devices), composite video output (AV multi/ch1, ch2), analogue component (mini-D). You also have the choice of expanding the camera's audio capability with 2-channel input, mic/line switchable and +48V options that are available for purchase separately. The camera's 2.7-inch LCD monitor offers simple touch-panel operation and access to various solid-state recording functions such as pre-record, interval recording, shot marker and metadata capture.

The AG-HMC41 records using AVCHD compression to capture superior quality at twice the compression efficiency of MPEG2. The professional camcorder line from Panasonic is branded AVCCAM and these professional camcorders features PH mode that allows exceptional quality recording in full HD 1,920 x 1080 at a higher bit rate (max 24 Mbps).

Thanks to its Cine-Like gamma function, the HD multi format unit that supports 25p recording. With a variety of manual functions, the AG-HMC41 is capable of a wide range of video production tasks.

Recording to a solid state media means no more dropouts, extraordinary reliability and high resistance to vibrations, humidity and dust. With a 32GB SD/SDHC Card the AG-HMC41E will record up to 180 minutes of full HD video at 1920 x 1080 - or 320 minutes in 1440 x 1080 (HDV resolution) with many other recording formats available.

But the real advantage arrives when you are back from shooting and need to move on with editing and delivery. With a fast IT based workflow, the AG-HMC41 lets you transfer recorded files directly to a computer, simply copy & paste files from the SD/SDHC Card to your internal hard drive, for quick nonlinear editing and for rapid distribution to SD-DVD, BluRay HD-DVD, mobile devises (such as portable media players, BlackBerry or iPhone). Output direct for use on the web.

SD card can be played back directly on a growing number of low cost consumer devices including solid-state HD players, Blu-ray players, game machines, laptop computers, and widescreen plasma displays with SD card slots.

AVCHD is supported by a wide range of editing options including Apple Final Cut Pro 6.0.5, Adobe Premier Pro CS4 , EDIUS Pro 5, EDIUS Neo 2 and many more . In addition, a free transcoder, available for download at www.panasonic-broadcast.com, will convert AVCHD files to DVCPRO HD P2 and down converted DV files for use with most existing professional editing packages.

Download footage shot with the Panasonic AG-HMC41

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