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Panasonic refreshes HD camcorder range: 3MOS, 1MOS and Waterproof offerings
Alongside its new Lumix snappers, Panasonic just dropped a bunch of new HD camcorders at CES. It's the 1MOS models that get the most vigorous make over, with six new 1920 x 1080 shooting cams in total. The HC-V700 and HC-V700M are the new top of the 1MOS line; armed with a proprietary High Sensitivity Sensor, promising better indoor and night-time shots, there's also 3D capture when used with the new VW-CLT2 conversion lens, plus a 21x optical and 46x "high-powered' (we guess digital) zoom. The mid-range HC-V500/M cameras have a 2D to 3D image conversion function (also found in the V700s) as well as Natural, Pop, Dynamic & Classical special effects modes and 38x optical / 50x digital zoom. For the less feature-fanatical are the HC-V100 and HC-V100M which have lower power consumption for longer shooting despite a smaller 2.028 x 2.343 x 4.429 inch form. If you were wondering what makes the M models different, the answer would be 16GB built-in storage. Three other single models also got a trotting out, starting with the HC-X900M, for those who find just one MOS simply isn't enough. The HC-X900M is Panasonic's new full HD 3MOS video shooter and is the follow up to last year's HDC-HS900. Full 1080p at 28Mbps is complemented by Panasonic's new 3MOS System Pro imaging system, which it claims reduces noise by 40 percent over the HDC-HS900. To round out the features we have 32GB onboard storage (with SD expansion), improved O.I.S., zoom mic functionality (linked to the zoom action) and a 1,150,000-dot 8.8-cm / 3.5-inch LCD. Next up is the waterproof HX-WA2, which will survive a three meter dip in the pool (or nine feet, eight inches). Other treats for adventurous types include 14 megapixel stills shooting, a panoramic mode (simply pan the camera up,down,left and right) and 15x zoom. Oh and will it will be available in blue or orange, of course. Last, and kinda least is the HC-V10, a compact HD cam for those on-the-go moments. With iA auto mode and pre-rec function -- that starts recording when you aim at a subject -- this model is clearly built with those OMG youtube moments in mind. You also get a crazy 63x optical zoom and a choice of colors: black, silver or red. There's no word on price or availability yet, but Panasonic tells us it'll part with these crucial details at least 30 days prior to when the devices finally ship. In the meantime you can check the full PRs below for more info.
Panasonic's CES 2011 camcorder launch: 3D, HD, 3MOS and 1MOS all present
Panasonic already rolled out the red carpet to issue a gaggle of new cameras, but now it's time to tickle the fancy of those who prefer full motion video. The company is introducing a metric ton (we checked, trust us) of new camcorders here at CES in Las Vegas, so we'll be giving you the highlights just below. For those that yearn for more, the press releases can be peeked in full after the break. Panny's "full roster" of Full HD camcorders includes a half-dozen newcomers: the HDC-SD40, HDC-TM40, HDC-HS80, HDC-TM80, HDC-TM90 and HDC-SD9, all of which are stacked with a 1MOS sensor capable of capturing clips at 1920 x 1080. The SD90 and TM90 are even capable of shooting at 1080/60p, and if you toss on the optional CW-CLT1, you'll instantly gain the ability to record in 3D. The whole lot is designed to handle low-light scenarios like a champ, and the each feature a 28m wide-angle lens. The aforementioned power duo also have a 40x intelligent zoom, and we're told that these can withstand up to 135 minutes of continuous recording before the battery keels over. A select few also feature touch-screen operation, but absolutely none of them have a price or release date just yet. What's better than 1MOS? 3MOS, naturally. The HDC-TM900, HDC-HS900 and HDC-SD800 are also making their debut here in the desert, with 1080/60p recording, support for capturing 3D (when using the CLT1 conversion lens) and a manual ring on the TM900 and HS900. Those two also tout a 20x zoom and a 3.5-inch touchpanel, and Panny claims that these guys are good enough to handle "professional-level video shooting." The whole bunch can record to SDXC / SDHC / SD cards, while the TM900 adds 32GB of internal memory. You'll also find an optical image stabilizer, a Crystal Engine Pro processor and an Eco-Mode function on all three, while the TM900 and HS900 get gifted with five internal microphones for 5.1 recording. Per usual, your guess is as good as ours when it comes to a price and release. Bringing up the rear are a handful of SD camcorders -- the SDR-H100, the SDR-T70 and the SDR-S70 -- all of which are on the lean side and boast a 78x zoomer. These three offer a 33mm wide-angle lens, optical image stabilization and an Active mode, the latter of which helps to reduce blur when zooming. The group stores clips on SDXC / SDHC / SD, but the H100 also has an 80GB hard drive and the T70 a 4GB slab of flash memory. All three will be available in March, but pricing won't be determined until sometime next month. %Gallery-112596%
