Italian director Filippo Romualdi has chosen Panasonic P2 to produce the episodic drama series shown four times a week within "Italia Sul 2," a multi-thematic programme. In production since January 2008, the series is being shot with the Panasonic AJ-HPX3000 camcorder and 16-GB P2 storage cards.
"Using the P2 technology we have halved production and post-production time," Romualdi explained. "Now we can check any frame without losing time in rewinding tapes and searching for the right one. The advantage to me as a director is that I can decide immediately if another take is necessary or not - and that adds up to a huge time saving for me and for the operators."
Panasonic's AJ-HPX3000 camcorder records onto the P2 card system of solid-state flash memory. The camcorder is equipped with five card slots and uses the highest quality AVC-Intra 100 codec. Its five 32-GB P2 cards will capture 200 minutes of 1080/24p material. The AVC-Intra 50 codec (similar in quality to DVCPRO HD) yields twice as much recording time.
Because "Italia Sul 2" is an SD production, Romualdi emphasises the image quality as a key consideration in his choice of P2 and the AJ-HPX3000. "Even if you are shooting for SD, the image quality has a similar feel to HD and film. Even without perfect light conditions, we get excellent results: bright colours, high definition of details, and more shadows. That means saving time and money in looking for the perfect light on-location. I'm expecting Panasonic P2 technology to become the most widespread acquisition platform in Italy because it is surely the best on the market for quality and convenience."
The AJ-HPX3000 also offers the revolutionary new Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) that electronically reduces colour shift and optical registration issues that can hinder three-chip camera systems. The Dynamic Range Stretcher (DRS) function can expand the exposure range of the camera without creating excessive banding in highlights or blocking in shadows. The AJ-HPX3000 has an extremely low noise floor for an exceptionally clean image. The camera also features six gamma modes including the popular Film-Rec mode from the VariCam.
"Directors like Filippo are choosing P2 technology not just for the convenience and speed it offers, but for the creative benefits, too," said Jaume Rey, European Head of Business Unit, PBITS. "After a record year of installations at opinion-leading broadcasters throughout Europe, in 2008 Panasonic will be working closely with facilities and hire companies to disseminate P2 and bring the benefits of the technology to the widest possible user base."
More information is available at www.panasonic-broadcast.com or by phone at +49 611 235 481.
About PBITS Panasonic's
Professional Broadcast and IT Systems Business Unit is part of Panasonic Audio Visual and Computer Systems Europe (PAVCSE), a division of Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH. The company is a leader in the development of video formats and core products for broadcast and professional AV, including camera-recorders, video recorders, monitors, and mixers. Panasonic's P2 systems provide the reliability of solid-state production with immediate connectivity to existing IT infrastructures, allowing for completely tapeless workflows. http://panasonic-broadcast.com.
"Using the P2 technology we have halved production and post-production time," Romualdi explained. "Now we can check any frame without losing time in rewinding tapes and searching for the right one. The advantage to me as a director is that I can decide immediately if another take is necessary or not - and that adds up to a huge time saving for me and for the operators."
Panasonic's AJ-HPX3000 camcorder records onto the P2 card system of solid-state flash memory. The camcorder is equipped with five card slots and uses the highest quality AVC-Intra 100 codec. Its five 32-GB P2 cards will capture 200 minutes of 1080/24p material. The AVC-Intra 50 codec (similar in quality to DVCPRO HD) yields twice as much recording time.
Because "Italia Sul 2" is an SD production, Romualdi emphasises the image quality as a key consideration in his choice of P2 and the AJ-HPX3000. "Even if you are shooting for SD, the image quality has a similar feel to HD and film. Even without perfect light conditions, we get excellent results: bright colours, high definition of details, and more shadows. That means saving time and money in looking for the perfect light on-location. I'm expecting Panasonic P2 technology to become the most widespread acquisition platform in Italy because it is surely the best on the market for quality and convenience."
The AJ-HPX3000 also offers the revolutionary new Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) that electronically reduces colour shift and optical registration issues that can hinder three-chip camera systems. The Dynamic Range Stretcher (DRS) function can expand the exposure range of the camera without creating excessive banding in highlights or blocking in shadows. The AJ-HPX3000 has an extremely low noise floor for an exceptionally clean image. The camera also features six gamma modes including the popular Film-Rec mode from the VariCam.
"Directors like Filippo are choosing P2 technology not just for the convenience and speed it offers, but for the creative benefits, too," said Jaume Rey, European Head of Business Unit, PBITS. "After a record year of installations at opinion-leading broadcasters throughout Europe, in 2008 Panasonic will be working closely with facilities and hire companies to disseminate P2 and bring the benefits of the technology to the widest possible user base."
More information is available at www.panasonic-broadcast.com or by phone at +49 611 235 481.
About PBITS Panasonic's
Professional Broadcast and IT Systems Business Unit is part of Panasonic Audio Visual and Computer Systems Europe (PAVCSE), a division of Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH. The company is a leader in the development of video formats and core products for broadcast and professional AV, including camera-recorders, video recorders, monitors, and mixers. Panasonic's P2 systems provide the reliability of solid-state production with immediate connectivity to existing IT infrastructures, allowing for completely tapeless workflows. http://panasonic-broadcast.com.
