Secaucus, N.J. –
unveiled Tuesday two new digital
camcorders with 3MOS sensor technology, capable of capturing action in FullHD
1080/60p resolution.
Panasonic models
HDC-HS700 and HDC-TM700 (pricing to be announced later), both include 3MOS
sensors that are said to produce vivid, true-to-life colors, even in darkly lit
environments.
The new HDC-HS700
records both to a 240GB hard disk drive and to an SD/SDHC/SDXC flash-memory
card.
The HDC-TM700 has
32GB of built-in flash memory and an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot for
additional storage flexibility.
The TM700 will
replace the HDC-TM300 from last year.
Both models have a
35mm wide-angle Leica lens and a manual ring for creative flexibility,
Panasonic said.
“For video enthusiasts
looking for a feature-rich, high-performing, yet affordable high-definition camcorder,
Panasonic’s new TM700 and HS700 3MOS models will be a hit this year,” said
Chris Rice, Panasonic imaging product manager. “Last year’s TM300 was extremely
popular and won several honors and awards for its video quality and
performance, so with the improvements we have made with the TM700/HS700,
including extended zoom, wider angles and a more advanced image stabilization
system, we are excited to give consumers the ideal tool they need to capture
their memories with superb quality.”
The 3MOS system has
7,590,000 effective active pixels (2,530,000 pixels multiplied by 3) and separates
the light received through the lens into the three primary colors — red, green and
blue — processing each independently.
The sensor shoots
14.2-megapixel still images (in Still Image mode) and 13.3-megapixel still
images from recorded video.
Newly developed
technology in the camcorders increases sensitivity and reduces noise by one-half
to achieve vivid images with minimal noise, the company said.
This is said to
produce strong color reproduction, high resolution, rich gradation, and lets
the user capture vividly colored images in bright or darkly lit places.
Also included in
each model is Power OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), which uses gyro sensors
to detect hand shake and reduce blurring; an iA (Intelligent Auto) function
that automatically selects the most suitable shooting mode; face recognition; Smile
Shot that automatically takes a still photo during video recording when it
detects a smiling face; 5.1-channel surround-sound recording with a zoom
microphone; wind-noise canceller; and Auto Power LCD that adjusts the LCD
screen to the shooting environment.
The large-diameter
F1.5 (46mm) Leica Dicomor lenses on each model were designed to suppress ghosting
and flaring, while minimizing distortion and degradation of contrast and
resolution.
Both models
feature a 12x optical zoom lens, which can be enhanced via Panasonic’s Intelligent
Resolution Technology to extend the zoom to an effective 18x Intelligent Zoom
with minimal distortion.
Both models also
offer 3-inch LCD touchscreens that allow users to navigate by selecting icons
on the display.
A manual ring allows
more creative flexibility, by offering intuitive control of the zoom, focus,
aperture, shutter speed and white balance.
An electronic viewfinder,
earphone terminal and microphone terminal are also included.
