[Tejstar]

Panasonic has announced some new camcorders according to Watch Impress. They are the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 AVCHD camcorders which will adopt new 3MOS technology.

3MOS seems to be a trio of sensors that captures twice the light of a single CMOS of the same 1/6-inch size. The result is said to be superior image quality and impressive low-light recording capability, twice the sensitivity of its own 3CCD camcorders!

Features wise the camcorders feature improved optical image stabilization, 12x optical zoom, 5.1-surround mic and HDMI-out.

HDC-SD100
Supports up to 32GB of SDHC
$1099.95

HDC-HS100
Hyybrid offering both SDHC and a 60GB hard disk for storage.
$1299.95

[Note: The pricing in the press release seems wrong to me, it places the HS100 at a cheaper price than the SD100, when I believe it's likely to be the other way around. I have therefore swapped the prices above but will change them back if they are indeed the correct price.]

[Tejstar]

The English press release is now available.

Panasonic Adds Two New HD Camcorders to Its Line -- World's First AVCHD Models With a 3MOS System

New High Definition Camcorders Offer Increased Manual Functions for More Creative Use and Intelligent Auto Mode to Make Shooting More Intuitive

Panasonic HDC-SD100: World's First AVCHD Camcorder With a 3MOS System SECAUCUS, NJ--(Marketwire - June 18, 2008) - Panasonic today expanded its High Definition (HD) suite of products, with the announcement of two new full-HD camcorders, the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100, the world's first* AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system which provides superb video image quality. The HDC-SD100 records to SD Memory Card, while the hybrid HDC-HS100 records to both SD Memory Card and to its internal 60 GB* hard drive. Both models include manual functions for the user wanting more precise control over zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed and white balance. The models also include Panasonic's new Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, an intuitive set of technologies that automatically activate, making video shooting an easy, seamless process.

"The camcorder market is moving swiftly to High Definition and superior image quality is now a must-have feature. Moreover, many consumers are also demanding higher-level features, and the ability to be more creative," said Zoe Susice, Group Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "For these users, we introduce two new full-HD 3MOS models -- the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 -- with manual functions that give users the power to create dramatic, artistic images. At the same time, we also have our Intelligent Auto mode, which activates several technologies automatically, so the user doesn't need to make any adjustments, and shooting video is an easy and enjoyable experience."

The world's first AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system are newly developed by Panasonic and based on the company's 3CCD technology, an already-established and renowned system that provides excellent color reproduction. With their expanded light-receiving areas, the MOS sensors also significantly improve image quality, even in low lighting. The three MOS sensors process the red, green, and blue components of incoming light separately, so color reproduction is superb. These sensors also have about double** the light-receiving area of CCD sensors, so image quality when shooting in low light is much higher. Compared with a conventional 1MOS, Panasonic's new 3MOS system captures more vibrant, true-to-life colors, greater detail and richer gradation. This high-precision imaging element is first in the world*** to shoot in lighting as low as 2 lux and helps the SD100 and HS100 capture exceptionally clear, bright images.

Adding to the 3MOS sensor, Panasonic HD Advanced Pure Color Engine and a new Leica**** Dicomar lens -- helps the SD100 and HS100 deliver the outstanding images in full-HD 1920 x 1080 recording*****. Full-HD recording, with its total of 2,070,000 pixels, provides exceptional image details and rich colors. The Leica Dicomar lens system used in camcorders comprise 12 lenses in 9 groups, including aspherical lenses to improve resolution and contrast and an LD (low-dispersion) lens to help prevent color bleeding. Also, a special multi-coating process is applied to all lens elements to minimize chromatic aberration, so images are crisp, clear, and free of flare and ghosting. The use of a highly refractive lens also made it possible to have both 12x zoom power and a compact body.

To maximize the capabilities of the new HD-level 3MOS sensor featured in the SD100 and HS100, Panasonic further enhanced the company's renowned Advanced Pure Color Engine image processor with the introduction of the new HD Advanced Pure Color Engine. A noise reduction circuit combines with the Intelligent Contrast Control circuit to boost image quality while reducing power consumption. The dynamic range is also about twice that in previous Panasonic models, which helps prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows and allows more natural color expression. Offering both higher image quality and longer battery life, the HD Advanced Pure Color Engine takes camcorder performance to new heights.

Panasonic's iA mode, automatically activates several convenient shooting functions at once, so the user does not have to manually change any settings. These include:

-- Advanced O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) detects hand-shake and then triggers the lens to shift to correctly align the optical axis, helping to ensure videos are sharp and reduce blur. This happens at a rate of 4,000 times per second.

-- Face Detection automatically adjusts the exposure, contrast, skin complexion effect, and focus so that faces are always clear. Face Detection can detect up to 15 faces in a frame.

-- Intelligent Contrast Control continually measures the ambient light intensity and adjusts the contrast as it changes, helping to prevent a washed-out look in bright parts of an image and black-outs in parts with shadows.

-- Intelligent Scene Selection which determines the shooting environment and automatically selects the appropriate scene setting for optimal results.

Both camcorders come packaged with HD Writer 2.6 software for Windows, and also support iMovie '08 for Apple, which let users directly edit the high-quality full-HD moving pictures they capture with their camcorders. The SD100 and HS100 are compatible with Panasonic's VIERA Link™, allowing users to connect the camcorder to a VIERA HDTV via an HDMI cable, and operate the camcorder using the TV remote control, and following on-screen prompts. Furthermore, users can also take the SD Memory Cards from the camcorders and slip it into the SD card slot on a Panasonic PZ850 series VIERA HDTV, or a Panasonic BD50 or BD30 Blu-ray Disc™ Player, and enjoy easy, instant large-screen viewing of stunning HD video.

Both Panasonic models will be available in September 2008 for manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $1,299.95 for the HDC-SD100 and $1,099.95 for the HDC-HS100. For more information, please visit www.panasonic.com.

[rhubarbe]

Manual focus ring and a viewfinder! 'Ecky thump.

I might have a punt at the SD100, yes indeedy.

Holiday 26th September, will it be on time, won't it.....?

[rhubarbe]

Originally Posted by WatchImpress

Battery included "VW-VBG130-K" hours of continuous recording time is used, SD100 is about 1 hour 55 minutes (about 1 hour and 10 minutes of actual shooting), HS100 for about 1 hour and 45 minutes (approximately the same time: 5 minutes).

外形寸法と本体重量はSD100が65×138×72mm(幅×奥行き×高さ)、320g、HS100が7 4×138×76mm(同)、420g。 Dimensions of SD100 and body weight is 65 × 138 × 72mm (width Depth × × height), 320 g, HS100 is 74 × 138 × 76mm (The), 420 g. なお、既発売のSD9は65×126×67mm/本体重量約275g。 The already-released SD9 is 65 × 126 × 67mm / body weight of approximately 275 g. HS9は75×126×74mm/約390gで、SD100/HS100はわずかにサイズが大きくなっている。 HS9 is 75 × 126 × 74mm / approximately 390 g in, SD100/HS100 is slightly bigger size.

Some of that is very interesting too, longer and heavier than the SD9 series but using the same batteries.

[redsox_mark]

Very interesting! Yes, a manual focus ring, viewfinder, mic input

And we have a new acronym - "3MOS".

And according to Panasonic: These sensors also have about double** the light-receiving area of CCD sensors

** Compared with the HDC-SD9/HDC-HS9.

[rhubarbe]

Wonder what our friend thinks of the 3MOS.

Three rolling shutters...

[redsox_mark]

Yes, I almost mentioned that, but didn't want to repeat that thread....

[rhubarbe]

Fair enough.

[glesgaguyav]

Seems Canon have a 3CMOS to.

[rhubarbe]

Looks like an HV20 with attitude.

You're sure it's genuine?

This is a February 2007 rumour:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=can...006-38,GGGL:en

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...oved-False.htm

[glesgaguyav]

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

Looks like an HV20 with attitude.

You're sure it's genuine?

This is a February 2007 rumour:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=can...006-38,GGGL:en

Don't know if it's genuine, picked it up from HV20 forum

But it does look good and it's gone back to silver

[rhubarbe]

It isn't genuine. It's only gone back to silver because the photo it was mocked up from was of an old pre production HV20...

[redsox_mark]

Ah, but the Canon is a 3xCMOS...
the Panny is a 3MOS....

[rhubarbe]

As Eric would have said, "There's no answer to that."

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by Tejstar

The English press release is now available.

these look very interesting for consumer cams,the manafactuars are bringing out new models at one heck of a rate though http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...ders-35263.htm another bit on them but it does give any thing much extra i know.
cmos but why such tiny ones

[redsox_mark]

cmos but why such tiny ones

To keep the cost (and also camcorder size) down I guess. Be it CCD or CMOS, in the sub £1000 consumer range, we've had the choice of 3 small sensors (the Panasonic way), or 1 larger sensor (Sony, Canon). That is continuing, just now Panasonic going with 3MOS rather than 3CCD. To get 3 large sensors you are talking FX1 etc...

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

cmos but why such tiny ones

To keep the cost (and also camcorder size) down I guess. Be it CCD or CMOS, in the sub £1000 consumer range, we've had the choice of 3 small sensors (the Panasonic way), or 1 larger sensor (Sony, Canon). That is continuing, just now Panasonic going with 3MOS rather than 3CCD. To get 3 large sensors you are talking FX1 etc...

my panasonic nv-dx100b is not much bigger than my hc-1 and its got 3 1/4 inch ccds like my fx-7,the hc-1 has a 1/3 i suppose there are no 1/5 of an inch ones so the little panasonics must have 1/6 or a single large one.

[rhubarbe]

I wonder why they didn't use the 1/4" CCDs (a product they already have) that they had in the SD1 and combine that with the new fancy processing engines.

CMOS must be cheaper to make.

Still, I don't expect them to take any notice of me.

[tony79]

only disappointment is that the bitrate remains the same. Thought we might have seen another 1mb/s increase.

[rhubarbe]

Yes, but with HDV having a bitrate of 25Mbps, and with AVCHD being so much more compressed, wouldn't you think that we'd expect to see some reduction in bitrate over HDV, otherwise it wouldn't really be worth all the decoding and editing grief.

Or am I talking 80ll0ck5, as usual?

[tony79]

Well the thought crossed my mind that they may not be upping the bitrates in order to distinguish hdv from avchd and not destroy the sales of the hdv format at consumer level. Given that memory cards are getting as cheap as tape these days, I would have thought that the majority of normal consumers would go with memory cards over tape if the bitrates were comparable, especially as they are a more versatile storage medium. I did think however that they would push avchd to 20mbs and leave it there with a 5mbs gap to hdv.

[Tejstar]

Just seen this preview of the camcorders on cNet. Interestingly they give an idea on UK pricing.

The Pansonic HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 camcorders will be available in August. The HS100 will retail for £899 and the SD100 for £799.

[A n d r e w]

Is that an accessory shoe under the flap on top? (Gesturing to photograph on cNet webpage linked above.) Or is it just happy to see me?

[rogs]

Looks like an accessory shoe, from the photo on here:


http://www.pana3ccduser.com/showpost...5&postcount=16

[A n d r e w]

Originally Posted by rogs

Looks like an accessory shoe, from the photo on here:
http://www.pana3ccduser.com/showpost...5&postcount=16

"Wow!" indeed . . .

[rhubarbe]

Cnet does at least seem to have the pricing the right way round - HS100 more expensive than SD100.

[A n d r e w]

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

Cnet does at least seem to have the pricing the right way round - HS100 more expensive than SD100.

Though for £800 I'd want PQ that's up there with Canon's & Sony's. With any luck the "street" price will be a few quid cheaper.

[rhubarbe]

Oh yes. I wouldn't pay £799 - that's DSG and Jessops money.

[mattr]

camcorderinfo have a review of the HS100 up. Interestingly the image stabiliser is pretty rubbish ?! 33% and 46% reduction down from 90% odd in the SD9. Low light is better than the SD9. Resolution is identical.

[redsox_mark]

Interesting, and slightly dissapointing - OIS is generally a Panasonic strength.

Also interesting (and maybe expected) that yes the low light performance is better than the HD9, but not as good as a Canon HF10 or Sony SR11/12.

But has that focus ring (though a shame they put the flash in the way).