Panasonic Introduces New, High Performance Digital PalmCorder Camcorder Line

At the Photo Marketers’ Association (PMA) Show in Orlando, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC) will debut three new high-performance Palmcorder combination digital camcorder/digital still cameras. Engineered to produce pristine, high resolution video that is close to professional quality, and equipped with a host of enhancements for both digital video and digital still photos, the new products are targeted to videographers and digital imaging aficionados. All three products feature a new ultra-compact design, ergonomically configured for the ultimate in control, comfort and balance.
As stunning to look at as the images they produce, models PV-DV851 and PV-DV901 pack a Mega Pixel CCD into a sleek, incredibly compact design. The CCD is capable of producing up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution with superb definition. Additionally, the camcorder can produce an outstanding 1200 x 900-pixel still image for breathtaking photos.

The top-of-the-line model PV-DV951 is equipped with the same type of 3CCD camera system used in Panasonic professional broadcasting equipment. Separate 1/6-inch (410,000-pixel) CCDs are utilized to reproduce the red, green and blue colors that compose an image. Color and delicate tones are faithfully reproduced. For crisp, high-resolution video, the progressive scan mode creates images with double the resolution of interlaced video, with virtually no motion artifacts. The PV-DV951 Digital Palmcorder Camcorder is capable of up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and incredibly sharp 1488 x 1128-pixel still images.

All three models feature the built-in Panasonic PhotoShot digital still camera function, and the unique capability to link to a PC1 in three different ways: i.Link (IEEE 1394 PC interface), PHOTOVU LINK2 and CARD LINK3. The CARD LINK Memory Card slot accommodates either a MultiMediaCardä or the new SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card.

“These new, high-performance, camcorder-cameras were designed to meet the demands of the digital imaging ‘pro-sumer’,” said Mary Miceli, product manager, Panasonic Consumer Video Division. “They combine the easy handling of our Palmcorder camcorders with state-of-the-art digital technology and sophisticated features. All of them offer flexible computer interface options and included software - perfect for the PC user who loves to create multimedia projects.”

The digital video (DV) format allows highly accurate color reproduction, high resolution — far better than the resolution offered by a live television broadcast — and CD-quality audio. The mini DV cassette is 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape, but boasts a storage capacity equivalent to 7,500 floppy disks. The Panasonic digital Palmcorder camcorders can record in SP or LP mode. Because DV is digital, there is virtually no picture degradation in the LP mode. An 80-minute DV tape can hold up to two hours of material recorded in the LP mode.

The Palmcorder digital camcorder is a totally integrated digital imaging product. Featuring the built-in PhotoShot digital still camera feature, it lets consumers enjoy two ways to capture their precious memories in a single, ultra-compact package: digital video and digital still photos.

Captured digital still photos can be viewed in advance on the camcorders’ color LCD monitors, and deleted if desired to free up memory for new shots. Images can be transferred to a computer for use in e-mail or printed documents, viewed on a TV as a slide show, or printed out with a Panasonic digital color photo printer.

The progressive PhotoShot mode enables users to record still pictures with higher resolution, finer details, and smoother image contours than the normal PhotoShot function. This feature captures the image data and temporarily stores it into two separate field memories. The two images of the exact same moment are then combined with no time lag, eliminating the need for simulations. This results in 1.5 times the resolution of standard-recorded stills for a beautifully clear and brilliant picture.

Panasonic Palmcorder camcorders offer the unique 3-way PC link feature, offering three different ways for users to transfer4 captured still images to a compatible PC: i.LINK IEEE 1394 digital interface, PhotoVu Link with an RS232 serial connection, and CARD LINK with a Memory Card slot that can accommodate the included SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card or an optional MultiMediaCard. And, all models come with a USB SD Reader/Writer that allows for the easy transfer of images from either the included SD Memory Card or a MultiMediaCard, without having to connect the camcorder directly to a PC.

The i.LINK IEEE 1394 digital interface allows full digital input/output capability for easy connection to compatible PCs or digital video editing equipment. When connected to another similarly equipped digital camcorder, this interface allows users to make faithful copies of their home videos without the signal degeneration found in analog dubs.

The i.LINK connector can also be used to download digital recordings (still images and moving pictures) to computers where they can be edited, manipulated and included in e-mail messages or Web sites. (An IEEE 1394 cable, host adapter card, and software are required for these applications.)

All three Palmcorder digital camcorder models also feature CARD LINK. The Memory Card slot and USB SD Card Reader (an accessory that attaches to a PC to read memory cards) accommodate both MultiMediaCards and the new SD (Secure Digital) media format. Both types of memory cards can be used with other devices. About the size of a postage stamp, the SD card features large storage, great flexibility, excellent security and fast data transfer. SD is the quickest flash memory format, with a read/write speed of 2MB/second, and is easy to reformat for use in a variety of devices.

An 8MB SD Memory Card is included with the PV-DV851. Models PV-DV901 and PV-DV951 include a 16MB SD Memory Card.

“Our digital camcorders give consumers the right tools to capture high-quality digital video and still images,” said Miceli. “But we wanted to take it further, making it more fun and easy for users to create, store and share their still images. The included ArcSoft editing package not only helps users enhance their photos, but also has a direct link to new PictureStageã web site where users may archive their photos for free.”

The new PictureStage web site (www.picturestage.com), which was jointly developed by Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries of America, Inc. (MKA) and ArcSoft, Inc., lets users enhance and archive their digital still photos in private, custom photo albums, and share photos with friends and family, at no charge. (Registration plus the first 10MB of storage space is free.) It also lets users create a variety of printable items (calendars, greeting cards, etc.) and gifts featuring their photos.

Additionally, three ArcSoft editing software titles are bundled with the camcorders: PhotoImpression 2000, Panorama Maker 2000 and ArcSoft PhotoPrinter 2000 Pro. These programs make it easy to enhance, retouch and apply a wide variety of special effects to captured images. The software offers a direct link to picturestage.com, making it easy for users to upload their finished photos to the site to archive, share or create gifts.

The PV-DV951 borrows optical technology from Leica, a renowned name in the world of professional photographers. The Leica Dicomar lens makes possible extremely refined imaging characteristics that have never before been achieved with a camcorder – finely detailed rendering, gentle image obscuring, delicate nuances, and superb shading.

The PV-DV951 also features a new Optical Image Stabilizer system. The system uses two movable lenses and two fixed lenses. Two gyro sensors operate at 480 times per second to detect even slight shaking, and two linear motors instantly shift the lens to compensate. The result is clear, sharp images, free of picture degradation even when shooting from a moving vehicle or using the zoom lens.

Among the new features shared by the three models is a convenient multi-image playback function. It allows the user to view 9 consecutive still images on the LCD screen in the Playback mode - great for analyzing that golf swing.

Also new for 2001 is a manual focus ring for fast, easy, manual focus control with a more realistic “camera feel.”

Using the LCD monitor, the P-I-P (Picture-in-Picture) feature lets users insert a small still shot over the video being recorded. This is a great in-camera effect and a convenient feature for including an establishing shot, saving editing time later.

All three new models also feature analog video in, enabling consumers to re-record old analog tapes onto mini DV tape. The PV-DV851 and PV-DV901 feature Digital Electronic Image Stabilization. All feature 10x High Definition optical zoom and 100x digital zoom; high-speed shutter; wireless remote control; high quality digital PCM (12-bit/16-bit) stereo audio; audio dubbing in SP mode; headphone jack; external microphone input jack; 5-mode program AE, and a variety of built-in digital video special effects for adding creative flair to recordings.

Model Availability

PV-DV851: MAY; $1599.95
PV-DV901: MAY; $1799.95
PV-DV951: MAY; $2299.95

Source: Panasonic