Panasonic AGHPX255 P2 HD Handheld Camcorder, 3x 1/3" 2.2 MP CMOS Image Sensor, 22x Optical / 2x, 5x, 10x Digital Zoom, 3.3' (1 m) Object Distance
SKU: PCAGHPX255
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About Panasonic AGHPX255
Panasonic AGHPX255 P2 HD Handheld Camcorder
For professionals looking for a compact handheld camcorder that meets broadcast-standards, look no further than the Panasonic AG-HPX255 P2HD. The HPX255 P2HD features a large 1/3-inch 2.2 megapixel 3MOS imager with a fixed 22x optical zoom lens. The lens contains 3 mechanical lens rings for maximum control over zoom, focus, and iris controls.
The HPX255 has a remote port that makes it instantly compatible with Panasonic's AG-EC4G Extension Control Unit (sold separately), which provides remote control over camera settings such as gain, white balance, shutter speed, iris, menu settings, recording functions and more. This makes the camera suitable for double duty as a field/studio camcorder at smaller news stations, educational institutions and houses of worship. The genlock input, timecode I/O and HD-SDI output will help integrate it into modern video systems.
Key Features
- 10-bit; 4:2:2; full-resolution; independent-frame; AVC-Intra 100
- 1/3" 2.2M 3MOS imager
- Compatible with Panasonic’s AG-EC4G Extension Control Unit for remote operation
- 22X wide HD fixed lens
- Mechanical zoom; 3 rings (Zoom/Focus/Iris)
- HD/SD formats; frame rates; Variable Frame Rates (720p/1080p)
- Professional input/outputs; including Genlock; timecode; HDSDI; HDMI
- Easy Operation with 4 user buttons
- Digital Zoom (2X/5X/10X)
- Built-in SMPTE time-code generator/reader
- Auto focus with face detection; white balance; mode display;
- Two P2 card slots
- Auto Focus Enhancements including Focus in Red and Turbo-speed one-push auto-focus
The Panasonic HPX255 P2HD is the ideal handheld camcorder for freelance journalist or anyone that needs the flexibility of a lightweight camera with cinematic-level camera controls. If you’re in need of a workhorse for a one-man crew, a sturdy and lightweight B-camera option, or even an in-studio camera be sure to check out the HPX255 P2HD.
From the Manufacturer
The Panasonic AGHPX255 P2 HD Handheld Camcorder is a compact professional camcorder that offers a bounty of capabilities in a small (5.5 lb) package. Not only can you record to the extremely high-quality AVC-Intra 100 Mb/s (10-bit 4:2:2) codec, but you can also control the camcorder's settings remotely in a studio configuration and integrate it into an HD-SDI-based video system.
Featuring an integrated 22x zoom lens and 2.2 Mp 1/3"-type 3MOS imagers, the versatile HPX255 also records 50 Mb/s AVC-Intra and several flavors of DVCPRO (including DVCPRO HD) as well as DV. A variety of frame rates are possible in DVCPRO modes, for native slow- and fast-motion effects. Advanced monitoring and help with focusing are possible thanks to the vectorscope, waveform, Focus Assist and Focus in Red features of the camcorder.
The HPX255 has a remote port that makes it instantly compatible with Panasonic's AG-EC4G Extension Control Unit (sold separately), which provides remote control over camera settings such as gain, white balance, shutter speed, iris, menu settings, recording functions and more. This makes the camera suitable for double duty as a field/studio camcorder at smaller news stations, educational institutions and houses of worship. The genlock input, timecode I/O and HD-SDI output will help integrate it into modern video systems.
For video that will later endure heavy processing in the form of effects and other processes, the intra-frame compression options of the HPX255 are crucial. The AVC-Intra 100 codec is a perfect choice for any projects that involve tasks such as greenscreen shooting. The HPX255 could also thrive as the go-to model for a freelance videographer who does a variety of jobs, from SD to HD - and with support for NTSC signal systems, it will cross oceans without missing a beat. Its compact size makes it hard to leave at home.
For rock-solid reliability, professional P2 cards (sold separately) provide more peace of mind than their SD brethren from the world of mass-market consumer electronics. With two slots, you can record either simultaneously (for creating an instant back-up) or sequentially, with hot-swap support.
Panasonic AGHPX255 Features
- Panasonic Optical Technology: The HPX255's high-performance 22x zoom lens was designed specifically for professional HD video production. Sharing the wide-angle capability found in the DVX & HVX series, the lens offers some additional telephoto capability for a 28-616mm (35mm equivalent) zoom range
- Ready for Remote Operation: The HPX255 has a remote terminal for the optional AG-EC5G Extension Control Unit (not included). Image quality can be adjusted and image acquisition can be controlled while viewing the monitor at a remote location
- Manual Control Rings: Three manual rings - mechanical (cam-driven) zoom, focus and iris - allow you to operate as if you've got an interchangeable-lens camcorder, for fine, tactile control over the parameters of the captured image
- Turbo Auto Focus: Meanwhile, if you're not operating in full manual mode with the HPX255, there's a turbo-speed one-push auto focus capability, which ensures the camcorder quickly attains focus
- Optical Image Stabilization: To compensate for any shaking of the operator's hand, the HPX255 features an optical image stabilizer (OIS)
- High-Sensitivity, Low-Noise 3MOS Image Sensor: Thanks to Progressive Advanced Processing (PAP) technology, high sensitivity up to F10 (F11 in 50 Hz mode) is possible, for low-noise performance in dimly lit environments
- Flash Band Compensation: The CMOS sensor system uses a rolling shutter system that sequentially scans each line of pixels, thereby lowering power consumption vs. CCD cameras and enabling high-speed drive
- 20-Bit Digital Signal Processor: The AG-HPX255's high-performance 20-bit DSP handles rendering processes such as gamma and detail-enhancement functions with uncommon precision
- Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS): The DRS function automatically suppresses blocked shadows and blown highlights in scenes that involve wildly varying contrast levels (such as indoor vs. outdoor elements in the same frame)
- Seven-Mode Gamma for Rich Gradation: Drawing upon the technology of the high-end VariCam line, the HPX255 features gamma functions for seven shooting scenarios, including two cinema modes: HD NORM (for standard HD recording), LOW (flattens out a high-contrast scene)
- Other Camera Image Settings: The camera's shutter speed is variable from 1/6 to 1/2000 second, plus there's a Synchro Scan function. As with gamma, matrix setting includes a Cine-Like mode. H & V detail levels are adjustable, as are detail coring and skin-tone detail
- Four-Position Optical ND Filter: A built-in four-position optical neutral density filter wheel offers the following choices: off, 1/4 ND, 1/16 ND and 1/64 ND
- Focus Assist Function: A convenient Focus Assist button expands the center of the LCD screen, allowing you to check for correct focus quickly & easily. A Focus Bar that indicates the focus level can be displayed on the LCD
- Focus in Red: Another form of Focus Assist is Focus in Red, which offers color-on peaking and a focus bar that can be used while recording
- Scene File / User File: The HPX255 features a dial for "Set Scene," which allows you to choose an appropriate matrix of settings instantaneously. You can modify the six preset files if you'd like, one set of which can be stored internally in the camcorder
- Three-Position Gain Selector + Super Gain: The three-position Gain Selector contains Low, Medium and High settings. To each setting you can assign gain value of 0, +3, +6, +9, +12, +15 and +18 dB. Also, there are Super Gain settings of +24 and +30 dB
- Simplified Waveform & Vectorscope: The AJ-HPX255 has waveform and vectorscope display functions for analyzing a captured video signal on the LCD
- Five User Buttons: A total of five user buttons can be set to trigger any selection of 18 different camera functions
- Full-Pixel, Full-Sample AVC-Intra Recording (10-Bit, 4:2:2): The HPX255 offers 10-bit AVC-Intra recording (at both 100 and 50 Mb/s). Based on highly advanced MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression, this codec employs intra-frame compression, which results in a high image quality - especially in the edit suite
- Multi-Camera Synchronization: The AG-HPX255 features every capability you'd want for synchronizing more than one camera for multi-camera shoots: SMPTE time code generator/reader, time code input and output and genlock input
- High-Quality 4-Channel Audio: The AG-HPX255 records high-quality 16-bit audio on all four channels. Freely select the audio source for each channel, choosing from built-in mic, external mic and line in. Adjust the volume level for each channel
- Rock-Solid Recording with P2 Cards: P2 cards are built tough for broadcast applications - this is not a consumer storage technology that migrated into the professional world. P2 offers 64 GB capacity and resists impact, vibration and temperature changes
- Double-Slot P2 Card System: Not only can you record continuously on two P2 cards, but you can also choose Card Select mode (which allows the recording slot to be switched in Standby mode) & Hot-Swap Recording
- MXF File-Based Recording: File-based recording enables data transfers that are much faster than real time. Files recorded to the HPX255's P2 cards have MXF wrappers, which are compatible with all major nonlinear editing systems
- One-Clip Rec Mode: Record up to 99 cuts as a single file in One-Clip Rec mode. A text memo is automatically attached at each start-record point, making it easy to find desired cuts within the clip once you're in the edit suite working with a single, unified file