Panasonic today announced the release of the AJ-PX230PJ AVC ULTRA handheld camcorder. This new fixed-lens camera targets ENG, documentary and live event videographers with easy to access camera controls and a 22x zoom lens.
With 10-bit 1080p recording in AVC-intra and AVC-LongG codecs, the camera offers the same image quality and body design as its predecessor, the AJ-PX270. However, the PX230 does not include the networking, proxy and Genlock/TC interface options of the previous version, decreasing the camera's overall cost and making more affordable for users without need for those features.
The PX230 features a 1/3-inch 2.2MP 3MOS sensor, which Panasonic promises delivers high-sensitivity, low-noise performance, even in low-light conditions. Minimum illumination is 0.02lx and gain control is measured as -3dB to 18dB with Super Gain available at 24, 30 and 36dB.
The PX230 records to two microP2 cards and offers HDMI out, 3G-SDI out, and USB 2.0 and 3.0 connections. The AVC-ULTRA codec delivers high-quality recording in 100Mbps AVC-Intra100 as well as 200Mbps AVC-Intra200, or choose one of the AVC-LongG quality levels for 10-bit, 4:2:2 sampled codecs that result in much smaller file sizes while maintaining good video quality. The PX230 supports resolutions including 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 30p and 60p, as well as 720p and SD recording. 50i, 50p and 25p are also supported, as are variable frame rates in 25 steps from 1fps to 60fps.
An OLED viewfinder and 1.56MP QHD LCD allow for accurate monitoring, while two XLR inputs offer recording of to up to 4 channels of 48kHz, 24-bit audio.
With the 35mm equivalent of a 28mm to 616mm zoom range, the PX230’s 22x zoom lens features manual zoom, iris and focus rings as well as multi-step zoom and zoom control on the handle for responsive variable speed zooming. The lens also features Panasonic’s Chromatic Aberrations Compensation and Dynamic Range Stretch technology for improved performance. Optical image stabilization provides extra insurance for handheld shooting.
The Panasonic AJ-PX230PJ is available now at a suggested list price of $4,500. For more information, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.
