:: Avmark Systems Panasonic Broadcast & Pro-Video

P2 card Breaks New Ground in Mobility and Reliability
The solid-state P2 card records and plays back without requiring the mechanisms found in conventional tape or disc systems. This gives the P2 cam exceptional shock and vibration resistance, and makes it the ideal choice for reliable recording in harsh conditions.

Instant Rec Start - Another Memory Card Advantage
Thanks to the solid-state memory, recording response is much faster than with tape or disc recorders. You can begin recording an instant after powering up, making it possible to capture fleeting moments that other systems miss. You won't worry about missing the shot.

Next-Generation Recording Functions
The AJ-SPX800 has slots for five P2 cards and lets you record continuously onto all five in sequence. It also provides several entirely new recording functions that are possible only with memory cards.
. Data protection: The P2 card records only onto blank spaces, so there's no danger of accidentally writing over data.*
. Hot-swap recording: You can replace a full memory card with a blank one while the P2 cam is recording onto a second card. Successively swapping cards this way gives you virtually unlimited recording capability.
. Loop recording: By loop recording onto a specified recording area, you can continue to record over fixed area.
. Pre-rec: While in standby mode, you can continuously store, and subsequently record, up to 15 seconds of images and sounds (in DVCPRO). In effect, this lets you record footage of events that occur even before you press the rec start button, giving you a way to "go back" and capture moments you otherwise would have missed.
*It is possible, however, to delete data, or to lose data by re-formatting the card.

Wide 2/3" CCD for High Sensitivity and High Image Quality
The AJ-SPX800 features a 2/3" 520,000-pixel/NTSC (600,000-pixel/PAL) 3CCD imaging system, plus progressive scanning capability and an F13 lens with high sensitivity. You can shoot in light as low as 0.01 lux* with minimal smear. With 750 lines of resolution and a
65-dB/NTSC (63-dB/PAL) S/N, the AJ-SPX800 meets virtually any recording need. And it's versatile, with menu-selectable 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios.
*At maximum gain (using digital super gain 6P mode plus 20 dB with the +48-dB gain setting).

Digital Super Gain (cumulative mode)
The AJ-SPX800 has a digital super gain function (in cumulative mode) that allows extra gain of +12 dB (at 15 fps) and +20 dB (at 6 fps). Unlike conventional gain adjustment, digital super gain is virtually noise-free*, so picture quality remains intact. With high gain and digital super gain, the AJ-SPX800 allows ultra-high-sensitive shooting at up to +68 dB.
*At maximum gain (+68 dB) there may be a slight amount of noise.

2x Digital Zoom
You can digitally enlarge the viewfinder image to twice the normal lens magnification, producing images four times the normal size. Progressive images retain their superior resolution even with zooming, and -- unlike when a lens extender is used -- brightness is not reduced. Ideal as both a shooting technique and focusing support.

Newly Developed Gamma Curve for News
The gamma functions featured in Panasonic Varicam models have earned wide acclaim. Now Panasonic has developed a new gamma curve for the P2 cam: news gamma. This new function, offered in addition to conventional video gamma, helps to preserve important image data by suppressing over-saturation in highlight areas during sudden changes in contrast.

24p*¹/30p Progressive Mode (NTSC)/25P Progressive Mode (PAL)
The frame rate can be switched between the normal 60i (60 fields/sec), 24p*¹ (24 frames/sec) and 30p (30 frames/sec)*². In both 24p and 30p modes, a complete progressive scan image is produced for each frame. You'll find the AJ-SPX800 suitable for a host of applications, from production of documentaries, commercials, and music video clips to up-converting for HD.
*1: Will be upgradable soon (option).
*2: Each records onto card in the standard 60i TV format. In PAL model, the frame rate can be switched between 50i(50 field/sec) and 25p (25 frames/sec), to be recorded onto card in the standard 50i TV format.

DVCPRO/DVCPRO50/DV Switchable
The versatile P2 cam can record in DVCPRO, high-quality 4:2:2 digital component DVCPRO50, and DV. A single 4GB* P2 card holds up to 16 minutes of DVCPRO/DV data or 8 minutes of DVCPRO50 data. Using the P2 cam's five slots and hot-swapping function, you get virtually unlimited continuous recording.
*Total card capacity includes space for data management such as system data, therefore, actual usable area is less than capacity indicated on the card.

Four-Channel Digital Audio in All Formats
In all formats - DVCPRO50, DVCPRO, and DV - the AJ-SPX800 can record full 48-kHz/16-bit digital audio on each of the four channels. You can freely select the audio source for each channel, choosing from mic, line, wireless receiver, and other sources.

Proxy Data Recording*
Mount an Proxy Encode Card (optional, available soon) into the option card slot or one of the P2 card slots, and the AJ-SPX800 records MPEG4 proxy (low-resolution) data - useful for news flash or other studio news system use - onto the card along with the full-resolution data. Proxy data can also be recorded onto an SD Memory card mounted in the slot provided, for easy viewing on a laptop PC. The encode card, available as an option, lets you upgrade as future image encode systems evolve.

*Proxy data is AV data with low-resolution MPEG4 video and audio containing time code, metadata, and other control information.
* Use of DCF Technologies under license from Multi-Format, Inc.

PC Connection via Wireless LAN*¹ or USB 2.0*²
Mount a Wireless LAN Card (optional, available in 2005) into the option card slot, and you can connect the P2 cam directly to a LAN. This is an extremely simple solution for live, on-air broadcast of proxy data.*³
The AJ-SPX800 comes equipped with USB 2.0 interfaces*² that let you use the P2 card slot as an external drive for a PC. This gives you the flexibility to perform in-the-field nonlinear editing or network data transfers.

*1: Will be available in 2005..
*2: Future compatibility (upgraded for a charge)
*3: A proxy encode card or wireless LAN card can be mounted into the option card slot. If you want to have both cards mounted at the same time, use one of the P2 card slots for the proxy encode card. This leaves four P2 card slots for recording use.

Clip Thumbnail Function
. Thumbnails: The P2 cam automatically generates a thumbnail image for each clip. These can be used for nonlinear editing or by the P2 cam itself.
. Displaying thumbnails on the Color LCD Monitor: You can view up to 12 thumbnails at once on the 3.5" Color LCD Monitor on the P2 cam's side. Any of the corresponding clips can be accessed instantly.
. Seamless playback of selected clips: Using the thumbnails, you can specify a number of clips for seamless playback or on-air broadcasting.

Voice Memo and Shot Marker
If desired, to each clip you can add a simple OK/NG shot marker and/or a voice memo with an audio comment linked to the time code. You can do this either while recording or after recording, such as to support post-recording processing.

Four User Scene Files
Store specific camera settings in built-in memory, then retrieve them when needed for quick, easy setup. Four files with settings can be stored in the camera's memory. Files can also be copied onto an SD Memory Card, allowing storage of up to eight files.

Customized User Buttons and Menu
Three user buttons are provided. Assign a function to each, and then you can select those functions with pushbutton ease. You can also customize the on-screen menu with the items you use most often, then display them by simply pressing a button.

Auto Tracking White Balance
White balance is automatically adjusted, in real time, as the lighting changes. This makes it easy to get natural color even when shooting scenes under difficult lighting conditions, like when following a subject walking from indoors to outdoors.

Enhanced Functions and Specifications
. The electronic shutter has speeds of 1/100, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500,
1/1000, and 1/2000 sec, plus synchro-scan capability (1/60.3 to 1/249.7 sec).[NTSC model]
[In PAL model,The electronic shutter has speeds of 1/60, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500,1/1000, and 1/2000 sec, plus synchro-scan capability(1/50.4 to 1/248 sec)].
. 4-position optical filter
. Select from a variety of finder markers, or make your own.
. Zebra pattern can be displayed for contrast adjustment, Auto White Balance setting, and onto color bar output.
. One touch of the mode check button displays the camera settings for easy confirmation.
. Built-in SMPTE time code generator/reader,
with time code In/Out terminal

Options that Add Versatility
. Slot for UniSlot* wireless audio receiver
*UniSlot is a trademark of Ikegami Tsusinki Co., Ltd.
. AJ-GPS900G GPS unit: Lets the AJ-SPX800 record real-time position data (latitude, longitude, and altitude) onto the memory card. Conforms to UMID standards.
. SDI output and IEEE 1394 digital interfaces (optional)
. AJ-EC3 Extension
Control Unit (ECU)