Panasonic Releases 16GB P2 card

Panasonic has began selling a 16GB version of its P2 card for camcorders such as the HVX200, which offers double the storage (and recording time) of its previous P2 solid-state memory card.

Available at a suggested list price of ,725 (US$971) plus VAT, the reusable 16GB P2 card now offers P2 camcorders recording capacity comparable to, and often exceeding, tape and disc-based systems, according to Panasonic.

The company says that P2 solid-state based acquisition can eliminate consumable media costs and the additional time required for content ingest. Unlike other disc and tape based production systems, the recording capacity of P2 based products can be continually upgraded without the need to replace the original system.

With a five-slot AJ-HPX2000 P2 HD camcorder, professionals can record up to 200 minutes at native 720/24pN in DVCPRO HD, 80 minutes in 1080i/720p in DVCPRO HD, and 160 minutes in DVCPRO 50 using five 16 GB P2 cards. With the newly-available, four-slot AG-HPX500 interchangeable lens P2 HD camcorder, users can record up to 160 minutes at native 720/24pN in DVCPRO HD, 128 minutes at 720P/30pN in DVCPRO HD, 64 minutes in 720p/60 in DVCPRO HD,128 minutes in DVCPRO 50 and 256 minutes in DVCPRO on four 16GB P2 cards.

Users of the compact AG-HVX200 P2 HD handheld, which has two P2 card slots, can also enjoy extended recording with 32 minutes in DVCPRO HD, 64 minutes in DVCPRO 50 and 128 minutes in DVCPRO.

Panasonic has also announced that a 32GB P2 card would be available by the end of this year for $1,800.

For more information see the Panasonic Broadcast Web site.