Panasonic Varicam DVCPRO HD

The Panasonic Varicam records onto the DVCPRO HD format and can run at up to 60 progressive frames per second.

High Definition images are produced in the 720 x 1280 progressive format (720p). It cannot produce 1080i or 1080p frames.

The VTR section is always running at 60 frames per second and it is the camera section which can be set to produce frames at anything from 4 to 60 frames per second. At frame rates below 60 fps the VTR records repeated or redundant frames to fill in gaps between the required frames. Off speed material can only be viewed or digitised when played back through a frame rate converter such as the Panasonic AJ FRC27. This will output your off speed material at its intended slow or fast motion effect and convert it to your chosen HD standard eg. 1080i.

If you are going to shoot at off speed frame rates, you must keep all your off speed material on a separate tape. Transferring off speed material can cost up to £400 per hour so you don't want to be looking for a handful of off speed shots amongst a set of rushes which have mainly been shot at standard speed.

Panasonic are also introducing two new versions of the Varicam which record onto solid state P2 memory cards. The VariCam 2700 and VariCam 3700 will be available from Autumn 2008.