PANASONIC DEBUTS NEW AVCCAM HD RECORDER AND REMOTE CAMERA HEAD AT NAB SHOW

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 19, 2009) – Here at NAB, Panasonic Broadcast has announced pricing for its new AG-HMR10 AVCCAM compact field recorder/player and the AG-HCK10 compact, multi-purpose 3-MOS HD camera head, both versatile additions to the company’s AVCCAM line of professional solid-state high definition products. The AG-HMR10 handheld recorder and the AG-HCK10 compact camera head will be available later this year at suggested list prices of $2,650 and $2,100, respectively. The HMR10 professional AVCCAM recorder provides the flexibility of low cost, SD memory card based recording and full 1080 and 720 resolution capture in a small, portable unit. The new AVCCAM recorder utilizes AVCHD (MPEG-4/AVC High-Profile) compression and is ideal for applications in video production, sports coaching, healthcare, law enforcement, remote operation/surveillance, and much more. Equipped with an HD-SDI input and output, the HMR10 AVCCAM recorder is also suitable for back-up recording from any HD-SDI-enabled camera or for use in studio or event production. The 1-pound unit features a lightweight, ergonomic design suited for handheld use (3.7in x 4.8in x 1.7in) and also has four threaded holes for flexible mounting. The HMR10 records stunning full HD 1920x1080 resolution images in three recording modes – the highest quality PH mode* (average 21 Mbps/max. 24 Mbps), HA mode (approx.17 Mbps) and HG mode (approx.13 Mbps). The fourth recording mode, HE (approx. 6 Mbps), records at 1440x1080. The HMR10 records in HD formats including 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 720/60p and 720/50p. With input from the AG-HCK10 camera head, the HMR10 will also record 1080/30p, 1080/25p and 1080/24p. With the HMR10, users can capitalize on the compact size, cost advantages, solid-state reliability and the widespread availability and low cost of SD and SDHC memory cards. Using just one 32GB SDHC memory card, a user can record three hours of full resolution 1920x1080 video and audio in PH mode, four hours at HA mode and 5.3 hours at HG mode. In the HE mode, the camera can record up to 12 hours of 1440x1080 HD content – all on a single 32GB SDHC card. SDHC cards containing AVCCAM recordings can be played directly in a growing number of affordable Panasonic Blu-ray players, plasma displays, Sony PlayStation 3® ** game machines, PCs and other devices. In addition to HD-SDI input/output and an external mic input (stereo), the HMR10 comes standard with interface connections including the HDMI out and USB 2.0, and is compatible with TC/UB recording. Professional audio features include a built-in stereo speaker and headphone mini jack. Compact and lightweight, the handheld unit has a built-in 3.5-inch color LCD monitor that displays content in thumbnail images for quick viewing. (The HCK10 camera head can be remotely controlled while images are checked on the LCD monitor.) The HMR10 operates on battery or 7.3V DC power. For editing or playback, professionals can instantly transfer content from the SD card to Mac or PC computers with an SD/SDHC card reader or by connecting the HMR10 recorder directly via its USB 2.0 interface. The ultra-compact HCK10 camera head nicknamed POVCAM is equipped with three newly-developed 1/4” 2-megapixel HD resolution 3-MOS imagers to deliver high-quality image quality. Weighing a little over a half pound, the HCK10 camera head is ultra-slim (2.1in x 2.2in x 4.8in) and features a 12x optical zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) and Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS), a dynamic range expansion tool that simultaneously compresses highlight information and boosts shadow detail in real time. DRS, mic settings, iris, focus, zoom control and power are supplied from the HMR10 recorder. Other features include a built-in microphone, 1/4" 20 socket for mounting and 43mm lens filter size. Cables connecting the camera to the recorder will be available in lengths up to 10 meters and are removable at each end for added flexibility. A three-meter cable is standard. AVCHD, an MPEG-4 /AVC Hi Profile-based format, provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency with improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression used in HDV formats. AVCHD is supported by wide range of editing options including Apple Final Cut Pro 6.0.5, Adobe Premier Pro CS4, Grass Valley EDIUS Pro 5 and EDIUS Neo 2. In addition, a free transcoder, available for download from the Panasonic Broadcast web site, will convert AVCHD files to DVCPRO HD P2 and down-converted DV files for use with most existing professional editing packages. Panasonic’s AVCCAM series brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals with a range of products. In addition to the HMR10 and HCK10, the AVCCAM line includes the new compact AG-HMC40, the very popular AG-HMC150 handheld, and the shoulder-mount AG-HMC70. AVCCAM products record stunning professional AVCHD video onto inexpensive, reusable SD/SDHC cards, like digital still photography, providing a fast and simple, file-based workflow with ultra-reliable performance. AVCHD digital files can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) or optical storage media and transferred to future storage media as technology advances. About Panasonic Broadcast Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE Symbol: PC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast. *To record in the high-quality PH mode, an SD card specified at class 4 and higher is required. **PlayStation 3 is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.