Panasonic Introduces New BT-LH1850, 469.9 mm (18.5 inches) Professional LCD Video Monitor

Osaka, Japan (March 9th, 2012) -- Panasonic Corporation announced “BT-LH1850” which is a new product of professional monitor “LH” series for broadcast and production market today. BT-LH1850 inherited widely accepted “LH” series engines and circuits such as “3D-LUT” to realize faithful color reproduction from low to high luminance levels and quick response for motion pictures.

Also in respect of a function, it has Y/R/G/B each color WFM, a SDI CC (closed caption) display, a RS-485 serial remote, etc., for broadcasters. Furthermore, the new panel which adopted the LED back light realized coexistence of the low power consumption and high cost performance. BT-LH1850 can meet wide needs from broadcasters to production crews.

BT-LH1850 features an image processing engine. By using a 3D-LUT for each RGB color and applying precise 10 bits image processing, it achieves faithful color reproduction from low to high brightness level and natural tone of intermediate gradations. When luminance level on LCD display falls, color space narrows. At the same time, color phase shift also arises and it makes colors to drift. “3D-LUT” Panasonic “LH” series adapts contains separate look-up-table for each luminance level and process with 10 bit RGB each color to adjust six-poles of coordinates of primary RGB and their complimentary colors CMY properly. Thereby, the color gap at low luminance level is canceled, and faithful color reproduction is realized.

Moreover, the power-saving design realizes low power consumption of 22W (at the time of DC input) which attained 54% reduction from the conventional model (BT-LH1710, launched 2008, 48W at time of DC input). Its design also considers the environment, such as adopting mercury free LED back light.

BT-LH1850 carries the LCD video monitor "LH" series functions required for broadcast station and production work. As well as the waveform monitor, in addition to luminosity (Y signal), the vector scope can newly chose each signal of R/G/B to display it. Furthermore, various markers can be displayed for 4:3 and 16:9 modes. It has seven aspect markers such as 4:3, 13:9, 14:9, CNSCO 2.39, CNSCO 2.35, 2:1, and VISTA when a display is 16:9 mode. A safe area marker and a center marker are also available. The safe marker can be displayed the safe area corresponding to the above aspect markers with the center marker when a display is 16:9 mode. The crosshatch function which displays a grid on a panel screen can perform a horizontal and vertical check easily.

In addition, BT-LH1850 features the "pixel two pixel" function which displays inputted video without any resizing, and “still frame display” function which can freeze a frame and display it as a sub-screen. The audio level meter in which a reference point setup, a peak hold, and an over range display is available. It can display TC and a closed caption. It supports the EIA-708 HD SDI closed captioning standard (EIA-608 SD SDI closed captioning standard), and can display up to eight windows simultaneously.

BT-LH1850 features more video input and remote terminals to realize an excellent performance and operability in a system configuration. The HD/SD automatic select function, two SDI inputs (SDI1/SDI2) supporting embedded audio, and a HDMI (Type A) input are equipped. Wide variety of digital HD products, such as BD / DVD player can be connected. DVI-I (single link), digital and analog compatible interface, is also available to be input from PC, or a non-linear-editing system. Furthermore, in addition to a GPI terminal and a RS-232C terminal, a RS-485 terminal is newly equipped. A maximum of 32 sets are controlled by loop through connection by specification of an ID number. A text display (alphanumeric character of eight characters) and the Talley display are possible by the TSL command. It also supports the Panasonic original command (an equivalent for RS-232C).

The tilt stand is equipped as standard, and the design of a front operation panel is renewed. The front side is equipped with the speaker and the stereo headphone output. Furthermore, all front panel operations other than POWER switch, MENU operation and volume control can also be disabled by a KEY lock function.

The new BT-LH1850 will be available in April, with suggested list prices of 262,500 yen.