Euskal Telebista (EiTB), a Basque Country public broadcaster that operates five television and five radio channels, has adopted Panasonic’s P2HD as the format for its electronic news gathering (ENG) systems. The first Panasonic P2HD products being implemented by EiTB within its ENG division include the AG-HVX200 handheld solid-state HD camcorder and AG-HPX500 memory card camera-recorder, as well as the P2 Mobile system for the broadcaster’s OB van, writes Fergal Ringrose.
EiTB’s ENG crews can select among recording modes from 25-Mbps to 50-Mbps DVCPRO50 to 100-Mbps DVCPRO HD on the AG-HVX200, depending on the assignment and type of coverage and quality needed. The camera’s P2 memory provides random access to all recorded content and, because there is no need to digitise video, enables a rapid shift from production into editing.
The AG-HPX500 being deployed by EiTB is an SD- and HD-capable camera that can be switched between 50-Hz and 60-Hz operation. The camera’s progressive 3CCD and 2/3-inch interchangeable lens system enable full-fledged HD production, while its variable frame-rate function delivers film-like picture quality. Equipped with four P2 card slots, the AG-HPX500 gives ENG teams extended HD recording time, quick recording starts, and benefits of the P2 format in IT-based recording and editing workflows.
The P2 Mobile, Panasonic’s AJ-HPM100 recorder/player, features a six-slot P2 card reader that will make it easy for EiTB ENG crews to move media off of their AG-HVX200 and AG-HPX500 cameras and free up solid-state memory for further recording. With a 9-inch widescreen LCD, the unit allows users to perform cuts-only editing and shot marking in the field.