Sharper, Crisper, More Vivid - E.Cam Explained
ADVANCED DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Panasonic's award winning Digital camcorders are so easy to use and so much fun - you can make your own exciting home movies in whatever recording format suits your needs. Panasonic's 3CCD and Mega OIS digital technologies, equipped with world renowned Leica lenses give you the most exquisite home movies ever recorded.
Confused? SD, DVD, HDD, Tape or Hybrid?
Each format offers you different benefits, make your choice by asking yourself two important questions. . . .
1) What picture quality do you want?
2) How much recording time and convenience do you need?
1) Picture Quality:
Here you need to consider a) Definition and b) Image Sensor.
a) Definition: You have two options
i) Standard Definition - gives you 500,000 pixels
ii) High Definition - gives you 1,000,000 - 2,000,000 pixels.
b) Image Sensor/ CCD: The CCD converts light and image information into electrical signals. 3CCD (as used in professional broadcast cameras and available in home camcorders) delivers a superior picture quality compared to 1CCD. 3CCD splits the light entering the lens into its primary colours (red, green, and blue). Each colour is processed separately on its own CCD resulting in high colour precision and fine detail. With 1CCD, a colour filter works out what the colours should be.
DVD E.CAM: The New DVD-RAM Camcorders VDR-M70 and VDR-M50
Introducing a new concept in digital video cameras, DVD e-cams use DVD-RAM technology with the capability of recording onto a DVD-RAM disc, a DVD-R or an SD Memory Card. The benefits are no degradation of image quality and a range of exciting features making filming even more enjoyable and user friendly. DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs can also be played back on a wide range of DVD recorders and players.
Instant Shooting
Using a DVD-RAM disc there’s no need to search for space to record onto - the DVD-RAM camcorder automatically searches for blank section and starts recording with a single press of a button. There is no need to worry about mistakenly over recording previously recorded footage.
Quick Scene Search
Unlike video tape, the DVD disc needs no rewinding or fast forwarding to search for specific scenes. The DVD-RAM camcorders have LCD displays which list the recorded scenes for quick, easy searching. Images recorded onto DVD-RAM or DVD-R discs can also be played back on a Panasonic DVD recorder or a 2003/4 Panasonic DVD player. This eliminates the need to connect up to a TV to view footage shot.
No Image Degradation
Because the DVD-RAM camcorders use a completely non-contact method to record and play, repeated playback does not degrade the image. Even images kept for years will not lose image quality. DVD-RAM discs can also be rewritten approximately 100,000 times making them both economical and ideal for repeated use.
Easy Editing
It’s easy to edit and process recorded images without the need to connect to a PC. Selected scenes on a disc can be arranged into any order to create original scenarios and saved as a playlist.
Incredibly Small
With a new compact drive and higher-density mounting, DVD-RAM camcorders have super slim bodies. Advanced miniaturisation know-how in the lens section and battery also helps these model to be so incredibly small.
Long Recording Time
In XTRA mode advanced MPEG2 data compression is used which is called VBR (variable bit rate) to record in high quality. Real-time VDR controls the rate of MPEG2 compression depending on the scenes complexity and varies it to enable more efficient recording. In XTRA mode the DVD-RAM camcorders can record up to 60 minutes per side on a double sided 8cm DVD-RAM disc.
Still Image Recording
In addition to moving pictures, the DVD-RAM camcorders can record still images (640 x 480 pixels) onto a DVD disc or SD Memory Card. The VDR-M70B can record 1 megapixel still pictures onto the SD Memory Card. A DVD-RAM disc can store JPEG photo data and video data together on the same disc.
SD Memory Card Compatibility
SD Memory Cards are ideal recording and storage media. They make it easy to transfer still images captured with a DVD-RAM camcorder to a digital printer or PC.
Smooth PC Linking
Standardised DVD-RAM discs are ideal for linking with other digital equipment such as a PC. The MPEG2 moving picture format can be easily processed by a PC allowing for advanced editing of image data.
