Product Information
Panasonic AJ-SPX800 ( AJ SPX800 / AJSPX800 ) DVCPRO HD Camcorder,

Panasonic AJ-SPX800 - P2 Breaks New Ground in Mobility and Reliability - The solid-state P2 card records and plays back without requiring the mechanisms found in conventional tape or disc systems. This gives the AJ-SPX800 CamputerTM Camcorder exceptional shock and vibration resistance, and makes it the ideal choice for reliable recording in harsh conditions.


Features:

• Instant Rec Start - Another Memory Card Advantage - Thanks to the solid-state memory, recording response is much faster than with tape or disc recorders. You can begin recording an instant after powering up, making it possible to capture fleeting moments that other systems miss. You won't worry about missing the shot.
• Next-Generation Recording Functions - The AJ-SPX800 has slots for five P2 cards and lets you record continuously onto all five in sequence. It also provides several entirely new recording functions that are possible only with memory cards.
• Data protection - The P2 card records only onto blank spaces, so there's no danger of accidentally writing over data. 1
  • Hot-swap recording: You can replace a full memory card with a blank one while the P2 cam is recording onto a second card. Successively swapping cards this way gives you virtually unlimited recording capability.
  • Loop recording: By loop recording onto a specified recording area, you can continue to record over fixed area.
  • Pre-rec: While in standby mode, you can continuously store, and subsequently record, up to 15 seconds of images and sounds (in DVCPRO). In effect, this lets you record footage of events that occur even before you press the rec start button, giving you a way to "go back" and capture moments you otherwise would have missed.
• Wide 2/3" 3-CCD for High Sensitivity and High Image Quality - The AJ-SPX800 features a 2/3" 520,000-pixel 3-CCD imaging system, plus progressive scanning capability and an F13 lens with high sensitivity. You can shoot in light as low as 0.01 lux 2 with minimal smear. With 750 lines of resolution and a 65-dB S/N, the AJ-SPX800 meets virtually any recording need. And it's versatile, with menu-selectable 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios.
• Digital Super Gain (cumulative mode) - The AJ-SPX800 has a digital super gain function (in cumulative mode) that allows extra gain of +12 dB (at 15 fps) and +20 dB (at 6 fps). Unlike conventional gain adjustment, digital super gain is virtually noise-free, 3 so picture quality remains intact. With high gain and digital super gain, the AJ-SPX800 allows ultra-high-sensitive shooting at up to +68 dB.
• 2X Digital Zoom - You can digitally enlarge the viewfinder image to twice the normal lens magnification, producing images four times the normal size. Progressive images retain their superior resolution even with zooming, and -- unlike when a lens extender is used -- brightness is not reduced. Ideal as both a shooting technique and focusing support.
• Newly Developed Gamma Curve for News - The gamma functions featured in Panasonic VariCam models have earned wide acclaim. Now Panasonic has developed a new gamma curve for the AJ-SPX800: news gamma. This new function, offered in addition to conventional video gamma, helps to preserve important image data by suppressing over-saturation in highlight areas during sudden changes in contrast.
• 24p/30p Progressive Mode - The frame rate can be switched between the normal 60i (60 fields/sec), 24p (24 frames/sec) and 30p 4 (30 frames/sec). In both 24p and 30p modes, a complete progressive scan image is produced for each frame. You'll find the AJ-SPX800 suitable for a host of applications, from production of documentaries, commercials, and music video clips to up-converting for HD.
• DVCPRO/DVCPRO50/DV Switchable - The versatile AJ-SPX800 can record in DVCPRO, high-quality 4:2:2 digital component DVCPRO50, and DV. A single 4GB P2 card 5 holds up to 16 minutes of DVCPRO/DV data or 8 minutes of DVCPRO50 data. Using the camera's five slots and hot-swapping function, you get virtually unlimited continuous recording.
• Four-Channel Digital Audio in All Formats - In all formats - DVCPRO50, DVCPRO, and DV - the AJ-SPX800 can record full 48-kHz/16-bit digital audio on each of the four channels. You can freely select the audio source for each channel, choosing from mic, line, wireless receiver, and other sources.
• Proxy Data Recording 6 - Mount an optional proxy (low-resolution) codec card into the option card slot or one of the P2 card slots, and the AJ-SPX800 records MPEG4 proxy data - useful for news flash or other studio news system use - onto the card along with the full-resolution data. Proxy data can also be recorded onto an SD Memory card mounted in the slot provided, for easy viewing on a laptop PC. The codec card, available as an option, lets you upgrade as future image codec systems evolve.
• PC Connection via Wireless LAN or USB 2.0 - Mount a wireless LAN card (optional) into the option card slot, and you can connect the P2 cam directly to a LAN. This is an extremely simple solution for live, on-air broadcast of proxy data 7 The AJ-SPX800 comes equipped with USB 2.0 interfaces that let you use the P2 card slot as an external drive for a PC. This gives you the flexibility to perform in-the-field nonlinear editing or network data transfers.
• Slip Thumbnail Function
  • Thumbnails: The AJ-SPX800 automatically generates a thumbnail image for each clip. These can be used for nonlinear editing or by the Camputer itself.
  • Displaying thumbnails on the Color LCD Monitor: You can view up to 12 thumbnails at once on the 3.5" Color LCD Monitor. Any of the corresponding clips can be accessed instantly.
  • Seamless playback of selected clips: Using the thumbnails, you can specify a number of clips for seamless playback or on-air broadcasting.
• Voice Memo and Shot Marker - If desired, to each clip you can add a simple OK/NG shot marker and/or a voice memo with an audio comment linked to the time code. You can do this either while recording or after recording, such as to support post-recording processing.
• Four User Scene Files - Store specific camera settings in built-in memory, then retrieve them when needed for quick, easy setup. Four files with settings can be stored in the camera's memory. Files can also be copied onto an SD Memory Card, allowing storage of up to eight files.
• Customized User Buttons and Menu - Three user buttons are provided. Assign a function to each, and then you can select those functions with pushbutton ease. You can also customize the on-screen menu with the items you use most often, then display them by simply pressing a button.
• Auto Tracking White Balance - White balance is automatically adjusted, in real time, as the lighting changes. This makes it easy to get natural color even when shooting scenes under difficult lighting conditions, like when following a subject walking from indoors to outdoors.
• Enhanced Functions and Specifications
  • The electronic shutter has speeds of 1/100, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000 sec, plus synchro-scan capability (1/60.3 to 1/250 sec)
  • 4-position optical filter
  • Select from a variety of finder markers, or make your own.
  • Zebra pattern can be displayed for contrast adjustment, Auto White Balance setting, and onto color bar output.
  • One touch of the mode check button displays the camera settings for easy confirmation.
  • Built-in SMPTE time code generator/reader, with time code In/Out terminal

• Pick-Up Device (size & type) 2/3-inch 3-CCD 
• Picture Elements (pixels) 520,000 
• Quantization 14-bit 
• Signal Processing 18 MHz, 36 MHz 
• Minimum Illumination 0.01 lux (F 1.4, +48dB +20dB gain) 
• Horizontal Resolution 750 lines (center) 
• Aspect Ratio 4:3/16:9 switchable 
• Lens Interchangeable, 2/3" bayonet mount (optional) 
• Focus Manual, Focus Assist with Digital Zoom
  
• Media Format DVCPRO P2 solid-state card 
• Recording Format DVCPRO 50/25, DV switchable 
• Frame Rates 60i, 30P, 24P
  
• Shutter Speeds (sec.) 1/100, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000
  
• Synchro-Scan Shutter (sec.) 1/60.3 to 1/249.7
  
• CineSwitch Technology Yes
  
• CineGamma Software Yes
  
• Assignable Scene Files Yes
  
• Programmable User Buttons 3
  
• Filter Wheels Single-stage
• White Balance Selection 2 manual, 1 preset
  
• Gain Selection (dB) -3, 0, +3, +6, +9, +12, 15, +18, +21, +24, +27, +30; Super Gain: +30, +36, +42, +48; Digital Super Gain: +6, +12, +20
• Super Iris Yes
  
• SMPTE Color Bar Generator Yes
  
• IEEE 1394 Interface Optional
  
• SD Memory Card Slot Yes
  
• LCD Screen 3.5", 200,000 pixels
  
• Viewfinder 1.5", 2.0", 5.0" (optional)