P2 Takes a Step Forward with Five Slot AJ-PCD20 Internal/External Drive

August 11, 2006 - Yesterday, Panasonic announced the availability of their five slot AJ-PCD20 P2 drive, offering users of the AG-HVX200 and other P2 camcorders a new data transfer option. The new drive looks identical to the AJ-PCD10 five slot P2 drive with a few important differences: the AJ-PCD20 has an MSRP of $1980 vs. $2500 for its predecessor, and it has the ability to transfer data via either USB 2.0 or FireWire 800. The AJ-PCD10 only had a USB 2.0 interface.

Panasonic's AJ-PCD10, the predecessor to the new P2 card reader

The new drive, which debuted at NAB in April, can be operated either as an internal drive using a standard 5.25” drive bay, or as an external drive when connected via either USB 2.0 or IEEE1394b to a LAN or directly to a PC. The AJ-PCD20, like the AJ-PCD10, can mount five P2 cards at the same time, allowing instant access to footage shot continuously across multiple cards. Loaded with five 8GB P2 cards - the largest capacity currently available – the AJ-PCD20 can handle up to 160 minutes of DVCPRO footage, 80 minutes of DVCPRO50 and 40 minutes of DVCPRO HD.

In addition to the AJ-PCD20, Panasonic offers the “ruggedized” AJ-PCS060G P2 Store Drive with a single P2 slot. The P2 Store Drive has an onboard 60GB HDD for use as a footage aggregation and storage device in the field, and can be used as an external drive with a PC in the studio. The AJ-PCS060G retails for $1800. Panasonic also offers a high-end DVCPRO and P2 studio deck, the AJ-SPD850. This deck has five P2 card slots, a VTR, and an extensive feature set and retails for about $15,000.

Panasonic’s P2 format has been slow to gain a foothold, despite the many advantages that solid state video recording provides. While P2 cards are much sturdier than DV tape, transfer data is nearly instantaneously, and can be used multiple times, they are relatively expensive at a US list price of $550 for a 4GB P2 card and $1200 for an 8GB P2 card. Panasonic has acknowledged the current high cost per card, but says larger cards are in development and that prices will drop in the future. The release of the AJ-PCD20 at $520 below the AJ-PCD10 may be one indication that Panasonic is determined to keep P2 technology competitive.