Panasonic's New SDX900 Camcorder Now Available

by News Editor
Published on Jan 23, 2004 12:00 AM



The Canadian division of Panasonic announces the availability of the SDX900, a dual-mode DVCPRO Cinema camcorder. The manufacturer states, the SDX900 is the first standard definition camcorder capable of image capturing at 24 frames per second progressive scan (480/24p), 30 frames per second progressive scan (480/30p) and 60-fields-per-second interlace scan (480/60i),.

The SDX900 offers complete flexibility for advertising and film recording applications or 4:1:1 news and industrial recording applications in either native 16 X 9 wide-screen or 4 X 3 aspect ratios.

The AJ-SDX900 features three newly-designed 2/3 inch 520,000-pixel IT progressive scan CCDs that provide low-light shooting down to 0.09 lux (+48dB), and high sensitivity of F13 at 2000 lux. Advanced 12-bit A/D DSP signal processing circuits provide superb picture quality, color expression and luminance gradation, while a 12-axis matrix color correction allows very specific colors to be adjusted without altering the overall palette.

The SDX900 is part of Panasonic's electronic field production strategy; offering 24p acquisition capabilities at a variety of price points. The new camcorder adds to a line that includes the AJ-HDC27F VariCam, the AG-DVX100A DV Cinema camcorders, and the AJ-SD930 and AJ-SD955A series IEEE (FireWire) 1394-supported studio VTRs.

The SDX900 has a maximum record time of 33 minutes in DVCPRO 50 and 66 minutes in DVCPRO 25, and four 48kHz/16-bit digital audio channels in 50Mbps DVCPRO 50. The unit weighs 6.8 kg. fully-equipped. The camcorder is equipped with a super gain function up to 48dB, and a new time-accumulate digital super gain for night-time shooting.

The SDX900 has a manufactures suggested retail price of $38,000 CDN or $28,000 USD.