White Paper 034 Addendum 31: Assessment of, and settings for, Panasonic HPX171

Alan Roberts

Abstract

Data for this section is taken from the user manual and a short examination of a production model of the Panasonic HPX171 camcorder (serial number J8TCA0195). This is a HDTV camcorder, physically very similar to the standard-definition DVX100 and HVX200 with 3 ⅓” ccds, the manual gives no clue as to the sensor resolutions. The model under test ran at both 60 and 30Hz video rates (actually 59.94 and 29.97), 24Hz (actually 23.98), and 50 and 25Hz. It records HDTV using the DVCProHD algorithm (1080i, 1080psf, 720p), SDTV using any of the DVCPro50 or DVCPro or DV algorithms (480i, 480psf, 480psfa or 576i, 576psf, 576psfa), all onto P2 flash cards. There is no tape mechanism.

The camera is relatively light (1.9kg) and has an integral lens and viewfinder, with side lcd panel, and seems aimed at the high-end consumer/professional market rather than full broadcast, which would normally demand interchangeable lenses. It has the usual internal menus for setting the performance, not as complex as in broadcast cameras, but enough to control most of the important features. It is not suited to multi-camera operation because it cannot be genlocked or remotely controlled.

It has analogue video outputs (components at both HD and SD via a multi-pin connector) and digits via IEEE1394 Firewire and USB, and perhaps crucially, HDSDI. The HDSDI facility raises the expectations of the camera a little, but its performance is somewhat mixed. There is a section on measurements at the end of this document.

The same assessment procedure was used as for other HD cameras, partly attempting to get a good “filmlook”, and the settings reflect that. It is useful to think of the camera, when used in this way, to be mimicking a film camera and telecine, with “best light” transfer to tape, with about 10.5 stops, maybe 11, of tonal range. Assuming that a grading operation will be used in post-production, the settings attempt to give the colourist the same range of options as with film. The recommended settings allow about 1.3 stops of over-exposure and one of under-exposure relative to normal operation. This is not as good as can be achieved in most 2"/3 cameras.

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