White Paper 034 Addendum 33: Assessment of, and settings for, Panasonic HVX201

Alan Roberts

Abstract

Data for this section is taken from a short examination of a production model of the Panasonic HVX201 camcorder. This is a HDTV camcorder, virtually identical to the HVX100, with 3 ⅓” ccds, the manual gives no clue as to the sensor resolutions. It appears to be a slightly simplified version of the HVX200, running only at 50Hz. It records HDTV using the DVCProHD algorithm onto P2 flash cards (1080i, 1080psf, 720p), SDTV using any of the DVCPro50 or DVCPro or DV algorithms onto P2 cards (576i, 576psf, 576psfa), and SDTV onto miniDV. It can also shoot “off-speed” when recording 720p onto P2 cards, but only at spot speeds, it is not continuously variable as is the Varicam AJ-HDC27F.

The camera is relatively light 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 a photographic speed of about 640ASA.

It has the usual internal menus for setting the performance, not as complex as in the 720-line Varicam or the 1080-line HD900 for example, but enough to control most of the important features. It is not suited to multicamera operation because it cannot be remotely controlled or genlocked. It has analogue-only video outputs (components at both HD and SD via a multi-pin connector) and digits via IEEE1394 Firewire and USB. This alone puts the camera in the consumer/semi-pro market, rather than broadcast, which would normally expect either HDSDI or BNC connectors for analogue.

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 stops 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 (250%) and one of under-exposure relative to normal operation.

The settings in this document are virtually identical to those for the HVX200, since the camera performance seems to be near identical.

Download White Paper 034 Addendum 33: Assessment of, and settings for, Panasonic HVX201

PDF Files

Adobe Acrobat
BBC R&D uses Portable Document Format (PDF) to publish and distribute documents on its site.

This format allows users to download documents and to view and print them for their own use.

Users needs to install Adobe Acrobat® Reader software from the Adobe Corporation. The free Adobe Acrobat® Reader allows you to view, navigate, and print PDF files across all major computing platforms.

The BBC acknowledges all registered trademarks.

For more information and to download the Adobe Acrobat(R) Reader software please visit the Click Adobe website.

White Paper Copyright

© BBC. All rights reserved. Except as provided below, no part of a White Paper may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means) without the prior written permission of BBC Research except in accordance with the provisions of the (UK) Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

The BBC grants permission to individuals and organisations to make copies of any White Paper as a complete document (including the copyright notice) for their own internal use. No copies may be published, distributed or made available to third parties whether by paper, electronic or other means without the BBC's prior written permission.