Panasonic shows off twin-lens 3D camera prototype, announces HDC-Z10000 3D camcorder

PANASONIC DEVELOPS COMPACT, TWIN-LENS 3D DIGICAM WITH 3D HD VIDEO CAPABILITY
LUMIX Twin-Lens 3D Camera on Display at Panasonic’s IFA 2011 Booth
SECAUCUS, NJ (August 31, 2011) – Panasonic today announced the event of a twin-lens 3D digicam, complete with 3D HD video capability. The recent LUMIX 3D prototype could be on display at IFA 2011, among the many world’s largest electronics shows, from September 2-7, 2011, in Berlin, Germany. IFA conference attendees can visit the Panasonic booth at Messe Berlin, Hall 5.2

The hot 3D camera also will shoot 2D photos and HD video. With its 3D still and video capabilities, the compact camera will allow users to take 3D photos and 3D HD videos, while further expanding the area of consumer 3D entertainment.
The LUMIX 3D camera’s compact size, was achieved by employing two recently-developed 4x zoom lenses with thin, folded optics, which enable users to capture crisp and clear photo and video footage even from afar. The optical zoom system enables highly-versatile 3D shooting from wide angle to telephoto while the Optical Image Stabilization works during both 2D and 3D shooting to supply high-quality photos and videos with minimal blurring. The original, twin-lens design further helps in providing stunning, high-resolution 2D photos while shooting 2D videos instantaneously. Using the side-by-side method, the camera could also capture 3D HD videos in AVCHD format.

The flexibility of the 3D capture technology allows users to quickly go from shooting photos and videos to viewing them. Working synergistically with other Panasonic products, the brand new camera allows photos and videos to be easily viewed on a VIERA 3D TV with the straightforward insertion of the SD memory card into the television’s SD card image viewer slot or by connecting the camera to the TV with an HDMI cable.

PANASONIC’S NEWEST CONSUMER CAMCORDER SHOOTS OUTSTANDING FULL-HD 2D AND 3D VIDEO
Panasonic HDC-Z10000 Shoots Professional-Quality 2D/3D Videos with a Twin-Lens Design this is Technically Advanced, and likewise Incorporates a 3D LCD – No Eyewear Needed
SECAUCUS, NJ (August 31, 2011) – Panasonic today announces the HDC-Z10000, its first* integrated twin-lens 2D/3D camcorder that may be fully compatible with the AVCHD 3D/Progressive standard, which was also recently announced. The HDC-Z10000 builds on Panasonic’s 3D innovations, having the nearest 3D video macro setting with a twin-lens 3D camcorder at approximately 17.8 inches. With this industry-best macro setting, the Panasonic HDC-Z10000, helps capture 3D video this is typically difficult to do, akin to flowers, animals and jewellery.

New to Panasonic’s 3D-capable camcorders, the HDC-Z10000 incorporates a 1,152,000-dot, 3.5-inch LCD that looks 3D to the naked eye – no 3D eyewear needed. By utilizing a parallax barrier to manipulate the direction of the sunshine from the LCD, images with slightly different perceptions are viewed by the proper and left eyes, thus making a 3D effect. The user can check 3D images while shooting, while not having to attach a monitor. Naturally, the display is usually switched between 2D and 3D.

Furthering its technical excellence, the HDC-Z10000 features Panasonic’s unique Double 3MOS System, which produces superb color and detail reproduction. Featuring two high-sensitivity 3MOS sensors (with a superior pixel count of 6.57 megapixels each) which might be independently mounted left and right, the Double 3MOS system creates outstanding full HD 3D video content. Using Full-HD image quality backed by the accurate colors, meticulous detail, and high dynamic range that distinguish the 3MOS sensor, separate images are recorded simultaneously for the left and right eyes. The advanced image sensor separates the sunshine received during the lens into the 3 primary colors – red, green and blue – and processes each color independently. Because of this, the whole HD 3D image quality is exceptional. Naturally, the 3MOS System provides an analogous effects for 2D, achieving precise and sharp Full HD 2D image quality together with progressive recording. The HDC-Z10000, with a newly-developed and ultra-high speed Crystal Engine Pro II engine powers the high-speed processing had to create superb image quality both in 2D and 3D images.

“Adding to Panasonic’s top-of-the-line 3MOS full-HD camcorders, the HDC-Z10000 naturally excels within the recording of high-quality 2D images. It also meets the constantly increasing need for full HD 3D videos, as both professionals and consumers desire more flexibility and gear when shooting 3D,” said Chris Rice, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “The HDC-Z10000 is a singular camcorder in that it has high-end features to fit advanced users, but is simple enough to make use of for those trying to find excellent 2D video and who could explore 3D video shooting besides.”

The HDC-Z10000 features new F1.5 lenses that excel when shooting in low light conditions, and permit the user to record bright images with reduced noise. For the primary time on a Panasonic camcorder, the lenses feature Nano Surface Coating, that is microstructure film with an ultra-low refractive index at the lens surface, greatly reducing the sunshine reflection and thus reducing ghosting to be able to produce crisp, clear image rendering. With a 32mm wide-angle lens, the HDC-Z10000 is amazingly versatile and likewise has a 10x optical zoom while shooting in 3D or 12x optical zoom while shooting in 2D. When shooting in 2D, HYBRID O.I.S. helps to correct handshake that happens when shooting while zooming or walking, as well as horizontal, vertical, yawing, and pitching four-axis correction. When shooting in 3D, the system activates POWER O.I.S., which helps to suppress handshake, especially helpful while zooming.

The HDC-Z10000 excels both in performance and straightforwardness-of-use – because of extremely flexible operating options. For more advanced users seeking professional-level control, there are enhanced functions, along with three independent rings for adjusting the zoom, focus, and iris control. There are built-in microphones for recording Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound/2-channel stereo, the HDC-Z10000 features two XLR audio inputs with a 48-V phantom power supply for external microphone use. Clear audio is recorded with minimal noise.

Uncompressed Linear PCM (2-channel only) is usually supported for recording original sounds with extremely high fidelity. Plus, a dedicated dial lets the user finely adjust 3D convergence (parallax). Frequently-needed features, reminiscent of O.I.S. ON/OFF, Color Bar ON/OFF, Zebra Pattern Display, 3D Guide Display, Auto/Manual Iris, Auto/Manual Auto Focus, and Auto/Manual White Balance can be found at the side of the body as separate buttons for speedy, intuitive access.

In response to the AVCHD format, which offers high compression and ideal compatibility, this new standard have been upgraded to AVCHD 3D, which uses MVC (Multiview Video Coding) to record and playback 3D images via the Frame Sequential Method, and AVCHD Progressive for progressive formats. The HDC-Z10000 also employs the 1080/60 progressive option to record twice as much image data because the 1080/60 interlace method. Fast-moving subjects, reminiscent of in sports scenes, are smoothly recorded. The progressive recording of the HDC-Z10000 fully complies with the recent AVCHD Progressive standard. For those searching for control over which recording modes come in, the user can select the most well liked recording mode from AVCHD 3D (1080/60i, 1080/24p, and 1080/30p**, AVCHD Progressive (1080/60p), and AVCHD (1080/24p, 1080/30p** and 1080/60i PH/HA/HE mode). Other features of the Panasonic HDC-Z10000 twin-lens 2D/3D camcorder include:
- A bright 0.45-inch Live View Finder (LVF) with high-speed responses and a 1,227,000-dot high-resolution. The fantastic LVF makes it easier to optimize the main focus, or to be used in a situation that requires no excess light from an LCD screen.
- A dual SD Memory Card slot with the choice of extended recording or back-up. When two SD Memory Cards are inserted and the primary card reaches full capacity, the system automatically and seamlessly switches*** to the second one card. This permits extended recording without needing to fret about interruptions as a result of a scarcity of card capacity. Or, during backup recording, an identical data is recorded onto both cards for fast duplicating or archiving purposes relating to a faulty SD card
- The bundled HD Writer XE 1.0 Software lets users cut out full HD 3D and progressive images and save to a pc.
- 2D/3D Still Image Recording Any Time. The user simply presses the shutter button to record a 2D or 3D (MPO compliant) still image**** at any time. It’s also possible to chop out images in all modes while shooting or playing videos. 3D and 2D still images are recorded simultaneously with 2.1-megapixel resolution.

The Panasonic HDC-Z10000 would be available in black and the pricing and availability may be announced approximately 30 days ahead of shipping. For additional information about Panasonic camcorders, please visit www.panasonic.com.

* As of August 31, 2011
** Images shot within the 1080/30p mode are recorded as 1080/60i
*** The SD card is switched just once for continuous recording
**** 3-megapixel resolution for 2D, 2.1-megapixel resolution for 3D