Panasonic has unveiled a new P2 memory card that can record more than an hour of DVCPRO HD or AVC-Intra 100.

The new 64 gigabyte (GB) card can be used with Panasonic's range of solid-state camcorders and decks.

According to Panasonic, the hour of HD recording time permitted by the new card is longer than any tape or disc based system on the market can manage.

64GB is also double the previous largest capacity available in a P2 card.

"Doubling the capacity of P2 media is an important step in our strategy for spreading the huge benefits of tapeless operation throughout the broadcasting industry," said Jaume Rey, director of Panasonic PBITS.

A 64-GB P2 card is capable of storing:

  • Over four hours of DVCPRO footage (64 GB x four minutes per GB),

  • Over two hours of DVCPRO 50 or AVC-Intra 50 (64 GB x two minutes per GB),

  • 64 minutes of AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD.

With five 64 GB P2 cards installed, an AJ-HPX3000 P2 HD camcorder can record for 320 minutes in AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD, and 640 minutes in AVC-Intra 50 or DVCPRO 50.

The 64 GB P2 card will work immediately with all P2 HD camcorders purchased from May 2007 and forward. Other cameras will require a software download.

Panasonic P2 details

A Pansonic P2 card is comprised of its own processor, firmware, a RAID controller, and gigabytes of the highest quality, non-volatile solid-state memory chips.

It manages data intelligently, including a write-verification step for every byte of memory that is written to the card for fault-free operation. The P2 card can be connected instantly with laptop PCs and major nonlinear editing systems.

The P2 card is packaged in a rugged die-cast frame and is resistant to impact, vibration, shock, dust, and environmental extremes including temperature changes.

Topics