Panasonic Broadcast & Digital Systems Company (PBDSC) introduces the AJ-D400 DVCPRO camcorder. The unit features three low-smear, low-noise 1/2" 410,000-pixel FIT CCDs. In ready-to-shoot condition — with lens, 1.5" viewfinder, cassette and battery pack — the AJ-D400 weighs under 13 pounds, and its power consumption is only 23 watts. The camcorder records for 66 minutes, and can play back pictures in black-and-white on the viewfinder or in full color on an external monitor. The AJ-D400's +30dB gain-up allows high-quality shooting in lighting as low as 2 lux. The programmable 3-position gain switch allows the operator to select from 11 settings for complete control of low-, medium-, and high-gain preferences.
The AJ-D400's digital-component recording delivers superb picture quality across a 5.75Mhz video bandwidth, and the video S/N ratio is an impressive 55dB. The camcorder's digital audio system capabilities include a 48kHz-sampling, 16-bit-recording, two-channel PCM digital system. The settings displayed by a menu visible in the viewfinder include a 2-D Low Pass Filter (which eliminates cross color), Dark Detail (to correct details in dark areas), Chroma Detail (to correct degraded resolution in brightly colored areas), Matrix (which corrects six types of color phase), Super Color (to emphasize "highlight" colors), and Black Stretch (which gives black areas more emphasis).
The AJ-D400's industry-standard bayonet mount accommodates a wide variety of conversion lenses. The camcorder also features automatic shading correction, which adjusts the setting to match the lens. Additional features include a programmable one-button Super Iris and Super Gain; a Synchro-Scan Electronic Shutter (with six settings from 1/100 to 1/2000 second) that reduces flicker while shooting CRT displays; a shockless Auto Control that adjusts white balance according to the image being shot; a standard SMPTE color-bar output; built-in Genlock; a built-in SMPTE time-code generator/reader; a one-touch camera-status-report function; one-touch record review function; a built-in monitor speaker; a phantom power supply; and an optional RET-video input and time-code input/output. Standard accessories include a 1.5" electronic viewfinder, a microphone, a tripod adapter, and a Anton/Bauer Gold Mount Plate for compatibility with the Anton/Bauer digital battery system. A 26-pin VTR connector is optional.
Panasonic Sales 1-800-528-8601, website: www.panasonic.com.
Xytech Systems Corporation has released Xytech Enterprise 2.0, a fully integrated facility-management application designed for the media and entertainment industries. This new business operation application is a comprehensive resource management and scheduling system. Enterprise 2.0 runs on Microsoft Windows 95/98, NT, Macs, and standard Web browsers. The application supports many databases, including Oracle v7/v8, Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise v11.5, Adaptive Server Anywhere v5/6, and Microsoft SQL Server 6.5/7. Enterprise 2.0 is an open-architecture solution that supports multiple sites, companies, divisions, currencies and language. The application is available as a complete system or with separately purchased modules. The applications themselves can be bundled with several integrated modules including job management, scheduling, bidding, library, purchase order, time card, duplication, rental, accounts receivable, accounts payable, banking and general ledger.
Enterprise 2.0 has been designed as an Enterprise-level product, offering a logical migration of existing Myriad Facility Manager sites. Through the use of object-based software technology, companies can now analyze their resource usage, track productivity, and bill for these services more accurately. Enterprise is currently being installed in commercial and corporate produc-tion/postproduction houses, satellite broadcasting studios, duplication facilities, major studios, international production facilities, and other companies worldwide.
Xytech, (818) 767-7400, fax (818) 768-7430, website: www.xytechsystems.com.
Century Precision Optics has developed a 14mm f2.8 lens for Clairmont's SwingShift system, which operators can use to distort the shape of a subject, remove unwanted objects from a frame, or shoot straight into a mirror without catching unwanted camera reflections. The SwingShift offers nearly total control over the focus plane, allowing extremely deep or shallow depth of field without requiring exposure or focus changes.
Century Precision Optics, (818) 766-3715, fax (818) 505-9865, website: www.centuryoptics.com.
| [ Previous page ] |
© 1999 ASC