Important feature of H250 and H20: New SD Video Cameras from panasonic

30GB HDD
The built-in 30GB HDD of the SDR-H250 or SDR-H20 has a storage capacity that is 22 times as large as that of a single DVD. Unlike tape or DVD recording media, the HDD in LP mode enables continuous video recording for up to 27 hours without additional recording media. The HDD is equipped with Anti-Shock Shields that protects important video recording data from external shock. Furthermore, the video recording data can be copied to PCs or DVD writers over the USB cable. The 30GB HDD ensures both reliability and user-friendliness.

�EAnti-Shock Shield
1: Drop Detect Function
Incorporates a 3D sensor that detects falls from a height of approximately 20 cm or over and automatically keeps the head away from the hard disc drive, thus preventing disc data damage resulting from the collision of the head.

2: Floating Structure
The four corners of the hard disc drive are filled up with thick vibration-proof gel, which suppresses external vibration and shock transmitted to the drive.

3: Buffer Memory
When the drop detect function is activated while recording and the head is kept away from the drive, the recording data in progress will be automatically backed up* in the built-in buffer memory. When the hard disc drive returns to normal, the data will be automatically transferred to the drive. Therefore, even if the user should drop the video camera while shooting images, the video recording of the video camera will not break off.
*As long as there is battery power.

3CCD Camera System (H250)
The SDR-H250 is provided with a 3CCD camera system that has been used by most professional broadcast equipment. Panasonic's professional 3CCD video cameras, which have brought breathtaking images to viewers around the world since 1992, when they were first selected as the broadcast equipment for the Olympic Games. Panasonic has downsized its professional 3CCD camera system for use in consumer models. In a 3CCD camera system, the light received through the lens is split into its three primary colour components (red, green and blue), and the signal from each is processed by one of the three CCDs. Compared with conventional 1CCD camera systems, Panasonic's 3CCD system provides more vivid, true-to-life colours, greater detail and richer gradation.

O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
The shaking and blurring that can occur when shooting with unsteady hands may be often annoying when the images are viewed on TV screens that have been rapidly increasing in size in recent years. Moreover, the development of telescopic functions has involved an adverse influence of the shaking and blurring on the recording screen more remarkably than ever before. The SDR-H250 and SDR-H20 are equipped with Panasonic's O.I.S., which makes it possible to minimize the influence of the shaking and blurring without loss of image quality. Furthermore, the MEGA O.I.S. will start automatically at the time of still-picture shooting, thus performing further image stabilization that is twice as effective. Therefore, digital video cameras incorporating the O.I.S. and MEGA O.I.S. make it possible to record beautiful still images as well as animated images. The O.I.S. and MEGA O.I.S. are truly necessary in an age of large-screen, high-resolution TVs, when every image imperfection is easily visible.

Leica Dicomar Lens (H250)
Photographers around the world know Leica Camera AG as a maker of superb cameras and lenses. This company's advanced optical technology has been fused with Panasonic's leading-edge digital technology to create the Leica Dicomar lens. The Leica Dicomar lens provided in the SDR-H250 features 12 lens elements in eight groups and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce the blurring of colour. A special multi-coating process is applied to the 14 lens element surfaces to minimize chromatic aberration, so images are crisp, clear, and free of flare and ghosting.
*Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH, and Dicomar is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.

32x Optical Zoom (H20)
Enjoy remarkable 32x zoom magnification in a camera that fits comfortably and securely in one hand. Since the zoom is optical, it captures both moving and still pictures with exquisite beauty.

Crystal Engine & Pure Colour Engine
The Crystal Engine is a special image processing circuit for 3CCD camera systems that process the R, G, and B signals from three CCDs individually to remove the noise and improve colour processing accuracy. Pure Colour Engine is the same one for high-zooming cameras. Each engine achieves truly superb colour reproduction for high-quality pictures.

Source : http://www.panasonic-europe.com

Panasonic DMC-FZ8 with intelligent Image Stabilization and ISO control

Panasonic incorporated intelligence Imeage stabilization (O.I.S.) that prevents blurring from shaky hands – the leading cause of blurry images. Featured in the entire Lumix line-up since 2005. In Panasonic's Mega O.I.S., sensors act at a frequency of 4,000 times per second to accurately detect even slight camera movement by hand shaking . With Mega O.I.S., it is easier to capture clear, sharp, beautiful images when shooting telephoto shots, indoor portraits. It is so advanced that you can take a perfect snap of illuminated night scenes or even the scenery you see from a train window.
While hand-shake is the most common reason of blurry images, another major reason of blur image is the movement of the subject as the shot is being snapped. By incorporating Panasonic's new Intelligent ISO Control, camera can detect whether or not the subject is moving. If it is, the system automatically raises the ISO setting accordingly, allowing the camera to shoot at a higher shutter speed. If the subject is not moving, the camera shoots at a low ISO setting and captures beautiful, natural-looking images.This intelligent ISO Control feature can help you to shoot subjects that are often moving, such as Sports, or moving car or waterfall . Simply select the mode that best suits the subject, and Intelligent ISO Control provides the optimal corrections, making it easy to capture perfect photo.

3CCD camera advantage.

CCD is a important feature in digital camera or camcorder. Now-a-days high-end camera comes with 3CCD. With a 3-CCD camera, each CCD is devoted to red, green and blue colour. In 3CCD camera, light coming into the lens is split by trichoric prism assembly, which directs the appropriate wavelength ranges of light to their respective CCDs. 3-CCD camera can manage separate reading of red, green, and blue values for each pixel, that can make better precision than single-CCD cameras.

When comparing the 3 digital original-images of the 3CCD camera to the single CCD camera they seem identical in plain eyes. In practice single CCD cameras yield images which are more blurred than those of 3CCD cameras.

In terms of price, 3CCD cameras are more expensive than single-CCD cameras. Because 3CCD cameras have more elements to form the image detector, and they also have a precision color-separation beam-splitter optical assembly.

SDR-S10: Video camera with SDHC Memory Card

Panasonic introduced compact digital video camera SDR-S10. This camera uses SD / SDHC Memory Cards as its recording media. There are many advantages of using SD / SDHC Memory card. The new SDR-S10, with its ability to record on SD / SDHC Memory Cards, breaks the boundaries of conventional video cameras and offers a new style of shooting. It lets users shoot with the same casual ease they enjoy with digital still cameras.
1. Impact resistance - withstands the impact of being dropped from up to 1.2 meters
Unlike recording media such as hard disk drives or DVD discs, SD / SDHC Memory Cards require no drive mechanism. This gives the SDR-S10 sufficient impact resistance to prevent malfunction when dropped from up to 1.2 meters. It is the ideal camera for anytime use outdoors, in active situations, and for casual everyday video shooting.

2. Water-resistance construction
The SDR-S10 boasts a water-resistance design that takes advantage of the water resistance of SD / SDHC Memory Cards. Eliminating the worries about a little water, the SDR-S10 can be used at the poolside, around a ski lodge, and in other outdoor settings.

3. Quick Start function for capturing sudden photo opportunities
Unlike with hard drives and DVD discs, a camera can read an SD / SDHC Memory Card instantly. This made it possible for Panasonic to develop a Quick Start function that allows the SDR-S10 to begin recording just 1.7 seconds after the power is switched on - less than half the time required by video cameras with hard drives. With the SDR-S10, it is easier to catch those special moments that come with no warning.

5. A long recording capability – SD / SDHC Memory Cards
Memory Cards provide an ideal combination of compactness, impact resistance, and extended recording capability, making them one of the best-balanced media for the future. The 4GB SDHC Memory Card allows up to 100 minutes of recording, and the 2GB SD Memory Card that comes with the SDR-S10 allows up to 50 minutes.