Featuring a classic handheld form-factor and offering 10-bit, 1080p AVC-Intra and AVC-LongG recording up to 60 fps, the Panasonic AJ-PX230 is ready to fit the bill for a wide range of applications, including professional broadcast, documentary, and ENG work. The camera utilizes 1/3-type 3MOS sensors that support a 600% dynamic range level to capture expanded highlight and shadow detail for more film-like images and post-production flexibility. Adding to the cameras versatility is multi-codec support, including the high-quality AVC-Intra200 codec, and variable frame-rate shooting for in-camera slow-motion and fast-motion effects.The AJ-PX230 is equipped with a 22x optical zoom lens that offers a 28 to 616mm range (35mm equivalent), covering you from wide-angle to telephoto focal lengths. Built-in optical image stabilization helps to correct for shake and jitters when shooting handheld. Three rings on the lens give you full manual control over zoom, focus, and iris, providing a shooting experience similar to larger interchangeable-lens ENG cameras. For monitoring your shots and navigating through the menu system, the camera features a 0.5 OLED EVF and a 3.5 IPS LCD screen.Taking a page from the larger shoulder mount rigs, the camera features a front XLR audio input, ideal for a camera-mounted mic, and a rear audio XLR input for a second microphone. Additional connectivity includes a 3G-SDI output, HDMI output, USB connection, and remote control ports. Video is recorded to microP2 cards, with two slots provided to support a variety of recording options, including simultaneous, relay, and background recording. 1/3 3MOS Image Sensors

The 1/3-type 3MOS sensors features 2.2 MP resolution, providing 1920x1080p images at up to 60 fps. It features two menu settings, the default setting and the High Sensitivity setting, which acts a gain boost with noise reduction, providing a cleaner image than just using the gain function. The sensor achieve a maximum 600% dynamic range level for expanded shadow and highlight detail capture.

FILM-REC Gamma

The FILM-REC gamma achieves a latitude that exceeds the CINE-LIKE D mode found on previous camcorders. Gamma curves can be selected from 7 modes: HD, SD, FILMLIKE 1, FILMLIKE 2, FILMLIKE 3, FILM-REC, VIDEO-REC.

22x Zoom Lens with Three Manual Rings

The 22x optical zoom lens has a 35mm focal length equivalent of 28 to 616mm, so you have the focal range from wide to long covered. It features Optical image Stabilization (OIS), which is necessary when hand-holding with a long lens, as well as Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) to minimize color bleeding at the fringes of the image area. Three individual lens control rings are provided for zoom, focus, and iris. This enables manual control of your lens (in addition to servo) that is similar to the control you get on full-sized shoulder mount camera. The servo zoom levers on the grip and handle support extra-slow zooming down to 180 seconds.

AVC-ULTRA Recording

To meet the needs of a variety of shooters, the AJ-PX230 features the AVC-ULTRA codec family that lets you select shoot in modes optimized for either quality or long recording times.

AVC-Intra: An intra-frame compression method for optimum image quality. In addition to the conventional AVC-Intra100/50 codec, the AJ-PX230 features the AVC-Intra200 codec with twice the bit rate (10-bit 4:2:2, with a bit rate of approximately 200 Mbps for 1080/59.94i).

AVC-LongG: An inter-frame compression method that achieves high-quality HD recording at a low bit rate. Ideal for providing on-air content direct from the shooting location and for workflows using content transferred over the internet. Three bit rates are available: AVC-LongG50/25/12 Mbps. AVC-LongG25 provide 10-bit/4:2:2 quality at a bit rate of approximately 25 Mbps.

Variable Frame Rate

Inherited from the VariCam line, the variable frame rate function (available in AVC-Intra100) lets you select from frame rate between 1 to 60 fps to produce overcranked slow-motion or undercranked quick-motion effects.

24-Bit, 4-Channel Audio Recording

AVC-Intra and AVC-LongG modes support 24-bit digital audio recording (16-bit for AVC-LongG12, DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50, DVCPRO, and DV). The AJ-PX230 offers 4-channel audio in all recording modes using the built-in microphone and the two XLR inputs (one located in front and one located in the rear, with both selectable from mic/line). The level volume control also supports four channels.

OLED EVF and LCD Panel

For shot monitoring, the AJ-PX230 features a viewfinder with a high-resolution OLED display (approximately 2.36 million dots; image display area: approximately 1.77 million dots) for deep blacks and rich color reproduction. Also available is an LCD monitor that uses a QHD IPS LCD panel (approximately 1.56 million dots).

Two microP2 Card Slots

Dual microP2 memory card slots support both microP2 cards as well as SDHC/SDXC cards.

Simultaneous Rec: Records simultaneously onto two microP2 cards

Background Recording: Slot 1 records with the Rec Start/Stop control, while slot 2 continues recording even while recording is stopped

Hot-Swap Rec: Thanks to the two card slots, you can hot-swap microP2 cards for continuous non-stop recording

One-Clip Rec Mode: Records up to 99 consecutive cuts as a single clip. A text memo is automatically attached to the Rec Start point for easy searching for the beginning of the cut

Pre Rec: This stores approximately 3 seconds of HD or 7 seconds of SD video and audio data in memory while in standby mode and lets you recover and use the data from the point before you started recording

Loop Rec: Maintains a recording of a certain time period through repeated loop recording

Interval Rec: Records intermittently based on a set interval time

One-Shot Rec: A frame-shot recording function for producing animations

Text Memo: Up to 100 memos can be posted onto a clip as bookmarks

Shot Marker: Used to mark clips as OK, NG, etc

Last Clip Delete: Deletes the last recorded clip with a single touch

Rec Check: This lets you run a quick playback check of the clip-end you have just recorded

Metadata: The metadata function attaches metadata (text memos tagged to time, GPS data, selected character strings and frames) to P2 files. Metadata can be used effectively for searching and management, facilitating the editing, distribution and archiving of video data

Interfaces

3G-SDI output

HDMI output

USB 2.0 for transferring files from microP2 card

Remote ports for Focus, iris, zoom, and REC start/stop control

Back tally, rear tally

Headphone jack

Additional Features

59.94 Hz / 50 Hz mode switchable

Focus Assist Functions: One-Push AF, Focus-in-Red Display, Expand, Focus Bar

Built-in ND filters (Clear, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64)

Eight User Buttons

Simplified waveform and vectorscope display

+36 dB Super Gain: +24 dB/+30 dB/+36 dB Super Gain function enables extra-high sensitivity with subject luminance of as low as 0.02 lx (When set to F1.6, 18 dB gain, 1-second accumulation, HIGH SENS. mode)

Electronic Shutter with Slow Shutter Capability: The shutter speed can be set in seven steps between 1/60 and 1/2000 second (60i/60p mode). It is also equipped with Slow and Synchro Scan (variable) modes. The shutter opening angle (deg value) can be set with Synchro Scan mode

Advanced flash band compensation

Built-in electronic level gauge

Six preset scene files stored internal, up to eight stored on memory card

One user file containing camera settings can be stored internally, up to eight stored on memory card

Aspect Conversion: The aspect ratio can be selected from among Side Crop, Letter Box, or Squeeze mode when down-converting and outputting from the SDI OUT terminal.