Panasonic Australia has announced the release of the AG-3DA1 Full HD 3D Camcorder, along with the start of a series of intensive 3D Professional Masterclasses which are being held across the country’s eastern seaboard starting from today.

Available from September, the AG-3DA1 is a professional-quality, Full HD 3D Camcorder that is an easy to use, flexible and cost-effective option for cinematographers eager to move into this new medium.

According to Mathew Alexander, Product Manager, Broadcast, Panasonic Australia, the global demand for 3D content is rapidly increasing, particularly in the TV industry, and Australian cinematographers are looking for a 3D camcorder that will enable them to develop content quickly and affordably.

“The demand for 3D content is creating a range of exciting new opportunities. With the availability of the AG-3DA1 cinematographers now have the tool they need to capitalise on this,” said Mr. Alexander.

“Traditionally 3D cameras have been predominantly used for shooting feature films and this necessitated expensive and cumbersome rigs that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. However with the increasing demand for high-quality 3D TV content cinematographers need a flexible camcorder for shooting on the fly - and this is where the AG-3DA1 steps in,” he said.  

By integrating the lenses, camera head and a dual memory card recorder into a single, lightweight body, Panasonic has created a camera that allows hand-held style shooting ideal for projects such as documentaries and live events.

With a series of 3D Masterclasses kicking off in Sydney today, the Australian cinematography community is going to get the chance to experience first-hand just how easy it is to create professional-quality 3D content using the Panasonic AG-3DA1.

According to Mr. Alexander, the exclusive workshops will provide the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of shooting in 3D with hands-on training from the Panasonic team and Barry Braverman, a US cinematographer and trainer with over 30 years experience in the industry, who has been providing training on 3D shooting in the US and Asia.

“Cinematographers are, by nature, a very inquisitive group and they are always looking for opportunities to improve their craft. The industry has reacted extremely enthusiastically to the 3D Masterclasses, with about one quarter of all accredited cinematographers in the country attending.

“The camcorder will be available from key dealers and rental companies this month, giving people a further opportunity to try our technology before they buy it.”

The new Panasonic AG-3DA1 weighs less than 3kg and is equipped with dual lenses and two full 1920 x 1080 2.07 megapixel 3-MOS imagers to record 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p and 50p in AVCHD. It can record for up to 180 minutes on dual 32GB SD cards in Panasonic’s professional AVCHD PH mode, and offers professional interfaces including dual HD-SDI out, HDMI (version 1.4), two XLR connectors, built-in stereo microphone and twin-lens camera remotes. 

Also available in September is the BT-3DL2550, a 25” professional-quality 3D LCD monitor for field use, and the AG-HMX100, a professional HD digital AV mixer for live 3D event production.

AG-3DA1                     $33,500rrp                  Available September

Panasonic’s AG-3DA1 Full HD 3D Camcorder offers the following core benefits:

Easier to Use

Current 3D camcorders are component based systems in which two cameras are fitted to a rig in parallel, or vertically intersect across a half-mirror. Often separate recorders are also required. In the AG-3DA1, the lenses, camera head, and a dual Memory Card recorder are integrated into a single, lightweight body.  The camcorder also incorporates stereoscopic adjustment controls making it easier to use and operate.

The twin-lens system adopted in the camcorder’s optical section allows the convergence point (the point at which the left and right-camera lenses’ optical axes converge) to be adjusted. Functions for automatically correcting horizontal and vertical displacement are also provided.  Conventional 3D camera systems require these adjustments to be made by means of a PC or an external video processor. This new camcorder, however, will automatically recalibrate without any need for external equipment, allowing immediate 3D image capture.

More Flexible

The solid-state memory file-based recording system offers greater flexibility to produce Full HD 3D videos reliably in more challenging shooting environments. The AG-3DA1 is lighter weight and smaller than current 3D rigs, while providing the flexibility of handheld-style shooting. Setup and transportation is simplified, making it ideal for some sports, documentary, filmmaking projects and live event recording (such as rock concerts or product releases).

Solid-State Reliability and Workflow

Right and Left Full HD video streams of the twin-lens 3D camcorder can be recorded and distributed as files on SDHC/SD Memory Cards, ensuring higher reliability than tape, optical disc, HDD or other mechanical-based recording systems. This solid-state, no-moving-parts design will help significantly reduce maintenance costs.

Users will enjoy a fast, highly-productive file-based workflow, with instant, random access to recorded content; easy plug-in to both Mac and PC-based platforms; and longer recording capacity.

More Affordable

Using a standardised, fully integrated design, the AG-3DA1 is a cost-effective alternative to traditional 3D rigs. Transportation expenses for this handheld unit will be less and faster setup times reduce labour costs. It also offers the convenience of using standard, re-recordable SDHC/SD Memory Cards.

Technical information

Differences from conventional 3D camera systems:

Conventional 3D camera systems are built from two off-the-shelf film or broadcast cameras. Normally, the two cameras are installed horizontally and side by side, with the right and left camera axes approximately 6.5 cm apart – equivalent to the distance between the human eyes – to create binocular parallax. This can be done with small cameras, but broadcast or film cameras cannot be installed side by side since their bodies and lenses are too large. They must be installed vertically using half-mirrors, or mounted on metal frames called rigs, using prisms. This results in a bulky system that must be carefully adjusted to prevent the right and left cameras from going out of alignment before image capture. In addition, if the system is moved, the shock or vibration inevitably puts the cameras out of alignment, making frequent re-adjustment necessary.

In the AG-3DA1, the two lenses, camera head, and memory card recorder are incorporated into a single compact housing. Unlike large 3D camera systems, this camcorder allows video shooting with greater mobility and from all angles; significantly reducing the time required for set up and adjustments, thereby leaving more time for creative activities.

Convergence Point Adjustment

 The convergence point is the point at which the left and right cameras’ optical axes converge to produce 3D images. To take natural-looking 3D video, the convergence point needs to be adjusted to match that of a human’s eyes, whose convergence point varies according to the closeness of the objects being viewed. Panasonic’s new Full HD 3D Camcorder adopts a newly-developed twin-lens

The AG-3DA1 will be available from Panasonic Professional Broadcast dealers, priced at $33,500rrp.  For more information call 132 600 or visit www.panasonic.com.au

By Press Release

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