Panasonic Ships VariCam LT, Compact 4K Super 35 Cinema Camcorder
Choice of Four Cost-Saving LT Kit Packages
Panasonic has announced the immediate availability of the next-generation VariCam LT 4K cine-ma camcorder. The VariCam LT inherits the same super 35mm sensor and superb imaging capa-bilities that distinguish the award-winning VariCam 35, but with significant reductions in size, weight and price.
Incorporating this identical imaging “DNA” in a more compact rendition, the VariCam LT (model AU-V35LT1G) delivers 14+ stops of dynamic range with V-Log, and the esteemed cinematic Var-iCam image quality and color science, as well as the VariCam 35's breakout innovation, dual na-tive ISOs of 800/5000.
Weighing just under six pounds and having superior capability to similar sized cameras, the VariCam LT is the ideal camera for handheld, SteadiCam, jib, crane, drone, gimbal and overall cinema verité work. The VariCam LT is likewise tailor-made for owner/operators, independent filmmakers, documentary makers and corporate production creators.
The VariCam LT delivers superb image handling in multiple formats ranging from 4K, UHD, 2K and HD, and like the VariCam 35, is fully capable of High Dynamic Range (HDR) field capture. The new 4K camcorder offers Apple ProRes 4444 (up to 30p) and ProRes 422 HQ (up to 60p) support for HD recording, as well as Panasonic’s AVC-ULTRA family of advanced video codecs.
New codecs introduced in the VariCam LT include AVC-Intra LT and AVC-Intra 2K-LT, both designed to offer capture rates up to 240fps in imager crop mode, ideal for sports and other fast motion footage.
Powerful color management capabilities combined with VariCam’s extended color gamut and support for the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) workflow allow for full fidelity mastering of original source material. The VariCam LT offers in-camera color grading, with the ability to record an ungraded 4K master along with all on-set grading metadata. A new color processing feature is “V-LOOK,” which acts as a blend of V-Log and video, and allows filmic documentary acquisition without the same need for intense color grading.
The VariCam LT differs from the VariCam 35 in being a one-piece, short-bodied camcorder vs. a two-piece camera head plus recorder. While the VariCam LT does not feature parallel sub-recording, it does have an SD slot for high-resolution proxy recording. Proxy files can be wirelessly uploaded via FTP, which facilitates wireless color grading. Variable frame rates are available with LongG6 recording.
There is one expressP2 card for all formats including high frame rate and HD/2K/UHD and 4K recording (the 256Gbyte expressP2 card can record up to 90 minutes of 4K/4:2:2/23.98p content). RAW output from SDI is planned to be supported by a firmware upgrade in early summer 2016.
The VariCam LT features an EF mount (vs. the VariCam 35's PL mount), suitable for the wide array of lenses available for smaller cameras.* The EF mount can be switched out to a robust standard PL mount, expanding the range of compatible lenses that can be used. The control panel can be separated from the camera body to facilitate real-time control and easy menu access. The camcorder has a production-tough magnesium body to assure durability and reliability in challenging shooting locations.
Other features new to the VariCam LT are power hot swap, IR shooting (further enhancing the camcorder's extreme low-light capture at ISO 5000), 23.98 PsF output, and image presets as scene files.
Among the camcorder's top-level production assets are ND filters (CLEAR, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8), an optional OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with optical zoom functionality, 24-bit LPCM audio for in-camera audio master recording, Focus Assist, anamorphic lens de-squeeze, special REC functions (PreRec, interval, one-shot), IP control via Panasonic’s AK-HRP200 camera remote controller, and built-in GPS.
Professional interfaces include: 3G-HD-SDI x 3 (SDI-OUT X 2 and VF), LAN, genlock in, time-code in/out, USB2.0 Host and USB2.0 Device (mini B), and three XLR inputs (one 5-pin, two 3-pin) to record four channels of 24-bit, 48KHz audio. In addition, its flexible interfaces allow use of the Panasonic AU-VCVF10G viewfinder, as well as 3rd party viewfinder solutions.
The VariCam LT is available in four packages. ** The VariCam LT, suggested list price $18,000, is a basic camera kit including the camera body, top handle, control panel and control panel mounting bracket. The VariCam LT-VF package, suggested list price $23,700, contains the basic kit plus the AU-VCVF10 OLED Viewfinder. VariCam LT-PRO, suggested list price $27,550, in-cludes the camera body with basic kit accessories, AU-VCVF10G viewfinder, shoulder mount, operating grip and PL lens mount. The most extensive accessory package is the VariCam LT-PROEX with a suggested list price of $30,200, including all of the contents of the VariCam LT-PRO package (camera kit, viewfinder, shoulder mount, operating grip and PL mount) plus two 256Gbyte expressP2 cards and an expressP2 drive.
For additional Panasonic NAB news, visit us.panasonic.com/nab2016 and download the press kit at us.panasonic.com/nabpresskit. For more information about the VariCam LT, visit us.panasonic.com/varicam, or contact Panasonic at
* Panasonic does not guarantee the compatibility or performance of all EF lenses. Specifics will be updated on the Panasonic web site, us.panasonic.com/varicam.
** A firmware upgrade is available for VariCam LTs sold prior to April 1 that improves operation and corrects any recording discrepancy when using “Smooth Mode.” Free download available at http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/varicam/lt/dl.html. This will be default firmware in all future shipping units.
About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and solutions for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of
Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In Interbrand’s 2014 annual “Best Global Green Brands” report, Panasonic ranked number five overall and the top electronics brand in the report. As part of continuing sustainability efforts, Panasonic Corporation of North America relocated its headquarters to a new facility, adjacent to Newark Penn Station in Newark, NJ. It is the first newly constructed office tower in Newark to earn both LEED Platinum and Gold certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Learn more about Panasonic at us.panasonic.com/news.
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