Panasonic Announces New High-Resolution BT-LH2550 25.5-inch LCD HD Production Monitor

Panasonic has
announced the immediate availability of its new high-resolution BT-LH2550 LCD
HD production monitor. With a full 1920×1200-pixel In-Plane Switching (IPS)
panel, the 25.5-inch LCD production monitor features an expanded color gamut,
exceeding the NTSC standard, to ensure vivid, true-to-life color for critical
monitoring at a cost far less than premium-priced reference monitors.

The LH2550
offers six color space settings — SMPTE, EBU, ITU-R BT.709, Adobe 2.2, Adobe
1.8, and D-Cinema — to expand the range of colors that can be viewed onscreen
for high-end applications ranging from broadcast and print to digital graphics
and postproduction. The monitor’s image-processing engine has a
three-dimensional look-up table (LUT) that calibrates it to reproduce content
according to the specific color standard selected. With its advanced IPS panel,
1920×1200 resolution, and 10-bit processing circuit, the LH2550 produces faithful
color and clear detail in any video format. Its high contrast and brightness,
excellent motion response, and wide, 178-degree horizontal/vertical viewing angles
make it the cost-effective choice versus more-expensive reference monitors.

In addition
to its color-reproduction capabilities, the monitor is equipped with multiple production
tools, including built-in waveform monitor and vectorscope functions that
display all picture lines for signal-level monitoring. It also features
pre-installed calibration software that allows the monitor to be calibrated
directly with color analyzers without using a PC. A split-screen function
permits the simultaneous display of two video sources side-by-side from two video inputs.

The monitor
also features a Cine-gamma Film-Rec compensation function for compatibility with such cameras as the new AJ-HPX3700 and AJ-HPX2700 P2 HD VariCam camcorders
and the AJ-HDC27 VariCam HD Cinema Camera. Additional monitoring tools include
split-screen/freeze frame (live input vs. freeze frame), standard markers and blue-only, H/V delay display, monochrome, and cross-hatch overlay display.

The LH2550
incorporates a new lightweight, slim-frame design (it’s a third lighter than its predecessor,
the BT-LH2600W) and an aluminum-alloy back panel. The monitor features a full
range of professional-level inputs, including DVI-D input, two auto-switching
SDI (HD/SD) inputs (with switched output), component, and RGB, as well as
standard RS-232C (nine-pin) and GPI (nine-pin) remote inputs, headphone jack, and green
and red tally lamps on the front panel. It also has an embedded audio decoder
on-board (through its headphone jack), time-code display, closed caption
(through video input only), audio-level meter display of up to eight channels.
Five customizable function keys on the front panel can be assigned with various
display modes and settings for quick, one-touch adjustments.

The LH2550 operates without a cooling fan for noise-free performance. It comes standard with a desk stand and is VESA-mount–compatible. A 24-volt AC adapter, three-pin AC cord, and four-pin XLR DC cord are included.

The LH2550 is available now at a suggested list price of $5,995.

For more information on the BT-LH2550, visit www.panasonic.com/productiontough