KSTP Minneapolis Is First for Panasonic’s HPX300 Mid-Priced Camcorder

By Harry A. Jessell

Hubbard Broadcasting’s KSTP Minneapolis-St. Paul (DMA 15) became the first broadcaster to take delivery of Panasonic’s new mid-priced AG-HPX300 P2 camcorder, Panasonic said at an NAB press event Sunday.

The ABC affiliate, which plans to use the camera for HD field acquisition and in the studio, began putting it to work in March. The supplier said it was not at liberty to release any more details of the deal.

As part of the growing P2 line, the HPX300 uses Panasonic’s proprietary P2 solid-state memory cards as recording medium.

Panasonic bills the camera as the “first affordable” 10-bit, 4:2:2 camcorder. It retails for $10,700. An add-on package for configuring the camcorder for studio use will be available later this year for less than $10,000.

The HPX300 incorporates advanced ⅓-in., 2.2-megapixel 3-MOS imagers to acquire full-native resolution HD images. According to Panasonic, the imagers provide exceptional image quality while minimizing any noise or sacrificing dynamic range. A new 20-bit digital signal processor enhances the image performance.

“The HPX300 is in a field of its own,” said Robert Harris, VP, Panasonic Broadcast, “because it establishes a new benchmark for camera performance within this price range.”