Panasonic HS700/TM700 1080 60p camcorders
 

Panasonic unveils HDC-HS700 and HDC-TM700 3MOS HD camcorders - SlashGear

I don't know what's more shocking. An f/1.5 lens or a 1080 60p mode.

Looks like the full acquisition of Sanyo allowed them to more easily offer a 1080 60p mode.

So an updated HMC40 may be lurking in the wings, also .... nice!

I was actually thinking the same thing.


Looks like next month Panasonic will be showing off more products.
Products - LUMIX Digital Cameras - Overview - UK & Ireland

Wasn't it stated before that AVCHD does not support 1080p 60p? I'm confused now.

Too bad about the 46mm filter diameter.

I didn't see AVCHD mentioned anywhere in the press release, so maybe it uses something different?

Both 1080p60 and 28Mbps is outside the AVCHD spec. That doesn't mean Panasonic can't make a camcorder capable of recording it, just like Canon introduced 24F a few years back in their HDV camcorders. That was outside the HDV spec at the time (although it was later added). These new Panny cams will also record AVCHD as well as 1080p60.

Look at the pics.

Awesome. I was waiting for these to get announced. I am only not sure if I go for a new camcorder or a VDSLR. The digital imaging landscape is transforming at lightning speed now. So many choices. I won't buy anything till NAB 2010 is over.

Wondering what the chip size is, 1/3"?

I'd bet on 3 x 1/4", as with the present model.

I have no doubt they're using (or are basing their new codec off of) Sanyo's MP4 based spec when it comes to recording 1080p60.

Panasonic's product pages from their UK site...

HDC-TM700 -- http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...358/index.html

HDC-HS700 -- http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...497/index.html

All specs are published there, and yes they each have three x 1/4. inch sensors.

Why not just essentially take the encoding chip from the 300s and crank the bitrate up? I doubt they are going to put two encoding chips in the cam (essentially the one from the 300 and whatever was in the Sanyo cams).

There is at least one bit in the original release that catches my eye:
Now those specifications seem roughly comparable to a 4 to 5 megapixel Bayer sensor at best, so how on earth they manage to generate a 14.2 megapixel still from that sensor is completely beyond me. It may well output a 14.2 megapixel file, but it's likely to only be effectively an upresolve.

The 14 megapixels for a still is sort of nuts. I've got an HMC40, which shoots "10 megapixel" stills. While it does record 10 million dots, I'd sooner use my little old pocket-size Sony 4 megapixel point-and-shoot for stills.