Panasonic Optical Technology

The HPX255's highperformance 22x zoom lens was designed specifically for professional HD video production. Sharing the wideangle capability found in the DVX and HVX series, the lens offers some additional telephoto capability for a 28616mm (35mm equivalent) zoom range. The lens combines 18 elements in 12 groups and adds an ultrahigh refractive (UHR) glass element, a lowdispersion element, and aspheric elements. Unique to Panasonic, Chromatic Aberration Compensation (CAC) technology minimizes color bleeding in the surrounding image and achieves rich expression by way of finely rendered nuances and excellent shading

Ready for Remote Operation

The HPX255 has a remote terminal for the optional AGEC5G Extension Control Unit (not included). Image quality can be adjusted and image acquisition can be controlled while viewing the monitor at a remote location. This handheld unit also supports studio integration. The camcorder also features genlock input and timecode I/O to enable multicamera synchro shooting, and it has both HDSDI and HDMI outputs

Manual Control Rings

Three manual rings mechanical (camdriven) zoom, focus, and iris allow you to operate as if you've got an interchangeablelens camcorder, for fine, tactile control over the parameters of the captured image

Turbo Auto Focus

Meanwhile, if you're not operating in full manual mode with the HPX255, there's a turbospeed onepush auto focus capability, which ensures the camcorder quickly attains focus

Optical Image Stabilization

To compensate for any shaking of the operator's hand, the HPX255 features an optical image stabilizer (OIS)

HighSensitivity, LowNoise 3MOS Image Sensor

Thanks to Progressive Advanced Processing (PAP) technology, high sensitivity up to F10 (F11 in 50 Hz mode) is possible, for lownoise performance in dimly lit environments. The 1/3type 2.2 Mp 3MOS sensor features the same Ultra Luminance Technology (ULT) that's incorporated in Panasonic's shouldermount P2 HD broadcast camcorders. This sensor maximizes the performance of the lens and the signal processing circuit in standard conditions

Flash Band Compensation

The CMOS sensor system uses a rolling shutter system that sequentially scans each line of pixels, thereby lowering power consumption vs. CCD cameras and enabling highspeed drive. But because the exposure timing differs for each line, when an external flash is used, it tends to produce images with a "divided" level of brightness from top to bottom. The HPX255 ameliorates this "flashband effect": it detects by comparing frame pairs and compensates to adjust the level

20Bit Digital Signal Processor

The AGHPX255's highperformance 20bit DSP handles rendering processes such as gamma and detailenhancement functions with uncommon precision

Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS)

The DRS function automatically suppresses blocked shadows and blown highlights in scenes that involve wildly varying contrast levels (such as indoor vs. outdoor elements in the same frame). DRS estimates a gamma curve and knee slope to match the contrast of each pixel and applies them in real time, producing excellent gradation for each shade and minimizing blocked shadows and blown highlights

SevenMode Gamma for Rich Gradation

Drawing upon the technology of the highend VariCam line, the HPX255 features gamma functions for seven shooting scenarios, including two cinema modes: HD NORM (for standard HD recording), LOW (flattens out a highcontrast scene); SD NORM (for standard SD recording); HIGH (softens contrast and expands the tone of dark parts, making an image brighter); B.PRESS (sharpens the contrast compared to LOW); CINELIKE D (prioritizes dynamic range); and CINELIKE V (prioritizes contrast)

Other Camera Image Settings

The camera's shutter speed is variable from 1/6 to 1/2000 second, plus there's a Synchro Scan function. As with gamma, matrix setting includes a CineLike mode. H & V detail levels are adjustable, as are detail coring and skintone detail. That's not all: chroma level, chroma phase, color temperature, and master pedestal are all adjustable as well. The camera offers four settings for knee point: Auto, Low, Mid, and High

FourPosition Optical ND Filter

A builtin fourposition optical neutral density filter wheel offers the following choices: off, 1/4 ND, 1/16 ND, and 1/64 ND

Focus Assist Function

A convenient Focus Assist button expands the center of the LCD screen, allowing you to check for correct focus quickly & easily. A Focus Bar that indicates the focus level can be displayed on the LCD

Focus in Red

Another form of Focus Assist is Focus in Red, which offers coloron peaking and a focus bar that can be used while recording

Scene File / User File

The HPX255 features a dial for "Set Scene," which allows you to choose an appropriate matrix of settings instantaneously. You can modify the six preset files if you'd like, one set of which can be stored internally in the camcorder, and four more can be stored on an SD memory card

ThreePosition Gain Selector + Super Gain

The threeposition Gain Selector contains Low, Medium, and High settings. To each setting you can assign gain value of 0, +3, +6, +9, +12, +15, and +18 dB. Also, there are Super Gain settings of +24 and +30 dB

Simplified Waveform & Vectorscope

The AJHPX255 has waveform and vectorscope display functions for analyzing a captured video signal on the LCD

Five User Buttons

A total of five user buttons can be set to trigger any selection of 18 different camera functions

FullPixel, FullSample AVCIntra Recording (10Bit, 4:2:2)

The HPX255 offers 10bit AVCIntra recording (at both 100 and 50 Mb/s). Based on highly advanced MPEG4 AVC/H.264 compression, this codec employs intraframe compression, which results in a high image quality especially in the edit suite, where interframe codecs can start to break down. Both AVCIntra 100 and 50 modes are offered as is DVCPRO HD, for compatibility with that very popular format. For 1080i/p, AVCIntra 100 uses fullpixel 1920 x 1080 frames, with 10bit quantization (4:2:2). The very bitefficient AVCIntra 50 codec records 1440 x 1080 video at 10bit, 4:2:0

Native Recording & Pulldown Modes with PAL/NTSC Support

For cinematic 24framepersecond projects, the HPX255 supports 1080p recording at 23.98 fps (29.97 fps is also possible). For PAL regions, the camcorder is capable of recording at 1080/25pN and 720/25pN. The camcorder also records natively (without pulldown) in 720p modes, which results in recording efficiency that allows you to record for 2 to 2.5 times the duration allowed by pulldown recording. In pulldown mode with the DVCPRO HD codec, the camera applies a 2:3 pulldown to 23.98p, and a 2:2 pulldown to 29.97p, to record 1080/59.94i or 720/59.94p and 1080/25p over 50i or 720/25p over 50p. With 2:3:3:2 advanced pulldown, the 23.98pA mode is supported, allowing editing on many NLE systems with little image degradation. The camcorder also features a 59.94/50 Hz selector for worldwide compatibility and SD image acquisition with either 480 or 576 lines and aspect ratio conversion (select Side Crop, Letter Box, or Squeeze). This is an internationally compatible camcorder that can fit seamlessly into almost any production workflow

HighQuality 4Channel Audio

The AGHPX255 records highquality 16bit audio on all four channels. Freely select the audio source for each channel, choosing from builtin mic, external mic, and line in. Adjust the volume level for each channel

RockSolid Recording with P2 Cards

P2 cards are built tough for broadcast applications this is not a consumer storage technology that migrated into the professional world. P2 offers 64 GB capacity and resists impact, vibration, and temperature changes. The recording format withstands repeated recording and initialization cycles for an extended product lifetime. The connector section of the card is designed for the type of blithe insertion and removal that is inevitable on a highpressure production. For a solidstate recording format, P2 is downright venerable, with a proven track record in the worlds of movie production and broadcast

DoubleSlot P2 Card System

Not only can you record continuously on two P2 cards, but you can also choose Card Select mode (which allows the recording slot to be switched in Standby mode) and HotSwap Recording, in which the card in the standby slot can be exchanged while the camcorder is recording to the other card

MXF FileBased Recording

Filebased recording enables data transfers that are much faster than real time. Files recorded to the HPX255's P2 cards have MXF wrappers, which are compatible with all major nonlinear editing systems. Filebased recording to memory cards allows for highspeed starts, recording starts with no need for cueing, and protection against accidental data overwriting

Proxy Recording Support

The HPX255 supports the optional Focus FSP250 proxy recorder (sold separately), which can help speed your editing workflow by allowing you to edit bitefficient proxy codecs immediately upon removing the unit from the camera. The camcorder also supports the optional Panasonic AJWM30 Wireless System (sold separately), which uses WiFi to allow wireless metadata input/display and proxy playback on iPads, iPhones, and PCs

Variable Frame Rates, Even in 1080p

Like the popular VariCam line of professional camcorders, the HPX255 features variable frame rate (VFR) "overcranked" and "undercranked" recording to a wide variety of frame rates (see Specifications for details). The result is cinematic slowmotion and quickmotion effects of the type used widely in TV commercials and cinematic productions

Clip Thumbnail Display & Clip Editing

Recorded clips are automatically allocated a thumbnail image and metadata. This lets you display a visual representation of the clip on the LCD, delete clips, and confirm or edit metadata (using the builtin Software Keyboard function). You can delete the last clip with a single touch, also with a single button press, and check the beginning and ending of the most recently recorded clip

Shot Market & Text Memo

Clips can be marked during or after recording. When mounted to a PC using the downloadable P2 Viewer Windows application, the user can view only marked clips if desired. Text memos can be posted to any scene of a clip (up to 100 in all) for a digital version of "sticky" notes

OneClip Rec Mode

Record up to 99 cuts as a single file in OneClip Rec mode. A text memo is automatically attached at each startrecord point, making it easy to find desired cuts within the clip once you're in the edit suite working with a single, unified file

Other Recording Modes

Loop Rec repeatedly rerecords a particular recurring time slot, always maintaining a recording of the most recent period. PreRec continuously stores in standby mode up to 3 seconds of HD video (or 7 seconds of SD), and this prerecord cache is only recorded to the P2 card once you press Record. This helps you get the shot every time, even if you "miss" the crucial moment by a couple seconds. Interval Rec gives you automatic intermittent recording based on a set interval and recording time. OneShot Rec captures a single frame useful for animations. Time Stamp appends the date and time onto recorded images, which is a crucial feature for evidential images

MultiCamera Synchronization

The AGHPX255 features every capability you'd want for synchronizing more than one camera for multicamera shoots: SMPTE time code generator/reader, time code input and output, and genlock input

Video Outputs: SDI, HDMI & More

SDI output in HD and SD allows camerathrough output during HD/SD recording, or outputs highquality 10bit, 4:2:2 images for playback of AVCIntra footage. As you'd expect, SDI output includes embedded audio and supports Record Stop/Start linked backup recording with a Panasonic recorder equipped with an HDSDI input. When outputting SDSDI downconverted from an HD source, Aspect Ratio Conversion mode can also be selected. In addition, the HPX255 gives you HDMI output for live monitoring and for playback on compatible HDTV screens, as well as SD composite output that downconverts recorded HD files

Other Interfaces

Both "host" and "device" USB 2.0 connections are included on the HPX255, so you can offload data to a laptop or P2 deck or directly to and from a hard drive. On the LCD monitor, you can even view thumbnails of P2 files saved to the external hard drive. In addition, the FireWire (IEEE 1394) port enables you to input or output a DVCPRO (including DVCPRO HD) or DV stream. There's a camera remote input for controlling focus, iris, zoom, and REC stop/start, and twochannel XLR audio mic/line inputs supporting 48V phantom power

Stylishly Designed for Mobility

The compact, stylish HPX255 has a similar form factor to the popular HVX200, but the handle grip and LCD position are shifted forward to effect an overall better weight balance for the camcorder, improving the visibility of the screen and enabling you to shoot comfortably for longer periods of time. The HPX255 chassis is composed of diecast magnesium alloy for rugged durability

HighResolution, HighBrightness Color Viewfinder & LCD

The AGHPX255's color electronic viewfinder uses a 0.45", 1,226,000dot equivalent (852 x 480 x 3 [RGB]) LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) display panel. It delivers bright, detailed, highres images and a high response speed. The camcorder's 3.45" LCD monitor has is an approximately 921,000dot (1920 x 480) highresolution panel

LowAngle Shots

On the upper part of the handle grip you'll find both the Rec Start/Stop button and a lens zoom speed control (three speed levels). This assures easy, comfortable shooting at low angles

LCD Monitor Mirror Mode

The LCD monitor's mirror mode is extremely convenient for shooting interviews

Workflow Versatility

The Panasonic P2 family includes many decks and mobile storage units, providing a wealth of options for offloading, field editing, and cutting back in the edit room. In addition, the filebased nature of the HPX255's acquisition enables recorded video to be integrated into ITbased infrastructure, for unlimited options for sharing and distributing P2 content

White Balance Functions

The camera features two values (A/B) for white balance memory and one preset value. There's also an ATW (auto tracing white balance) function

Zebra

Select any two zebra levels from 50% to 100% (in 1% steps)

YGET Brightness Check

The camera's YGET function measures the brightness at the screen center and displays precise numerical data

Tally Lamps

Tally lamps are provided on the front and rear of the HPX255