Panasonic unveils the world's first 3D consumer camcorder, complete with a 3D
conversion lens

New Panasonic HDC-SDT750 shoots playback-ready 3D video content, bringing 3D home entertainment to a whole new level

MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 28 /CNW/ - Panasonic Canada Inc. today announced the launch of the world's first consumer 3D camcorder, the Panasonic HDC-SDT750, complete with a 3D conversion lens¹ that enables the camcorder to shoot powerful and true-to-life 3D video content. The Panasonic SDT750 is an easy-to-use, consumer friendly 3D camcorder that makes experiencing 3D at home exciting and personal - all at an affordable price². In addition to shooting in 3D, the SDT750 can record full 1080p HD in AVCHD when the 3D conversion lens is unattached, and includes powerful features such as a 3MOS system, a Leica Dicomar lens and a 12x optical zoom.

"Through the innovative, cutting edge work of Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory we have been at the forefront of research and development, providing those in the film industry a professional 3D system camera," said Sean Clayford, Product Manager, Camcorders, Panasonic Canada Inc.. "But now, Panasonic is bringing Hollywood to the home with the HDC-SDT750 - the world's first 3D camcorder that incorporates professional broadcast technology, easy-to-use functions and high-quality 3D HD video content."

To shoot 3D video with the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 camcorder, the user attaches the included 3D conversion lens which is specially-designed to record right-eye and left-eye images simultaneously through its two lenses, thus resulting in video that can be viewed in 3D. The right and left images (each with 960 x 1080 pixels) that enter through the lenses are recorded using the side-by-side method.

The Panasonic SDT750 features a Time Lapse Recording feature, which plays at an accelerated speed, similar to a fast-forward. By setting the recording to various intervals (one second, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, one minute or two minutes) long scenes can be viewed in a reduced time period. For example, if a sunset is recorded at the one-second interval setting, this 10-minute scene can be played back in approximately 10 seconds, making the slow change in the sun's position in the sky appear as if it were taking place in a very short time. This interval recording feature is also available when the 3D conversion lens is attached.

The SDT750 offers a 5.1-channel audio recording sound system that uses five microphones. When voices recorded from the front, right, left and back are played on a 5.1-channel home cinema system the listener is surrounded by clear, detailed sound that makes them feel as if they are right in the middle of the action. The Focus Microphone function, which has been made possible by five highly-directional microphones, picks up sounds from the front of the camcorder, regardless of whether the lens is focusing on a near or distant object. It also allows footage recorded in 3D to be enjoyed with life-like and dynamic sounds.

The high-sensitivity 3MOS System has 7.59 million effective motion image pixels (2.53 megapixels x 3), so this advanced image sensor separates the light received through the lens into the three primary colours - red, green and blue - and processes each colour independently. As a result, the Panasonic SDT750 produces beautiful images with rich colour quality, detail and gradation. Adding to the quality, the SDT750 also features a large-diameter (46mm) F1.5³ Leica Dicomar lens and Crystal Engine PRO, a high-speed processing unit - both contribute to the effectiveness of the camcorder's light gathering, increased sensitivity, and reduced noise when shooting, even in dim lighting.

Users can play back 3D videos recorded on the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 on 3D-capable televisions, such as Panasonic VIERA® Full HD 3D televisions, including the TC-P50VT25, TC-P54VT25, TC-P58VT25, TC-P65VT25 and the TC-P50VT20 models. Playback using a VIERA TV is done by connecting the 3D camcorder to the television using an HDMI cable. In addition, it is possible to play 3D images recorded on SD Memory Cards by using an AVCHD compatible player⁴ such as a Panasonic 3D Blu-ray™ Disc player - the DMP-BDT350 or DMP-BDT300 models are currently available. When watching 3D content recorded by the SDT750 on any of the Panasonic Full HD 3D VIERA televisions, users can view the true-to-life content and the VIERA television will automatically engage the side-by-side method for smooth viewing of 3D content - no change of settings is necessary.

The SDT750 comes with HD Writer AE 2.6T PC editing software, which allows users to easily edit recorded 3D images and save them onto PCs or Blu-ray/DVD discs. HD Writer AE 2.6T features a "Smart Wizard" that starts as soon as the SDT750 is connected to the USB port of the computer, and provides simple on-screen guidance. HD Writer AE 2.6T also enables easy uploading and sharing online without the need for any cumbersome processes, so that even an inexperienced user can post video clips on the web. When uploading 3D images from a PC onto the web, they must first be converted into 2D images.

Even without the 3D conversion lens attached, the Panasonic SDT750 is an innovative and high-performance Full HD camcorder that is equipped with a wide range of sophisticated functions, including the 3MOS System, which features improved noise reduction (NR) technologies, and a wide-variety of manual adjustments controlled by a manual ring for easy, creative shooting. The manual ring provides convenient, fingertip control of the focus, zoom, exposure (iris), shutter speed and white balance settings. Using the ring is extremely intuitive, comfortable, and user-friendly. Only the white balance setting is available when the 3D conversion lens is attached. The SDT750 can shoot 1,080/60p recording (Full-HD 1,920 x 1,080, 60 progressive recording) and produces rich expressive images, with no detail loss or flickering.

Panasonic's Intelligent Auto (iA) function makes the SDT750 extremely easy to use. When the 3D lens is not attached and iA is engaged, the SDT750 automatically selects the most suitable shooting mode with the press of a button. While shooting HD video, the Panasonic SDT750's iA function offers the following six functions: Face Recognition, the new HYBRID O.I.S., AF/AE Tracking, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection and Intelligent Contrast Control. HYBRID O.I.S., a new feature, provides extremely accurate hand-shake correction with its four-axis blur detection, resulting in steady images while zooming or shooting on the move.

Other features of the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 include:

• Auto Power LCD automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen according to the shooting environment for comfortable use in a variety of different lighting situations.
• Large 3.0" touch-screen LCD allows icons to be easily operated by touching them with a fingertip. On the LCD, recorded 3D images are displayed only as the 2D images that were recorded with the left lens.
• Eco Mode automatically turns off the power when the camcorder is not operated for five minutes, reducing wasteful energy use and saving battery power.
• Pre-Rec allows for the camcorder to continuously record three seconds of content into internal memory. Then, when the record button is pressed, the three seconds immediately prior will have been recorded.

The Panasonic HDC-SDT750 will be available in black in October 2010 with a manufacturer's suggested price of $1,599.99.

¹ As a consumer camcorder with 3D conversion lens for the AVCHD standard (as of July 27, 2010).
² A TV that is capable of side-by-side method 3D playback, 3D Eyewear, and HDMI cable connection are required to play the recorded 3D images.
³ F3.2 when the 3D conversion lens is attached.
⁴ If the player/recorder is incompatible with 3D, the 3D mode must be set on the TV manually

All prices are in Canadian dollars.
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Panasonic is a registered trademark of Panasonic Corporation. All other trademarks are property of the respective owners.

Panasonic products are marketed in Canada by Panasonic Canada Inc. (PCI). PCI is an affiliate of Panasonic Corporation (PC) of Japan, one of the world's largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business, and industrial use. Consumers seeking more information on the company's products can call Panasonic's Customer Care Centre at 1-800-561-5505 or access Panasonic's home page at www.panasonic.ca.

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