Imaginative Design
With a weight of about 1 Lb., the AG-HSC1U offers incredible quality, portability and mobility. It can fit into compact spaces like a glove compartment. News stringers will find it useful as a quick back up for street shots. Unlike consumer counterparts, it's specifically designed for the Professional. The video image has been optimized (Chroma, Gamma, Knee) to match our Professional cameras and its sleek body is a non-reflective graphite gray color. Users who already carry heavy gear, (soldiers, police and fire-fighters) will appreciate the AG-HSC1U's light weight. The remaining battery life is displayed in minutes making it a joy to use. With no tape or disc, its silent operation will definitely benefit the nature, scientific or surveillance markets. Skateboarders, fighter jet pilots and helicopter pilots have been asking for a small, high definition camcorder that is resistant to vibration and G forces. It can even be mounted on a helmet, robot or a small animal! Use your imagination - the possibilities are endless.

Audio
When recordings made with the AG-HSC1U are played back in a 5.1-channel studio system, viewers are surrounded by a clear, detailed sound that makes them feel as if they are right in the middle of the action. A Zoom Mic function links the microphone's action to the camera's action. While zooming in on a distant subject, the microphones also zoom in and record the sounds related to that subject. Customers who scout movie locations, can return with HD video & 5.1 sound instead of just still pictures.

Impressive Lens
The 12X Leica Dicomar lens featured in the AG-HSC1U has 13 lens elements in 10 groups, with 21 multi-coated surfaces, and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce chromatic aberration. This advanced lens also minimizes harmful reflections, so images are crisp, clear and free of flare and ghosting. The lens can provide slow, smooth zooms for remarkably professional playback.

Storage and Recording Times
The camera uses the AVCHD format, which is short for Advanced Video Codec High Definition. It uses an MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression system which encodes MPEG-4 files which are much more efficient than MPEG-2 compressed HDV files.

As you can see from the table, even at the highest quality, 41 minutes of can be recorded on a 4 GB SDHC card (included)! And of course, the SDHC cards can be reused over and over again. No moving parts in the recording system mean no dropouts, no motor noise, higher impact resistance and lower maintenance costs. What's more, Panasonic is planning to introduce 8 GB and 16 GB SDHC Memory Cards in 2007 with 32 GB in the plan after that. One can purchase more SD cards or off load the 4 GB card to the SD Media Storage unit (included), herein referred to as SD Store. It's a 40 GB HDD which holds ten 4 GB SD card transfers, and works off its own self contained battery in the field. You can use the highly-portable 40 GB SD Store to off load your SD cards. It fits in a shirt pocket, yet it can hold ten 4 GB cards worth of data. Just insert the SD card and press the COPY button and it will transfer the material recorded on the SD card to the built-in HDD. (Transfer speed is 6MByte / second so a 4 GB card takes 11 min.) The SD Store comes with an external AC adapter which powers the unit. More importantly, it also allows users to recharge the SD Store's built-in battery, for use in the field.

Connectivity
HDMI, Component Video, 16:9 Composite Video and Stereo Audio + headphones, USB 2.0 Mini B socket, Mic in and DC in (9.3 V). A 20mm oval dynamic speaker with volume control provides clear sound, even in the field. (Connect the camera directly to a HD plasma through HDMI for a real thrill.)

Supplied Accessories
Standard accessories include: SD Store, SDHC 4 GB memory card, AC adaptor, power cable, DC cable, 1320 mAh 7.2V battery, wireless remote controller, D terminal cable, A/V cable, USB connection cable and a software CD-ROM (HD Writer, Version 1.0J for SD Store).

Miscellaneous Info

• The AG-HSC1U records in 1080/60i HD only, but can output an SD signal from the camcorder itself. However, the down converted SD output will be displayed in the 16:9 widescreen format.
• Image reproduction is tweaked for professionals resulting in a more natural and less saturated look.
• Three guide line grid overlays allow shooters to check the camera's tilt via horizontal lines and act as an aid in composition using the cross hatch display grid.
• Digital Zoom in three steps: Off (1-12X Optical), Maximum 1-30X or Maximum 1-700X (surveilance).
• HD Writer version 1.0 software** allows very simple editing and recording onto a DVD-R that DVD can play HD on a Blu-ray player from Panasonic, Sony or on a PlayStation 3. (**requires a high-end PC)

• 3-CCD camera records 1080/60i 16:9 onto SDHC & SD memory cards
• 12X Leica Dicomar Lens with smooth, slow zoom & built in Lens Cap
• F1.8 - 2.8 f=4mm - 48mm, (35mm equivalent 38.5 - 462mm), Filter diameter size: 43 mm
• Optical Image Stabilization suppresses camera shake without loss of image quality
• No tape mechanism, heads, guides, pinch rollers or dropouts for trouble-free performance
• Faster record startup. (only 1.7 seconds from the time the monitor is opened)
• Records high quality widescreen still images (even during video recording)
• Fast, accurate Auto Focus with no hunting! (Manual Focus as well)
• No noise from a tape or disc transport to get into the on board microphone
• 5.1 channel surround sound audio recording with 5 microphones on board (Dolby AC-3)
• Super directivity Zoom Mic function. 2 channel external Mic input (3.5mm phone plug)
• 3″ widescreen LCD side screen (251,000 pixels), Digital Zoom Off, 1-30X, 1-700X
• Uses the latest compression scheme (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)
• Five program AE modes in manual mode, Fades to Black or White with Audio Fade
• Three modes of Audio: Auto / Manual / Manual + AGC audio levels
• Directional keys make it easy to navigate the On Screen Menu (center button is enter key)
• Color reproduction optimized for the professional... natural and accurate
• Graphite Body color suppresses reflections
• One year Parts & Labor Warranty