Panasonic AJ-D400 operating instructions General and Features, Features of the Camera Section

General and Features

The model AJ-D400 integrates a color video camera which employs three frame interline trans- fer (FIT) CCDs with 410,000 device on-chip lenses with a DVCPRO format VTR which is equipped with the latest compression technology.

The AJ-D400 is particularly compact and light weight with low power consumption, and realizes the optimal functions and performance for an electronic news gathering (ENG) VTR-integrated camera such as high picture quality and sensitivity, mobility, dustproofing and dampproofing, etc. In addition, both the camera section and the VTR employ a digital signal processing system which further improves picture quality.

Features of the Camera Section

The camera section of the AJ-D400 has the following features. ÁHigh sensitivity: 2000 lux (F8)

ÁHigh S/N ratio: 62 dB (standard) ÁUltra-low smear

ÁUltra-low flare

Digital signal processing

Signal processing is digitized by a 14.3 MHz/28.6 MHz (typ.) 10-bit AD/DA converter. This im- proves picture quality, stability and reliability, and allows the viewfinder screen displays as well as numerous adjustment and setup items to be converted to menus.

Setting menu

The setting menu is displayed on the viewfinder screen, and controls the status displays, mes- sages, marker displays, etc. Whether or not to display each item, as well as the display condi- tions when items are to be displayed, can be selected according to the user’s convenience. For example, display ON/OFF for the ! lamp display which informs the user that the unit has entered irregular status can be selected for 7 different conditions.

The setting menu is also used to select various settings and functions.

High-function electronic shutter

Using the built-in electronic shutter achieves steady images even of quickly moving subjects. In addition, the following special operation modes can also be selected.

ÁSynchro scan mode: This mode is suited for shooting personal computer and workstation mon- itor screens, and provides images with little horizontal stripe noise.

ÁHigh vertical resolution (Super V) mode: This mode provides images with high vertical resolu- tion compared to standard mode.

Wide range of video gain selections

Eleven gain values can be selected from p3 dB to o30 dB using the setting menu and the GAIN switch. The high S/N ratio allows images with little noise to be obtained even when the gain is increased for shooting in dark locations.

Automatic adjustment and memory functions for black balance/white balance

The black set, black balance and white balance can be automatically adjusted by simple switch operations. Adjustment values are held in the memory even if the power for the unit is turned off, so there is no need to readjust the balance each time the power is turned on.

There are two memory systems for white balance which can hold four adjustment values each for the CC and ND filters, making a total of eight adjustment values. When adjustment values matching the illumination conditions are selected from among the values stored in the memory, the unit is automatically adjusted to the corresponding white balance. (A menu setting also al- lows adjustment of only two values instead of the values for each filter.) In addition, when the unit is shipped from the factory, the white balance value for 3200K is stored in the memory as a preset value. This value can be called when there is no time to adjust the white balance, etc.

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