Panasonic AJ-SDC915 operating instructions General and Features, Features of the Camera Section

General and Features

This unit combines as a single integrated unit a 3-CCD color video camera which features IT- CCDs and a 520,000-pixel on-chip lens, and a DVCPRO format VTR which incorporates com- pression technology.

Not only can the screen aspect ratio be switched between 16:9 and 4:3 in a single action but the rate at which the signals are recorded onto the VTR tape can also be set to 50 Mbps for a higher picture quality or 25 Mbps for a longer recording duration. Recording at the 50 Mbps rate enables pictures with a very high picture quality to be recorded: this means that this is an integrated VTR unit which provides all the optimum functions and performance for EFP applications.

The unit in itself is compact and lightweight, its power consumption is minimal, it yields a high picture quality, and it offers excellent sensitivity, mobility and dust-proof and damp-proof capabili- ty. These features make it possible for the unit to be used in ENG applications as well.

Both the camera unit and VTR unit feature digital signal processing to achieve much higher levels of picture quality and stability.

Memory cards complying with global standards can be used for the camera and VTR setting data to provide a system to manage the data.

Features of the Camera Section

The camera section of the AJ-SDC915 has the following features. ÁHigh sensitivity: 2000 lux (F13)

ÁHigh S/N ratio: 63 dB (standard) ÁUltra-low smear

ÁUltra-low flare

Digital signal processing

Signal processing is digitized by a 18 MHz (typ.) 10-bit AD/DA converter. This improves 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, messag- es, marker displays, etc. Whether or not to display each item, as well as the display conditions when items are to be displayed, can be selected according to the user’s convenience. For exam- ple, display ON/OFF for the ! lamp display which informs the user that the unit has entered irregu- lar status can be selected for 8 different conditions.

The setting menu is also used to select various settings and functions and execute memory card operations, etc.

Setup cards

Setting menu and subject data can be stored on SRAM memory cards with a capacity of 64 kilo- bytes or greater which conform to PCMCIA standard ratings as setup cards. Stored data can be saved individually or according to the shooting conditions, allowing the same setup conditions to be easily reproduced and assisting in standardizing setup conditions between individual data.

An ATA flash memory card with a memory size of 4 MB or more is required to operate the Picture Link (Pix Link) function sold as an optional accessory.

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 moni- tor screens (60.8–250 Hz), and provides images with little horizontal stripe noise.

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

Wide range of video gain selections

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. Using the SUPER GAIN switch provided specially to implement the super gain function, the video gain can be set to 30 or 36 dB.

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