YLE TYPE="text/css">
High Image Quality and
Advanced Functions
in an AVCCAM
Camcorder
with Easy Mobility
and Solid-State
Reliability
The powerful new tapeless AG-HMC150 joins the Panasonic line of professional HD camcorders. This new AVCCAM
camcorder features highly-acclaimed functions for the popular AG-DVX100 Series of DV-tape based camcorders to
tapeless HD recording. Using the cost-saving AVCHD format to record onto SDHC or SD Memory Card media,
the AG-HMC150 produces exceptional images and responds to creative production needs. It also features a
28mm (35mm equivalent) wide-angle lens widest in a professional camera of this class and a newly
developed 1/3-inch 16:9 progressive CCD. It further enhances image quality by adding a higher-quality PH
mode to the clean, extended-time recording abilities of the AVCHD format. The AG-HMC150 handles
full-pixel (1920 x 1080/1280 x 720) 24p and 30p progressive recording, and includes cinelike gamma and
other versatile functions to meet the special needs of creative image production. The SDHC/SD Memory Card media for the AVCCAM camcorder is totally free from abrasion and dropout. There is no
drive mechanism required, as there is for tape and disc-based recorders, so power consumption is low and size and
weight are reduced. Malfunctions are less likely to occur, and there is no need to replace heads or transport
components. This translates into lower costs and easier maintenance, greater energy savings, and less waste when the
unit is eventually disposed of. All of these features help to conserve the environment. Panasonic is a leader in creating
and promoting the advantages of memory-card recording, both in its AVCCAM camcorders and P2 HD broadcast and
professional systems, through a program called the Panasonic Asset Support System (PASS).
Memory-Card Recording Lowers Costs and Helps the Environment
Panasonic Asset Support System (PASS) <http://panasonic.biz/sav/pass_e>
AVCCAM users can join this service program by simply registering on the following website after purchasing
a system. There are no annual fees required. Membership benefits include 3-year limited warranty, AVCHD
product information, and integrated management and AVCHD products
by means of an equipment
management system.
*AG-HMC150 users qualify for a 3-year warranty on repairs. See the back page for details.

28mm Wide-Angle, 13X Zoom Leica Dicomar� HD Lens
The wide-angle zoom lens that became so popular in the HVX200 Series
has been downsized, lightened, and further widened in this 13X zoom
lens. The new lens structure combines 13 lens elements in 10 groups, with
3 aspherical lenses. The diameter of the front lens element has been
reduced from 67 to 53.2 mm, while still achieving a 28mm wide angle
(35mm equivalent), the widest of the class.*
The new lens covers most shooting situations without requiring a wide-
angle conversion lens. Its minimum object distance (MOD) of about 1.9 ft
(0.6 meter) at the telephoto setting helps to maximize the handheld
camcorder's inherent mobility.
The same cam-driven zoom ring that was so popular in previous models
ensures accurate zooming. The Leica Dicomar lens incorporates Leica
optical technology and know-how throughout. A multi-coating process
minimizes flare and ghosting. This results in sharp, crisp, beautifully
rendered images with delicate nuances and exceptional shading.
*HD camcorders with integrated lens and 1/3-inch CCD, as of July 2008 (according to a Panasonic survey)
New Progressive CCD Raises Sensitivity and Lowers Noise and Smear
The new 1/3-inch 16:9 progressive
CCD on the AG-HMC150 further
raises image quality. It combines a
significantly improved S/N ratio and
better low-light performance than
previous models. Backed by a high-
performance digital signal processor,
the CCD brings higher quality to HD
images to meet the demands of
broadcasters and high-end video
producers.
High-Resolution Native Progressive 1080/60p Scan
Progressive to interlace conversion, cross conversion and down
conversion all start with the 1080/60p scan. That initial 1080p native
progressive scan offers the highest level of vertical resolution possible at
this level of camera. Keep in mind that the camera does not record this
signal but uses it as a basis for all captures. The result is an HD or SD
recording with a level of image quality that cannot be matched by
electronically processed scans.
DSP with 14-Bit A/D Conversion and 19-Bit Processing
The digital signal processor
developed for the AG-HMC150's
1080/60p video signals uses 14-bit
A/D conversion and 19-bit inner
processing to attain unprecedented
accuracy. While the camera does
not record 1080/60p, it is from this
capture that all other signals are
made. The DSP performs a variety of
adjustments, including eight types of
gamma settings, for each of the R, G and B channels. It also converts the
signals to HD or SD format. With a performance equivalent to the
processors used in many higher-end HD cameras, this DSP delivers
beautiful images in all video formats.
A Camera Block with the Same Design as P2 HD Broadcast Systems Boosts the Quality of HD Images
Image of an angle of view equivalent to 32.5 mm
Image of an angle of view equivalent to 28 mm
� 53mm
Light axis
Configuration of the 13-power zoom lens Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS)
Panasonic's advanced OIS dramatically reduces the blurring caused by
hand-held camera work. Optical processing with an automatic correction
function helps assure consistently clear, sharp images.
Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS)
In scenes with mixed contrast, such as when panning from indoors to
outdoors, the DRS function automatically suppresses blocked shadows
and blown highlights. A gamma curve and knee slope are estimated to
match the contrast of each pixel, and applied in real time. When dark,
bright, and intermediate shades are all contained in the same scene, this
produces excellent gradation for each shade and minimizes blocked
shadows and blown highlights. The images that result are enhanced by a
visually wide dynamic range.
7-Mode Gamma for Richer Gradation
Drawing on technologies developed for the VariCam, Panasonic has
equipped the AG-HMC150 with advanced gamma functions that address
eight different shooting scenarios and enhance your creative abilities. This
includes the cinelike gamma, which produces the characteristic warm
tone of film recordings.
AG-HMC150 Gamma Modes
HD NORM:
Suitable for HD recording
LOW:
Works to flatten out a high contrast scene
SD NORM:
Normal setting for SD (this was available in the DVX100 series)
HIGH:
Provides more contrast and color gradation
B.PRESS:
Provides more contras and blacks in low contrast scenes
CINE-LIKE-D:
The Cine-Like mode shifted to prioritize dynamic range
CINE-LIKE-V:
The Cine-Like mode shifted to prioritize contrast
Advanced Image Adjustments Built-In
Matrix setting including a Cinelike mode
Adjustable H detail level, V detail level, detail coring and skin detail
Adjustable chroma level, chroma phase, color temp and master pedestal
Knee point settings: Auto, Low, Mid and High
User files (with sets of camera settings) can be transferred to an SD
Memory Card and shared with other cameras
Shown above is a sample of operation styles.
VIDEO GAMMA
CINE-LIKE GAMMA
Blocked shadows are suppressed.
Image with DRS OFF
Image with DRS ON
Blown highlights are suppressed. AVCHD Format for High-
Quality, Efficient HD Recording
Panasonic AVCCAM camcorders
use the AVCHD format for
tapeless recording with high
image quality and low bit rates.
This format complies with the
latest H.264 motion image
compression standard, and
employs the High Profile standard
to improve compression
efficiency. Featuring twice the
compression efficiency of HDV
(MPEG-2), the AG-HMC150
achieves extended HD recording.
The following four new
technologies make this possible.
High-Quality AVCHD Recording, Plus the Professional PH Mode Boosts the Quality of HD Images
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Technologies

Intra-Frame Prediction
This process generates predictive pixels based on the adjacent pixels
within each frame. It then selects the optimal predictive mode. The
generated predictive image is subtracted from the original input image,
and the residual data is compressed and recorded at a low bit rate. The
entire process is conducted within the frame, so prediction accuracy
remains high even with fast-motion images.
Variable Block Size Motion Compensation
In contrast with MPEG-2, in which inter-frame compression based on the
correlation between adjacent frames uses fixed blocks of 16 x 16 pixels,
AVCHD divides the blocks into multi-sizes as small as 4 x 4 pixels. In this
method, it is able to use large blocks to process images that show only
slight changes on the screen, and smaller blocks to process images that
have considerable change. This raises the accuracy of motion
compensation to boost the quality of fast-motion images while increasing
compression efficiency.
Loop Filter Prevents the Propagation of Compression Distortion
Because MPEG-2 uses a decoding image that contains compression-
induced block distortion as a reference image for motion compensation, it
exhibits residual distortion even within the same frame when a large
amount of block distortion is generated. MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 detects
block distortion in the decoding image and removes it with a context-
adaptive filter that functions according to the degree of distortion. This
prevents the propagation of block distortion by keeping the reference
image clean at all times.
MPEG-2
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
New CABAC Entropy Encoding
The AVCHD format uses CABAC (Context Adaptive Binary Arithmetic
Coding) for its