HD Cinema no longer offers the Varicam instead we offer the HDX900.

Panasonic AJ-HDX-900 DVC Pro HD camera special rates as low as $ 1050/week body only, $1650 per week camera with batteries, lens, monitor, for multiple weeks and with advance booking and deposit

One of the newest cameras from Panasonic, the HDX900 has the same CCD sensor and records in the same DVCPro HD format as the Varicam HDC-27H (upgraded from the 27F), but has a better 14 bit A-D converter, as the 27H is only 12bit. The HDX-900 has a superior picture to the older Varicam 27 and 27F 10 bit units, lower noise and greater latitude with the new DRS Dynamic Range Stretching function. There is CineGamma software for additional film look settings.Built in HD SDI for convenient cabling, switches to a downconverted signal if you want to monitor with NTSC monitors or Steadicam. No need to rent our Miranda units.
all lenses and cinestyle accessories are available for the HDX-900

Panasonic Broadcast web site

link to Operating Manual .pdf

While the sensor is 1 Megapixel like the Varicam, the HDX-900 will also up rez the image and record in either 1080/24p (23.98) or 1080/50i or 1080/60i. This is an amazing feature considering the cost of the camera. While not as high resolution as shooting with a Sony F900, it is a sharper picture than recording with the Varicam and then up-converting to 1080 in the Panasonic 1200A or 1400 vtrs.

The HDX-900 shoots 24p (23.98), 25p and 50p and 60p but does not do all the in between speeds the Varicam does. However if you shoot for slow mo at 60p you can change the frame rate to some other integer in post with excellent results.

There is a Digital Super Gain mode of up to +36dB. In addition there is a Cumulative Super Gain mode that is noise free but would blur moving objects ( a nice effect) that utilizes the variable frame rate technology of Varicam, allowing an extra gain or +20dB (at 6 fps), and can be combined for a total of +62 dB.

8 second solid state cache recording. Not available with the Varicam, the HDX-900 let's you start the camera and keep rolling an 8 second loop which can then dump to tape and keep recording. This is a very useful feature in sports, wildlife photography, and other applications where you want to keep rolling to catch some action but don't want to eat up tape stock until it happens.

Time Lapse......HDX-900 cache also allows Interval Recording and One-Shot Recording:
The interval REC function records at preset intervals, which is useful in monitoring or observation applications, or when you want to create a frame-by-frame effect. Use the One-shot REC function, which starts recording each time you press the REC button, to create claymation and other special-effect productions. “

The HDX-900 includes other very useful features that the Varicam does not have, most notable Firewire output built into the camera. This will allow recording to a Firestore disk recorder for immediate ingest into a non-linear edit system. Built in HD-SDI output for convenient cabling, or can be switchedto SDI standard def output [but not both at the same time].

Unlike the 2 Ch audio limit of the Varicam, the HDX-900 can record 4 Channels of 48KHz audio.

Panasonic AJ-HDC27F VariCam DVCPro HD camera packages - call for pricing

Last modified: April 22, 2008