AVCHD format recording: superior quality, efficiency and reliability and exclusive PH Mode for the highest bit rate
High-end AVCHD Image Quality
High Bit Rate of the Pro-use PH Mode
The AG-HMC41 features the image-enhancing PH mode that Panasonic developed exclusively for AVCCAM camcorders. It delivers a maximum AVCHD bit rate of 24 Mbps (average: 21 Mbps). Designed for professional image production, this mode lets you record 1080/25p and 720 progressive images in addition to 1080/50i from the AG-HMC41´s 1920 x 1080 full-raster HD images.
Ease, Efficiency, Reliability
Large-capacity SDHC Memory Card
Unlike with videotape, there's no need for cueing with the SDHC memory card because recording automatically begins in a blank section of memory. Nor do you have to worry about accidentally recording over important footage. You can delete unwanted clips instantly right on the spot to preserve memory capacity. Editing after shooting is smooth and easy, with no need for digitising.
The tiny SDHC Memory Card is durable, too. Its operating range is from -25ºC to +85ºC, so you can stop worrying about harsh temperatures or condensation and just concentrate on your shooting. And of course, you never have to worry about problems with dropouts or clogged heads.
•Using the high compression efficiency of the AVCHD format, up to 720 minutes*1 of HD data can be recorded onto a single SDHC Memory Card.
•Combined with a maximum data transfer speed of 22 MB/s,*2 this makes data transfers to computers easy and effortless.
•SDHC Memory Cards are inexpensive and can be easily purchased on location when needed.
*1: In HE (extended time) mode using a 32GB SDHC Memory Card. A Class 4 or higher SDHC or SD Memory Card is required for PH and HA recording. Use a Class 2 or higher SDHC or SD Memory Card for other modes. (Panasonic SDHC or SD Memory Cards are recommended.)
*2: Data transfer speed varies depending on the usage of SD devices. The speed given here is the maximum speed according to Panasonic specifications.
More Efficient than Tape
Versatile Solid-state Recording Functions
Shot mark
To simplify shot selection, you can add a mark to the thumbnail images of each clip. You can then display and play only the clips that have shot marks.
Pre-REC
This helps to ensure you always get the shot you want, by letting you continuously store, and subsequently record, images and sounds for three seconds before the REC button is pressed in standby mode.
REC check
You can check the end of the most recently recorded clip with one-touch ease.
Last clip delete
Only the most recently recorded clip is deleted with this one-touch function, adding practical convenience to everyday operation. It can be assigned as a User button function if desired.
Meta-data recording
The date, camera operator, location, title and other information can be added to the video data.
Fast Scene Searches
LCD Monitor Thumbnail View
Image data is recorded as a file for each scene. Thumbnail images and file information are automatically attached to each file to enable smooth, easy confirmation and deletion of files
displayed on the LCD monitor.
High Bit Rate of the Pro-use PH Mode
The AG-HMC41 features the image-enhancing PH mode that Panasonic developed exclusively for AVCCAM camcorders. It delivers a maximum AVCHD bit rate of 24 Mbps (average: 21 Mbps). Designed for professional image production, this mode lets you record 1080/25p and 720 progressive images in addition to 1080/50i from the AG-HMC41´s 1920 x 1080 full-raster HD images.
Ease, Efficiency, Reliability
Large-capacity SDHC Memory Card
Unlike with videotape, there's no need for cueing with the SDHC memory card because recording automatically begins in a blank section of memory. Nor do you have to worry about accidentally recording over important footage. You can delete unwanted clips instantly right on the spot to preserve memory capacity. Editing after shooting is smooth and easy, with no need for digitising.
The tiny SDHC Memory Card is durable, too. Its operating range is from -25ºC to +85ºC, so you can stop worrying about harsh temperatures or condensation and just concentrate on your shooting. And of course, you never have to worry about problems with dropouts or clogged heads.
•Using the high compression efficiency of the AVCHD format, up to 720 minutes*1 of HD data can be recorded onto a single SDHC Memory Card.
•Combined with a maximum data transfer speed of 22 MB/s,*2 this makes data transfers to computers easy and effortless.
•SDHC Memory Cards are inexpensive and can be easily purchased on location when needed.
*1: In HE (extended time) mode using a 32GB SDHC Memory Card. A Class 4 or higher SDHC or SD Memory Card is required for PH and HA recording. Use a Class 2 or higher SDHC or SD Memory Card for other modes. (Panasonic SDHC or SD Memory Cards are recommended.)
*2: Data transfer speed varies depending on the usage of SD devices. The speed given here is the maximum speed according to Panasonic specifications.
More Efficient than Tape
Versatile Solid-state Recording Functions
Shot mark
To simplify shot selection, you can add a mark to the thumbnail images of each clip. You can then display and play only the clips that have shot marks.
Pre-REC
This helps to ensure you always get the shot you want, by letting you continuously store, and subsequently record, images and sounds for three seconds before the REC button is pressed in standby mode.
REC check
You can check the end of the most recently recorded clip with one-touch ease.
Last clip delete
Only the most recently recorded clip is deleted with this one-touch function, adding practical convenience to everyday operation. It can be assigned as a User button function if desired.
Meta-data recording
The date, camera operator, location, title and other information can be added to the video data.
Fast Scene Searches
LCD Monitor Thumbnail View
Image data is recorded as a file for each scene. Thumbnail images and file information are automatically attached to each file to enable smooth, easy confirmation and deletion of files
displayed on the LCD monitor.
The AVCHD Format Enables Smooth Production and Easy Internet Distribution. Tapeless Design Means Lower Total Costs
Unlike tape, AVCHD files require no digitising*1 and can be directly and quickly transmitted*2 to an HDD in a Windows PC/Mac. This makes it easier to use motion images in new IT
applications*3, like content production, Internet distribution and source material archiving.
AVCHD's direct editing also saves you time and effort in TV program production. And AVCHD
means lower costs for both media and equipment maintenance.
*1: Editing may require conversion to an intermediate codec, depending on the editing software. The conversion speed will vary depending on the hardware specifications of the Windows PC or Mac, the software used for converting, and the file format being converted.
*2: Maximum speed: 22 MB/s (Using a Class 10 SDHC Memory Card. Speed depends on the hardware specifications of the Windows PC or Mac). Some computers may not recognise the SDHC Memory Card. If
that occurs, use an SDHC Memory Card Reader.
*3: AVCHD-compatible software is required. The minimum system requirements for using the software must also be satisfied.
Load Data to a Windows PC/Mac or Write It to a Blu-ray Disc with AVCCAM Viewer
(Download it for Free)
AVCCAM Viewer *1 for Windows PC/Mac*2 makes it easy to preview AVCCAM files and other AVCHD motion images, still image and meta-data, with very simple operation. Files can be played from an SD Memory Card, Blu-ray Disc, or hard disk, and saved to a PC (hard disk)
from an SD Memory Card or Blu-ray Disc. Files can also be copied or deleted, meta-data can be displayed, and data can be written to an SD Memory Card or Blu-ray Disc*3. AVCCAM Restorer software can also be used to restore files that were damaged, for example, by a power interruption during recording.
Copying onto BD/DVDs with DVD Recorder
You can easily copy AVCHD data onto the built-in HDD of a Panasonic DVD recorder. You can also copy HD images onto a BD or DVD.
HD Playback on a Monitor
Full-HD images recorded in AVCHD can be previewed on a monitor.
*Needs to be compatible with AVCHD playback. Use an HDMI cable with Type A terminal.
(Not compatible with VIERA Link)
AVCHD Nonlinear Editing
Compatibility with existing HD editing environments AVCHD files can be transferred at high speed by using the USB 2.0 interface to connect the AG-HMC41 or an SDHC Memory Card reader to a Windows PC/Mac. This dramatically improves productivity when compared with the
time-consuming task of digitising.
Unlike tape, AVCHD files require no digitising*1 and can be directly and quickly transmitted*2 to an HDD in a Windows PC/Mac. This makes it easier to use motion images in new IT
applications*3, like content production, Internet distribution and source material archiving.
AVCHD's direct editing also saves you time and effort in TV program production. And AVCHD
means lower costs for both media and equipment maintenance.
*1: Editing may require conversion to an intermediate codec, depending on the editing software. The conversion speed will vary depending on the hardware specifications of the Windows PC or Mac, the software used for converting, and the file format being converted.
*2: Maximum speed: 22 MB/s (Using a Class 10 SDHC Memory Card. Speed depends on the hardware specifications of the Windows PC or Mac). Some computers may not recognise the SDHC Memory Card. If
that occurs, use an SDHC Memory Card Reader.
*3: AVCHD-compatible software is required. The minimum system requirements for using the software must also be satisfied.
Load Data to a Windows PC/Mac or Write It to a Blu-ray Disc with AVCCAM Viewer
(Download it for Free)
AVCCAM Viewer *1 for Windows PC/Mac*2 makes it easy to preview AVCCAM files and other AVCHD motion images, still image and meta-data, with very simple operation. Files can be played from an SD Memory Card, Blu-ray Disc, or hard disk, and saved to a PC (hard disk)
from an SD Memory Card or Blu-ray Disc. Files can also be copied or deleted, meta-data can be displayed, and data can be written to an SD Memory Card or Blu-ray Disc*3. AVCCAM Restorer software can also be used to restore files that were damaged, for example, by a power interruption during recording.
Copying onto BD/DVDs with DVD Recorder
You can easily copy AVCHD data onto the built-in HDD of a Panasonic DVD recorder. You can also copy HD images onto a BD or DVD.
HD Playback on a Monitor
Full-HD images recorded in AVCHD can be previewed on a monitor.
*Needs to be compatible with AVCHD playback. Use an HDMI cable with Type A terminal.
(Not compatible with VIERA Link)
AVCHD Nonlinear Editing
Compatibility with existing HD editing environments AVCHD files can be transferred at high speed by using the USB 2.0 interface to connect the AG-HMC41 or an SDHC Memory Card reader to a Windows PC/Mac. This dramatically improves productivity when compared with the
time-consuming task of digitising.
Related Links
AVCHD Format for High-quality,
Efficient HD Recording
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-HMC41 achieves extended HD recording.
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Technologies
•Intra-frame Prediction
•Variable Block Size Motion Compensation
•Loop Filter Prevents the Propagation of Compression Distortion
•New Entropy Encoding ‘CABAC’
Comparison of HD Recording Formats
HD multi-format recording
Records for 180 minutes (approx.)
in the highest-quality (PH) mode
Efficient HD Recording
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-HMC41 achieves extended HD recording.
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Technologies
•Intra-frame Prediction
•Variable Block Size Motion Compensation
•Loop Filter Prevents the Propagation of Compression Distortion
•New Entropy Encoding ‘CABAC’
Comparison of HD Recording Formats
| HDV |
AVCHD | |
| Pixel (H x V) |
1440 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Compression Method |
MPEG-2 | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 |
HD multi-format recording
| Recording Format | |
| 1080 | 1080/50i |
| 1080 (only PH mode) | 1080/25p |
| 720 (only PH mode) | 720/50p 720/25p |
Records for 180 minutes (approx.)
in the highest-quality (PH) mode
| Recording Mode |
Image Size (H x V) |
Bit Rate | Max. Recording Time with a 32GB SDHC Memory Card |
| PH Mode | 1920x1080 1280x720 |
Approx. 21 Mbps (Average), Max. 24 Mbps |
Approx. 180 minutes |
| HA Mode | 1920x1080 | Approx. 17 Mbps (Average) | Approx. 240 minutes |
| HG Mode | 1920x1080 | Approx. 17 Mbps (Average) | Approx. 240 minutes |
| HE Mode | 1440x1080 | Approx. 6 Mbps (Average) | Approx. 720 minutes |
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All Rights Reserved