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P2 (P2 is short form for "Professional Plug-In") is a professional digital video storage media format introduced by Panasonic in 2004, and especially tailored to ENG applications. It features tapeless (non-linear) recording of DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO-HD, or AVC-Intra streams on a solid state flash memory card. The P2 Card is essentially a RAID of SD memory cards with an LSI controller tightly packaged in a die-cast PC card (formerly PCMCIA) enclosure, so data transfer rate increases as memory capacity increases. The system includes cameras, decks as drop-in replacement for VCRs, and a special 5.25" computer drive for random access integration with NLE systems. The cards can also be used directly where a PC card slot is available, as in most notebook computers, as a normal disk drive, although a custom software driver must first be loaded.

As of late 2008, P2 cards are available in capacities of 4, 8, 16, 32GB and 64GB. At introduction, P2 cards offered low recording capacity compared to competing, videotape-based formats (a miniDV tape holds roughly 13GB of data, and an S-size HDCAM tape holds 50GB). To solve this, camcorders and decks using P2 media employ multiple card slots, with the ability to span the recording over all slots. Cards are recorded in sequence, and when a card is full, it can be swapped out while another card is recording. This limits recording time only by power supply and the available amount of cards. If a card is partially full, the deck will record only until it is full. Unlike tape, old video cannot be recorded over accidentally. Old footage must be manually deleted. Since then card capacity has increased to as much as 64GB.

P2 cards are of a ruggedized PCMCIA type with the fastest transfer speeds currently available through this format. The card also contains a processor that organises and safeguards the files and the case is developed and crafted to "military" (according to Panasonic) specifications, making P2 cards tough and reliable.

The first pieces of equipment released by Panasonic which use the P2 format included the AJ-SPX800 (a 2/3" broadcast camcorder for ENG and EFP applictions), the studio recorder AJ-SPD850, the AJ-PCD10 offload device (basically, a five-slot PC card reader with USB interface designed to fit a 5-1/4" IT systems bay), and the memory cards themselves - AJ-P2C004 (4GB) and AJ-P2C002 (2GB). Panasonic is currently shipping a wide range of camcorders that support the P2 format, including the professional AG-HVX200 HD handheld camcorder, and the high-end, or broadcast professional shoulder-mount AG-HPX500, AJ-HPX2000, and AJ-HPX3000 camcorders. Panasonic has also announced the P2-based AG-HPX170 handheld HD camcorder. The HPX170 is very similar to the HVX200 and the HVX200A, the main difference being the lack of a tape drive on the 170. The latest products to feature P2 technology are the well-received^[1] recently launched AJ-HPX2700 and AH-HPX3700 "Varicam" high end cameras.

Specifications

• File format: MXF
• Maximum datarate: 640 Mbit/s([1])
• Available sizes: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
• Form factor: PC card (PCMCIA) type II

P2 Workflow

P2 is a solid state technology, and as such departs from the older method of recording video onto tape. Since the video output is saved onto a solid state P2 memory card as a file, many possibilities are opened up to change the approach to workflow; indeed, it is claimed that the workflow can be sped up and made more reliable, which in turn, reduces production costs . Since its inception, the development of this workflow, together with partners such as Avid and Apple, has matured, and has been adopted by many major production teams.

P2 Current Camera Range

Handheld models

PAG-HMC151

• Compact, Lightweight HD/SD Camera-Recorder 

• PH recording mode 

• MPEG4 AVC/H.264 codec

AG-HPX171

• Compact, Lightweight HD/SD Camera-Recorder 



* 13x zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle

AG-HVX201

• Progressive native 16:9 HD 3CCD imaging system
• HD quality Leica Dicomar wide-angle zoom lens 



* Progressive modes supported

Shoulder Mounted Models

AG-HPX500

• P2 HD Camcorder 

• Supports all HD/SD recording formats 

• Variable Frame rate function 


AJ-HDX900

• 2/3" 3CCD Multi-Format HD Camcorder
• Three 2/3" 1,000,000 pixel progressive 3CCD image sensors 

• Shooting mode: 1,080/60i, 30p, 24p (2:3), 24pA, 1,080/50i, 25p, 720/60p, 30 p & 24p over 60p, 720/50p, 25p over 50p IEEE1394 

• output with back-up rec. support

AJ-HPX2100 
* HD/SD Multi-Format Recording 


AJ-HPX2700

• One of the new P2 Varicam range
• Variable Frame Rate of 1 fps to 60 fps 

• 10 bit/4:2:2 Recording with Full Sampling 

• AVC-Intra codec recording system

AJ-HPX3000

• AVCHD Camcorder


* Native 1080p 4:2:2 10-bit 
* Newly developed high-resolution 2.2-megapixel CCD 


• AVC-Intra codec recording system

AJ-HPX3700

• High-End HD Camera-Recorder for Cinema Production , part of the P2 Varicam range


* RGB 4:4:4 and 24PsF Output 


• AVC-Intra codec recording system

See also

• CompactFlash

References

1. ^ Independent P2 Varicam review

External links

• Panasonic's DVCPRO P2 product overview
• P2 Overview at dvxuser.com
• Panasonic Announces Upgrades To P2 Solid-State Memory Drive. February 26, 2006.
• Specifications of P2 cards at the Panasonic Broadcast Europe Site. December 2, 2008
• P2 Camera in the field
• Overview of the new P2 Varicam
• P2 AG-HMC151 Review
• P2 AG-HPX500 review
• P2 product under test
• The P2 HPX3000 reviewed
• P2 media and Avid Workflow
• P2 media and Avid Workflow
• More P2 media and Avid workflow information
• P2 camera crew los angeles
• A P2 tutorial from Creative Cow
• A Video tutorial showing an end to end workflow
• Wikipedia's Varicam page

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