VariCam 35 Also Gets 12-bit AVC-Intra 4K 4:4:4 Recording, with a 120fps Bump for AVC-Intra 100 and AVC-Intra 4L-LT 4:2:2 Formats
Panasonic has released a firmware upgrade for the VariCam 35 and VariCam HS that supports HD recording in ProRes 422 HQ for both cameras. The VariCam 35 gets more codec support, with 12-bit AVC-Intra 4K 4:4:4 recording and a variable-frame-rate boost up to a maximum of 120fps for AVC-Intra 100 and AVC-Intra 4K-LT (4:2:2).
The new firmware also switches on LAN connectivity in both cameras, allowing remote control via the AK-HRP200 over Ethernet cable. In-camera color-grading tools such as Pomfort LiveGrade are now supported over LAN and Wi-Fi, Panasonic said.
Set-up has been simplified in both cameras with a new multi-home-page configuration system, a user clip name function has been added to help with media management using industry-standard naming conventions, skin-tone detail control has been added, and the cameras have a window burn option for visibly identifying or watermarking content. New features found only on the VariCam 35 include 24.00p support for both 2K and 4K and a menu function to switch between displaying only the camera's "native" ISOs or all available ISOs.
The release puts Panasonic just a few days behind its original schedule for these previously announced features, with the next firmware expected in April. It's worth noting that the Codex Digital V-RAW recorder support is not (yet) scheduled to be included in the next round of firmware, which suggests that it won't be ready until summer at the earliest.
The new VariCam firmware upgrades are available for immediate download.
