P2 Recording Function

Four Slots for Quick Recording on Reliable P2 Memory Cards

P2 Cards: High Capacity, Fast Transfer and Superior Reliability slot on a laptop.

Developed for cost effective production applications, the P2 card consists of four SD cards packaged together as a single compact unit that weighs only about 0.099 lbs (45 grams). This ultra-reliable card has four times the capacity and four times the transfer speed of a single SD card.

In addition to the high resistance to impact, vibration and temperature change that semiconductor memory is known for, the P2 card also offers outstanding reliability. Unlike tapes and discs, it has no rotating or contact parts. It's built to withstand repeated recording and initialization over many years of use. The P2 card connector is specifically designed to stand up to the repeated insertion and removal involved in professional use.

The AG-HPX500 records the A/V data for each recording as a file on the P2 card, which eliminates the need for digitizing. The files can be used directly in a nonlinear editing system or transferred over a network. The P2 card transfers data at a speed that discs simply cannot match, giving you faster, easier operation.

The P2 card is convenient too - you can plug it directly into the card slot on a laptop.

Immediate Startup and Better Data Protection

When you press the Record button in standby mode, the AG-HPX500 instantly finds a blank area on the P2 card and begins recording. It can begin recording immediately even when you're using it to preview video. In normal use, there's no chance of accidentally overwriting a recording. Recordings will not be erased unless you intentionally delete a file or initialize the card.

Advanced Recording Functions Employing Four Card Slots

In addition to continuous, multiple-card recording, the four P2 card slots of the AG-HPX500 also enable some useful new recording functions that are possible only with memory cards.

  • Card selector:The recording slot can be switched instantly when the unit is in standby mode. Immediately after recording a clip, you can remove the P2 card and use it in editing or transmission. This lets you continue your recording work with much shorter downtime than when changing tapes or discs.
  • Hot-swap-rec:You can replace a full memory card with a blank one while the P2 cam is recording onto a second card. Successively swapping cards gives you virtually unlimited recording capability.
  • Loop-rec:This function can be specified in length and the camera will continuously record over that area until you push the pause. This allows for a longer record time than pre-record.

Other Versatile Recording Functions

  • Pre-rec:While in standby mode, you can continuously store, and subsequently record, up to 3 seconds in HD (7 seconds in SD). In effect, this lets you record footage of events that occur even before you press the Rec Start button, giving you a way to "go back" and capture moments you otherwise would have missed.
  • One-shot rec: Convenient for producing animation, this mode records for a set time (from 1 frame to 1 second) each time you press the Start button.
  • Interval rec: Recording one frame at a time at set intervals (from 2 frames to 10 min), this mode is useful for monitoring and special ultra-undercranking effects.

Clip Thumbnail/Data Function

The P2 cam records each recording as a clip (file) and automatically attaches a thumbnail image and file information to it. To preview a clip on the LCD monitor or to check clip data, simply choose the clip you want from the list of thumbnails.

The thumbnail image and file information can also be displayed on a PC (using P2 Viewer*) or nonlinear editing software.

* P2 Viewer software for Windows PCs can be downloaded, free of charge.

Clip Thumbnail Display Clip Thumbnail Display

Shot Marker and Text Memo

A shot mark, which allows convenient OK and NG marking, can be added to each clip during or after recording. When a P2 card with marked clips is inserted in a PC*, it's possible to have only the marked clips displayed. The AG-HPX500 also has a text memo function. When recording or previewing a clip, press the Text Memo button at any of up to 100 locations and a blank text memo label is registered. On your PC*, you can then search for the label and write a memo into it.
* Must have P2 Viewer installed

SD Memory Card Slot

Plug an SD card into the slot provided, and you can save or load scene files and user-setting files. You can create a metadata upload file (produced with P2 Viewer) containing information such as the name of the camera operator, the name of the reporter, the recording location, and text memos on an SD Memory Card, and load it as clip metadata.