Panasonic Connect Europe has launched the AW-UE160W/K, a next-generation 4K integrated PTZ camera that achieves both high-quality shooting and video production efficiency for customers involved in the entertainment industry, including broadcasting, live events, and video production. It will be available in Q1 of 2023.
This new flagship model enables more unique and new visual expression by combining the flexibility of a PTZ camera, which can be freely set in position and angled, with the functionality of a System Camera used in the broadcast industry. Along with an outstanding high sensitivity of F14 / 2,000 LX and its High-Bandwidth NDI capability, the AW-UE160W/K is also the first ever compact PTZ camera to support SMPTE ST2110, available through a simple software option.
The AW-UE160W/K is reportedly the industry’s first product which combines the strengths of system cameras and PTZ cameras. It also has the industry’s highest level of cinematography with unique video effects that can be expressed using a variety of shooting methods. A wealth of new functions provide viewers with new experiences, including immersive images from an unprecedented perspective.
In addition to the high sensitivity of F14 / 2,000 LX, equivalent to that of a studio camera, and the latest generation image processing engine, the AW-UE160 is equipped with a newly developed phase detection autofocus (PDAF) that enables high-speed focusing and can be used to shoot fast-moving subjects. The new PTZ is equipped with a variety of features that enable high-precision video production, including a new PTZ mechanism, 20x optical zoom, and hybrid image stabilisation.
The AW-UE160W/K is the first PTZ camera to support the SMPTE ST2110, an IP transmission standard for the broadcasting industry, and wireless transmission with a 5G mobile router (via USB tethering). It supports return input and a rear tally lamp that can also be lit in yellow, which are essential for combined operation with system cameras. In addition, it is equipped with a cropping zoom function that can output multiple angle video with a single camera and 2x high-speed output (HD) from SDI/HDMI.
Support for a variety of interfaces and protocols (SMPTE ST2110, High-Bandwidth NDI, NDI|HX, SRT, FreeD, RTMP/RTMPS, etc.) reduces the burden of introducing the camera into existing systems. Even if the output is performed from multiple terminals at the same time, there is no restriction on video output, so simulcast operation in 4K is possible. Support for scene files, colour matrix control, Panasonic’s free-to-download software options and Remote Operation Panel (ROP) for batch management of multiple cameras makes mixed operation with system cameras even easier. In addition, the waveform display function and the horizontal level gauge display function reduce the burden of setting up and adjusting the image.
