AVC-ULTRA Overview, rev 1.0

Expanding business opportunities with unified codec

Panasonic has developed a new LSI codec engine to perform a variety of encoding/decoding processes defined in the AVC-ULTRA codec. Figure 12 shows the appearance of the LSI and the photo of the LSI chip. The codec engine supports H.264/AVC profiles for professional applications, “CAVLC 4:4:4 Intra”, “High 4:2:2 Intra”, “High 10 Intra”, and “High 4:2:2”, up to Level 5.2 for 4K. This codec engine also has the ability to encode/decode the conventional DVCPRO codec family as well as the newly developed AVC-ULTRA. Incorporating the codec processor chip and high speed memory chips all within a single small package increases reliability and greatly reduces power consumption..

This new codec engine unifies AVC-Intra, AVC-LongG and AVC-Proxy and also supports from HD to 4K formats. An AVC-ULTRA product implementing this engine can support many formats and can be expanded by upgrading. Users can select optimum video formats and codec schemes depending on their target applications, workflow, and estimated budgets for production and it expands their business opportunity with minimum investments.

@Ralph_B excellent article. It doesn't mention anything about AVC-Ultra supporting overcranking (ie. 120fps/1080p) but we'll all know soon enough what the GH4 can handle.

God I hope I can buy this thing immediately.

so Panasonic embraces the whole "settings patch" thing? Or is it they know most of their users can be found on this site?

I'm pretty certain that the P2 stuff is not accurate. There's too much coincidence that they're showing off UHS-1 type 3 cards that'll write super fast.

I'm happy about the ability to shoot 1080p. I'd like to work with 4K for my projects, but frankly, I can't afford it: I'd have to upgrade my editing computer to handle 4K video, plus add on a lot of expensive storage space. But it'd be nice to get a camera that I can use now, and continue to use when I do manage to upgrade.

And shooting 4K for a final product in 1080p offers a number of terrific options, especially improving the quality of post effects. I could crop better framing in post. Any effects I use can work from 4K masters, with much better end quality. Even simple noise reduction would be a lot better reducing from a 4K master.

I can't recall, but does this camera have the ability to link to a nice, fast hard drive during shooting?

I hope we europeans could have 30P 4k too. It will be so much smoother in 60Hz 4k TV.

Are you serious or are you serious. Yo Panasonic Corp, can you please give my the GH4k to use for the PV Nest video contest?

This camera is looking like I will break the bank for it. Waiting for the full spec...

If it is what i think, it will replace lots of cameras.

If we dont have AVCHD, dont wait for a pro res 422 10 bit option codec. H264 handles 10 and 12 bit inside their specs, so MP4 wrap or quicktime would be ok. The thing i like the most its the newly developed high speed sensor. That shit would cook you off if not proper dissipated, and there i see a problem.

The one thing i dont like is H264 for 4K. Its a mature codec, but for what i think it will be Panasonic last implementation of 4k with this. Would be a dream having next gen codec from Panasonic. Like the pro level ones AVC-ULTRA future proof. May be a possibility since this camera has more Pro aim from panasonic than others.

From what ive been reading, this camera should have one of the more advanced LSI in cameras up to date. The data that can manage is huge. and can handle all in camera.

Now the trick here would be the "special SD cards" which would have a special firmware so you can only use their shit, which i don't mind since they are the only one caring around with 4k for the masses under 4k. No raw shit implementation that takes time and consume power.

Its not for nothing that CODECS where implemented, and by the time being, where data space its not a problem, i see more necessity for them than ever. The time for production, to offline to online take too much.

Grate camera i will buy two of them if the have what i need.

@LongJohnSilver

This image is from Panasonic announcement of new UHS 3 card. Nothing to do with P2.

To record this you will need to buy the new P2 Micro card in SD shape made by Panasonic (see image on top)

As far as I remember, on top of post he shows fast SDHC card announced by Panasonic.

@Riker ROTFL