Varicam

Key takeaways

Varicam belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Varicam to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Varicam from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Varicam, originally stylized as VariCam, is a brand name associated with specialized Panasonic video cameras that are mostly used to imitate the look and feel of motion picture cameras. They have been used to record scenes for many feature films. The recording framerate of Varicam cameras can be varied between at least 1 to 60 frames per second, offering flexibility in creating rapid or slow motion effects. Because film has traditionally been shot at 24 frames per second, while NTSC video uses 29.97 frames per second, Varicams can be used for both high end video and film production. Panasonic applied the VariCam brand for the first time to the AJ-HDC27. Although the initial capital costs of the cameras are high, their low operating cost has made them popular among independent filmmakers, and they are often available to rent from camera rental companies. The Varicam range has now matured into its latest generation, and is widely used in TV production, as well as film.

Range

Notes

Logo The VariCam logo was updated with the release of the 35 and HS in 2014. The new logo, colored silver, features a stylized capital letter "V", with the right half composed of blocks, intended to represent both frames of film and digital bits.In the original logo, the right half of the "V" was claw-shaped in homage to the intermittent mechanism used to advance film.

History

Panasonic announced the first generation VariCam, designated model number AJ-HDC27V (originally the AJ-HDC24A) on April 22, 2001. A similar camera had been introduced with a fixed 60 frames per second frame rate two months earlier. It recorded 720p video to DVCPRO tape at frame rates in integer increments between 4 and 60 frames per second. The BBC filmed the natural history series Planet Earth using HDC27FE Varicams. The second generation VariCam, the AJ-HDC27H, offered improved performance with the same basic features thanks to internal tweaks. The AJ-HDC27H was launched in 2005. Panasonic launched two new Varicams, the AJ-HPX2700 and the AJ-HPX3700, in 2008. These new models feature Panasonic's P2 solid state media technology, representing a major advance for the VariCam line. The AJ-HPX3700 is the flagship model providing full potential 1080p capability and dual link HD-SDI output, while the HPX2700 offers more flexible frame rates at a reduced 720p resolution. NASA captured footage of a Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster recovery mission in 2011 using a HPX3700 in 1080p at 24 frames per second (fps). In 2013, Panasonic announced the development of a 4K Varicam, with promised availability in 2014. On February 27, 2014, Panasonic announced the Varicam 35 (AU-V35C1), a camera that features a 4K CMOS Super 35-sized sensor capable of filming up to 120fps. It was announced alongside the Varicam HS (AU-V23HS1), a 3CMOS 2/3"-sensor camera capable of filming up to 240fps in Full HD. The Varicam 35 and HS are modular systems that can be separated into camera and recorder modules, with the 35 and HS sharing a common recorder, Panasonic model number AU-VREC1. The Varicam LT and PURE, introduced separately approximately six months apart in 2016, are both derived from the Varicam 35. The LT (AU-V35LT1G) is a more compact solution coupling the same sensor from the Varicam 35 with an integrated recorder (dropping the modular camera/recorder concept used in the 35 and HS), and the PURE, jointly developed with Codex Digital, uses the same camera section as the Varicam 35 (AU-V35C1G) but sends uncompressed RAW data to a computer with a newly developed recording module (AU-VCXRAW2).

Shot with Varicam Many films and television shows have been shot using Varicam, including:

See also CineAlta, the line of Sony cameras that have the same working and visual goals as Varicam—to give a "film" look to video productions.

References

External links Melnick, Seth (October 29, 2008). "Panasonic HPX2700 Varicam Review". SLM Production. Archived from the original on 13 November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2018. "Panasonic Broadcast and Professional Video Product Lineup" (PDF). Panasonic. September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.

Brochures "AJ-HDC27F" (PDF). Panasonic. Retrieved 22 September 2018. "AJ-HDC27H" (PDF). Panasonic. Retrieved 22 September 2018. "AJ-HPX3700 AJ-HPX2700" (PDF). Panasonic. Retrieved 22 September 2018. "Varicam HS" (PDF). Panasonic. Retrieved 22 September 2018. "Varicam 35" (PDF). Panasonic. Retrieved 22 September 2018. "Varicam LT" (PDF). Panasonic. Retrieved 22 September 2018. "Varicam PURE" (PDF). Panasonic. Retrieved 22 September 2018.

Illustrations

Former logo, used until 2014

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Varicam

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Varicam claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Varicam before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Varicam ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Varicam

In research: Varicam appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Varicam in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Varicam is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Digital movie cameras, High-definition television, Panasonic cameras, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Varicam outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study Varicam in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Varicam means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Varicam out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Varicam in simple terms?

Varicam, originally stylized as VariCam, is a brand name associated with specialized Panasonic video cameras that are mostly used to imitate the look and feel of motion picture cameras. They have been used to record scenes for many feature films.

Why does Varicam matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Varicam?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Varicam.