NEWS & TECHNOLOGY Panasonic launches Varicam series of film production cameras Prime Focus records 78% growth in revenues Prime Focus Limited (PFL) reported 78.3 per cent growth in Income from Operations (TIO) in the quarter ended 30 September, 2015 (Q1-2015, current quarter) to Rs 350.17 crore from Rs 196.38 crore (quarter ended 30 September, 2013, or Q2-2014) and 76.6 per cent more than the Rs 199.5 crore in Q5-2014 (q-o-q). The company’s loss widened to Rs 22.02 crore in Q1-2015 from the Rs 8.78 crore in Q5-2015. The company had reported a profit of Rs 21.34 crore (10.9 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014. PFL, in its earnings release, says that loss for the quarter has risen to Rs 22.02 crore because margins have been impacted primarily due to seasonal effects and due to significant duplication of costs in the creative services business in the first quarter post-merger. The company has initiated a global Integration process at its London, Vancouver and Indian facilities across both these entities. Consequently, the effects of the first phase of one time integration costs are also reflected in the financials claims PFL. 16 Amidst encouraging signs of a positive growth in the media and broadcasting industry in India, Panasonic India, today strengthened its broadcast camera line up with the launch of two new variants under its VARICAM series of film production cameras – the Varicam HS and Varicam 35. The company has developed a next generation of P2 solid-state recording for these Varicam series products. Specifically designed to capture 4K or high speed HD images, the expressP2 card offers fast transfer speeds (up to 2.4Gbps). The expressP2 card (AU-XP0256A) provides 72 minutes recording time in 4K/25p mode with high data reliability by containing a flash memory error correction system, Panasonic team equivalent to a RAID system, to recover from a failure. The newly launched models will be available in the market from Oct, 2014. Inherited from original Varicam series, the Varicam 35 features a V-Log gamma covering wide latitude - an impressive 14+ stops. The camera memory. With high speed 1080p image capture at up to 240fps, the Varicam HS camera is aimed at the production of extraordinary high-definition imagery, for the most demanding documentaries, sports or SFX slow-motion applications. launched the Varicam Film Camera Speaking on the occasion, Rizhkant Zha, Director, System Sales Division, Panasonic India said, “Panasonic India continues to develop offerings for its customers and the roadmap is to develop synergy within various such offerings from the company, so as to establish a control in the complete category rather than just a particular segment. The introduction of these models defines Panasonic’s strategy to deliver superb image handling ability in multiple formats making it an unparalleled tool for high-end filmmaking, and commercials and episodic production as well as live 4K events.” Omkar Talwar, Senior Manager (Marketing) – Broadcast, Panasonic India, Top DOPs getting a feel of the Varicam Camera said, “Panasonic India is proud to announce the launch of these two also has the ability to simultaneously record in VARICAM models as they offer vast improvement two different formats and codecs together with in picture quality over the best known previously its in-camera colour grading function. The Varicam existing Panasonic broadcast cameras. They pro35 incorporates a newly-developed super35mm vide effective solutions mainly targeting variety of MOS image sensor and images can be handled in movies, commercials, and TV programs, renowned variable frame rates up to 120 frames per second for its color reproduction, look, and for bringing (fps). It can deliver a variety of recording formats, progressive workflows to the production industry.” including 4K and UHD in AVC-ULTRA 4K, and 2K Given such a dynamic environment, the industry and 1080p HD in AVC-Intra 100. is reinventing their business models to support Varicam HS provides smooth slow motion efprofitable growth over the next decade. fects, by recording in 240fps HD, without a cache NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2014 AUDIO VIDEO & BROADCASTING STUDIO SYSTEMS