PANASONIC INTRODUCES THREE NEW DIGA DVD CAMCORDERS

New Models Highlighted by Compact Size, Ease of Use

LAS VEGAS, NV (January 5, 2005) - Panasonic's three new DIGA DVD camcorders capture crisp, high-resolution digital video and still images in one convienent, compact package.

All three DVD models - the VDR-M54, VDR-M75 and VDR-M95 - record high-quality digital video onto removable 8cm DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs and offer the ability of non-linear editing of home videos right in the camcorder. The new models also feature an SD Memory Card slot for use with the camcorder's digital still camera feature.

"These new DIGA DVD camcorders are the logical choice in DVD recording," said Rudolf Vitti, national marketing manager of the Panasonic Optical Group. "They offer easy recording onto DVD media, in-camera editing and no-nonsense playback via a standard home DVD player."

The new models combine all the technological benefits of the rewritable DVD-RAM format and the universal compatibility of write-once DVD-R media. DVD-RAM offers the highest quality in digital imaging, huge storage capability -- capturing up to 120 minutes of digital video and 1,998 still images to DVD media -- and rewritability up to 100,000 times with virtually no degradation of picture quality. The DVD-R format offers users the ability to record onto affordable DVD-R discs for sharing with friends and family, and archiving memories for everyone to enjoy.

Recorded video and still images captured by the camcorders can be played on DVD-RAM and the majority of DVD-R compatible DVD players. Remove the disc from the camcorder and place it into the DVD player or PC computer equipped with DVD playback.

The VDR-M54 DVD camcorder has an 18x optical zoom for long-range shooting, while the VDR-M75 and VDR-M95 both feature 10x optical zoom capability. With a built-in digital still camera feature, the new 1.3 mega pixel VDR-M75 and 2.1 mega pixel VDR-M95 camcorders can also capture high-resolution digital still images using the versatile SD Memory Card.

Other DIGA DVD product highlights include:
  • A slim and compact design
  • 2 1/2 inch color LCD monitor for viewing still or video images
  • Digital Electronic Image Stabilization to help compensate for unintended hand and/or camcorder movement.

    MODELFEATURESAVAILABILITYMSRP
    VDR-M54

    DVD-RAM/R DIGA Palmcorder with color LCD and Viewfinder

    		18x optical zoom; digital image stabilization; DVD-R/RAM recording; 2.5 inch color LCD monitor; built-in SD Slot; ; Bare Disc RecordingApril 2005$699.95
    VDR-M75

    DVD-RAM/R DIGA Palmcorder with color LCD and Viewfinder

    		10x optical zoom; built-in 1.3 megapixel still resolution digital still camera function; hot shoe; SD slot; digital image stabilization; 2.5 inch color LCD monitor; USB 2.0 (High Speed)April 2005$799.95
    VDR-M95

    DVD-RAM/R DIGA Palmcorder with color LCD and Viewfinder

    		10x optical zoom; built-in 2.1 megapixel still resolution digital still camera function; flash; hot shoe; SD slot; digital image stabilization; 2.5inch color LCD monitor; USB 2.0 (High Speed)April 2005$1099.95