Sharp, Crisp Rendering of Every Subject New Leica Dicomar Lens
Featuring 13 elements in 10 groups, the newly developed Leica Dicomar lens is ideal for full-HD recording. The new lens system uses low-dispersion glass and aspherical lenses to reduce colour aberration and boost resolution. Use of a special multi-coating process dramatically reduces flare and ghosts. The result: sharp, crisp, beautifully rendered pictures with vivid colours, delicate nuances, and exceptional shading. This advanced lens also lets you capture 40.8mm wide-angle shots (35mm lens equivalent) - unusual for such a compact unit.

Up to 120x Zoom Power - 12x Optical Zoom and 10x Digital Zoom
Even at the 490mm zoom setting (35mm lens equivalent), this advanced 12x optical zoom lens is free of image degradation. And the AG-HMC41 is also equipped with a digital zoom that instantly magnifies the image by any of three fixed values. 2x, 5x or 10x. Use it together with the 12x optical zoom lens, and you get super magnification equivalent to a 120x zoom, without the drop in light intensity that happens when using a lens extender.
*The image quality decreases as the digital zoom magnification increases

Take Clear Shots While Walking or Zooming with the Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS)
Because the hand-shake correction is done by actually driving the lens, there's none of the image degradation that occurs with electronic stabilisation. You can capture beautiful, high-quality shots even in situations where hand-shake is typically a big problem - such as when zooming, shooting indoors in dim lighting, or shooting outdoors at night.
*Hand-shake from strong vibrations may remain. Also, visible differences may be slight under some conditions

Highly Nuanced Image Expression - 3.05-megapixel Progressive 3MOS Sensors
The progressive 3MOS image sensors record full-HD images with a total, 3.05-megapixel (approx.) resolution [effective motion-image resolution of 2.51 megapixels (approx.)]. This produces full-raster HD images with high resolution and superb image quality. Because each of the three separate image sensors receives one of the three primary colours of light (red, green and blue), they render more precise images and more faithful colours than the single light-receiving 1MOS sensor.

Suppresses Blocked Shadows and Blown Highlights with Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS)
A gamma curve and knee slope are estimated to match the contrast of each pixel, and applied in real time. When dark, bright, and intermediate shades are all contained in the same scene, this produces excellent gradation for each shade and minimises blocked shadows and blown highlights. The images that result are enhanced by a visually wider dynamic range.

Cine-like Gamma Curves 7-mode Gamma for Richer Gradation
Drawing on technologies developed for the VariCam HD camcorders for digital cinema, Panasonic has equipped the AG-HMC41 with advanced gamma functions that address seven different shooting scenarios and enhance your creative abilities. This includes the cine-like gamma, which produces the characteristic warm tone of film recordings.

High-end AVCHD Image Quality High Bit Rate of the Pro-use PH Mode
The AG-HMC41 features the image-enhancing PH mode that Panasonic developed exclusively for AVCCAM camcorders. It delivers a maximum AVCHD bit rate of 24 Mbps (average: 21 Mbps). Designed for professional image production, this mode lets you record 1080/25p and 720 progressive images in addition to 1080/50i from the AG-HMC41’s 1920 x 1080 full-raster HD images.

Ease, Efficiency, Reliability Large-capacity SDHC Memory Card
Unlike with videotape, there's no need for cueing with the SDHC memory card because recording automatically begins in a blank section of memory. Nor do you have to worry about accidentally recording over important footage. You can delete unwanted clips instantly to preserve memory capacity. Editing after shooting is smooth and easy, with no need for digitising. The tiny SDHC Memory Card is durable, with an operating range from -25ºC to +85ºC, so you can stop worrying about harsh temperatures or condensation and just concentrate on shooting. And of course, you never have to worry about problems with dropouts or clogged heads.

Using the high compression efficiency of the AVCHD format, up to 720 minutes* of HD data can be recorded onto a single SDHC Memory Card. Combined with a maximum data transfer speed of 22 MB/s,** this makes data transfers to computers easy and effortless. SDHC Memory Cards are inexpensive and can be easily purchased on location when needed.

* In HE (extended time) mode using a 32GB SDHC Memory Card. A Class 4 or higher SDHC or SD Memory Card is required for PH and HA recording. Use a Class 2 or higher SDHC or SD Memory Card for other modes. (Panasonic SDHC or SD Memory Cards are recommended.)
** Data transfer speed varies depending on the usage of SD devices. The speed given here is the maximum speed according to Panasonic specifications.

• Newly developed 1/4.1-inch 3.05 megapixel, progressive 3MOS sensors. Also records still images with 10.6 megapixel resolution (approx.)
• 12x Leica Dicomar zoom lens with Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS)
• Professional-quality PH mode and reliable SD memory card recording
• Wide-ranging functions include a detachable XLR adapter (option), waveform monitor, and camera remote
• Smooth, easy operation with a manual focus ring and touch panel
• Outstanding mobility with a small body that weights just 0.98 kg (camera-recorder only)

The Panasonic AG-HMC41 can be used in three different ways

• With handle detached, this super-compact camera fits easily into a bag or pack for highest mobility
• With the optional XLR adapter mounted on the handle, the AG-HMC41 has outstanding audio specs, plus the ability to add two external phantom microphones or line inputs with level controls
• With handle in place, the AG-HMC41 is easy to carry and easy to use, even when shooting at difficult angles