Panasonic introduces SDXC cards touting increased reliability

J

jeff9329

Well-known member
There have beens lots of threads related to SDHC cards and loss of data, so I thought this would be interesting information. If Panasonic releases a SDXC firmware for the HMC-150, this will actually be good news. If there is no way to update the firmware for SDXC compatability, this virtually guarantees a refresh of the 150 to use the SDXC card.

Panasonic Introduces New 64 GB* and 48 GB* SDXC Memory Cards, Available Globally in February 2010

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 -- Panasonic today announced the availability of the company's first 64 GB** and 48 GB* SDXC Memory Cards. The new SDXC Memory Cards, the RP-SDW64GE1K (64 GB) and RP-SDW48GE1K (48 GB) are Panasonic's largest-sized GOLD cards with Class 10 speed specification. Featuring new advanced Super Intelligent Controller helps to improve the reliability of the card and extend its lifetime. The new 64 GB and 48 GB SDXC Memory Cards will be globally introduced in February 2010 with suggested retail prices of $599.95 and $449.95, respectively.

SDXC is the next generation SD Memory Card, a new standard for storing data more than 32 GB and up to 2 terabytes. The Panasonic 64 GB SDXC Memory Card features a massive 64 GB of capacity, making it ideal for recording AVCHD High Definition video, high-resolution, or even RAW still photos. When used with Panasonic's newly-released camcorders, such as the Panasonic HDC-TM55, the 64 GB SDXC Memory Card can record up to 8 hours and 30 minutes of video, while recording in the highest video quality in HA mode. Or when recording in 1920 x 1080i in HE mode, the SDXC Memory Card can hold approximately 27 hours and 30 minutes of video. The 48 GB SDXC Memory Card will have nearly the same capacity as a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc, and can hold 6 hours and 20 minutes of HD video content recorded in HA mode and 20 hours and 20 minutes when recorded in HE mode.

With the Class 10 speed specification and maximum data transfer speed of up to 22MB/s, the new Panasonic SDXC Memory Cards allows users to enjoy superb performance when using with an HD camcorder or a digital interchangeable lens camera, such as the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1, for high-speed burst shooting when taking still photos.

The 64 GB and 48 GB SDXC Memory Cards, along with other Panasonic GOLD line Memory Cards, provide longer lifetime, thanks to the adoption of Panasonic's newly-developed Super Intelligent Controller, which evolves the current Super Intelligent Controller used in the Silver line Memory Cards. With the new Super Intelligent Controller, flash memories are automatically refreshed with error corrections, thus preventing data damages and providing longer lifetime.

The new SDXC Memory Cards include a new technology designed to minimize accidental corruption caused by a power interruption, such as the Memory Card being removed while data is being transferred. Panasonic's SDXC Memory Card robustness is reliable even under severe temperature condition from -13°F to 185°F**.
 
Interesting....


I wonder if people know that they can already scan their flash memory cards via the error check tool on their PC's which will find and mark bad sectors preventing them from being written to...

Maybe that will help lower the lost data problems for those who use standard sizes and don't need the higher specs.
 
After doing a little more reading, it looks as Panasonic is fully embracing SDXC.

It also looks like the new Panasonic 3D camera will use SD cards as opposed to P2. It is reported as SDHC but it would certainly be SDXC compatable. It better be at $21,000USD.

The good news is that it has a dual SD slot on the back. This means the next HMC-150 will have dual SDHC/SDXC slots almost certainly. Below is the best picture I could find of the 3D camera with dual SD slots.
 

Attachments

  • 500x_panasonic_3d_camera-16.jpg
    500x_panasonic_3d_camera-16.jpg
    117.1 KB · Views: 0
Speaking of CES...

Is anyone else here in town (Vegas) shooting? I saw the Panasonic 3D cam unveiled yesterday.....it's basically an HMC body with that funky twin-lens setup...for now, at least.
 
jeff9329 said:
With the new Super Intelligent Controller, flash memories are automatically refreshed with error corrections, thus preventing data damages and providing longer lifetime.

The new SDXC Memory Cards include a new technology designed to minimize accidental corruption caused by a power interruption, such as the Memory Card being removed while data is being transferred. Panasonic's SDXC Memory Card robustness is reliable even under severe temperature condition from -13°F to 185°F**.
Click to expand...

So SDXC will be more reliable, presumably? This is good news, and IMO a lot more significant than the jump in maximum capacity.

So when can we expect Panny to roll out a SDXC HMC150a? I'm about to bite on getting an HMC150, but I wonder if I should hold off a bit.
 
Last edited:
You never know, but the 150 came out about 18 months ago so they must have a rev in the pipeline.

My guess would be:

- 3MOS 1080p sensors
- 2 SDXC slots
- Flash band correction built in
- Better LCD screen
- AVCI recording option (maybe but probably not, possibly a 170a might have this instead).

Retaining current form factor.

They could do this quite easily and going to 3MOS would probably be cheaper for them, and improve battery life, whilst improving the main thing people complain about, resolution.
 
\
18 months more like 13 months , So that would make the next release candidate available around june this year maybe even an anouncement ....ofcourse it's all speculation.

And they should fix the focus ring to, even a mild breeze makes it a bit sturdy.
Or why not just come with a new camera ......hmc with interchangeble slr lenses... you want to make it panny !
 
Everts said:
\
18 months more like 13 months , So that would make the next release candidate available around june this year maybe even an anouncement ....ofcourse it's all speculation.

And they should fix the focus ring to, even a mild breeze makes it a bit sturdy.
Or why not just come with a new camera ......hmc with interchangeble slr lenses... you want to make it panny !
Click to expand...

I bought mine in October 08 so it's at least 15 months.

If you want interchangeable SLR lenses you need an SLR sensor, no thanks!
 
at that price point it competes with P2.
curious to see if they will solve the 4-bit connection limitation then that the P2 cards address.
otherwise, they should easily be able to up our recording bitrate to a less-compressed flavor of avchd.
 
averan said:
at that price point it competes with P2.
curious to see if they will solve the 4-bit connection limitation then that the P2 cards address.
otherwise, they should easily be able to up our recording bitrate to a less-compressed flavor of avchd.
Click to expand...

The initial price point is crazy, but that is bound to drop by a very large amount, very quickly. I just hope that Panasonics "Super Intelligent" controller technology is based on the SDXC standard and not something proprietary to the Panasonic SDXC cards. Reliability is barely mentioned in magazine press releases (Panasonic does mention it of course), but is far more important than the size and speed IMO.

Im not sure what current 4- bit limitation you are talking about. The SDXC does 4-bit parallel transfers just like SDHC (as well as 1-bit & SPI).

SDHC & SDXC are currently Class 10 which is 10 MByte/s or 80 Mbit/s minimum. They can usually handle excursions to double that. The maximum spec for SDXC is 300 MBytes/s or 2,400 Mbits/s and 2 TB.

P2 cards are FAT32 memory devices with 80 MByte/s or 640 MBit/s performance. Their current maximum size is 64 GB with a roadmap to a 128 GB maximum. Im certainly not saying SDXC is better than P2 at this point, just that it was designed around capacity standards lower than SDXC. If SDXC isnt much more video reliable than SDHC, its junk. If it turns out to be super reliable, good for everyone.
 
Last edited:
jeff9329 said:
I just hope that Panasonics "Super Intelligent" controller technology is based on the SDXC standard and not something proprietary to the Panasonic SDXC cards.
Click to expand...

This may be some thing that happens within the card and is invisable to the user, in which case as long as the card meets the spec it doesn't matter if this is a proprietary add-on.

If SDXC isnt much more video reliable than SDHC, its junk. If it turns out to be super reliable, good for everyone.
Click to expand...

SDHC cards are already pretty reliable, not saying it wouldn't be nice if they were even more reliable, but they are far from junk unless you go for a dodgy brand.
 
Hmm, what's the story on using SDXC technology in P2 cards? Would it make a difference? Is it planned? Is it already implemented?
 
SDHC cards already have intelligent controllers in them. This is likely to be marketing speak.

Spreading the location of stored blocks within the card itself to reduce wear is now being used in many places, including SSD drives. No reason not to bring that to SDHC and SDXC cards.

I'm a little concerned about going past 16GB which gives me the 1+ hour I need for wedding ceremonies so I doubt I'll be spending $600 on a larger card just yet! Eggs & Basket come to mind.
 
studio1972 said:
You never know, but the 150 came out about 18 months ago so they must have a rev in the pipeline.

My guess would be:

- 3MOS 1080p sensors
- 2 SDXC slots
- Flash band correction built in
- Better LCD screen
- AVCI recording option (maybe but probably not, possibly a 170a might have this instead).

Retaining current form factor.

They could do this quite easily and going to 3MOS would probably be cheaper for them, and improve battery life, whilst improving the main thing people complain about, resolution.
Click to expand...
its also possible a 3mos cam could be separate from a ccd cam... a 170a/150a could still be ccd while a cam with new numbering will be in 3mos
 
dcloud said:
its also possible a 3mos cam could be separate from a ccd cam... a 170a/150a could still be ccd while a cam with new numbering will be in 3mos
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that might be the case. Most people are plenty happy with the 150/170 with CCD's, so changing it to a CMOS chip in the next revision seems a bit much.

I doubt AVC-I will ever be put in a $3,500 camera, even if it's got SDXC and full raster CMOS chips. Seems like it's a bit of overkill. The next version (not revision) of the 170, however, seems a bit more logical.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top