Powerful New LH Series HD/3D/2D Monitors from Panasonic at NAB 2012

Panasonic announced two new HD monitors at NAB 2012: the 21.5” BT-LH2170 and the 18.5” BT-LH1850. Both models provide critically precise monitoring, flexible 2D and 3D capabilities, a full complement of professional inputs and outputs and rugged construction for the field and the production facility. While these models both deliver uncompromising performance, there are more details that differentiate them besides their varying screen sizes.

The BT-LH2170 boasts a native 1920 x 1080 HD resolution, and features a powerful 3D assist functionality, which enables production crews to review 3D footage in the field when 3D camera rig systems are in use. The 3D look-up table (LUT) on the BT-LH2170 provides accurate color hues and smooth gradation, and makes it possible to display 2D and 3D footage side-by-side to check composition, color, luminance, focus, zoom position, etc. The die-cast aluminum chassis and its ability to power from 12V DC sources makes it an excellent candidate for field production.

With exceptional brightness and a high 1000:1 contrast rate, the BT-LH2170 maintains consistency in color along its 178 degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. In addition to its 3D functionality, it also has focus-assist features (with focus-in-red and side-by-side modes), vertical markers, subtraction overlays (gray and color), in-monitor displays (such as Y-Map for luminance levels), Zebra modes and closed captioning. RJ-45 ports make it possible connect up to 32 of these monitors together, and control each of them remotely.

The more compact BT-LH1850 LCD production monitor features a 1366 x 768 resolution, HD and SD closed caption capabilities, a series of useful scopes and meters, and it’s up to 50% more energy efficient than previous generations of the LH series. Plus it has the same 3D-LUT, 32 monitor loop-through/remote control capability, and AC/DC powering options as the BT-LH2170.

Capable of interfacing with HD, SD and SDI cameras, the input section of the BT-LH1850 has you covered for a variety of situations. The display interface is equally as versatile. It’s capable of showing eight windows simultaneously, and features waveform monitoring, vectorscope (which can display lines of the SDI input signal in Y/R/G/B), aspect ratio markers (16:9, 4:3 and many more), safe area and center markers and a cross-hatch grid to check camera tilt. You can freeze a still frame and display it as a sub screen, and view input video at Pixel-to-Pixel size.  

Like the BT-LH2170, the comprehensive 3D-LUT on the BT-LH1850 features 6-pole color correction for each signal level, and 10-bit image processing for every RGB color. This helps to resolve color drift in low light, and ultimately provides more precise imaging and performance. The BT-LH1850 can also display audio level meters and VITC, LTC or UB time code values, and offers selectable color temperatures of 9300K / 6500K / 5600K, or 3000K to 9300K.

Both monitors were announced at NAB 2012. The BT-LH1850 is available for pre-order now at B&H, and the BT-LH2170 is expected to be available in late 2012.