The new Plasmas also boast THX certification, and a dynamic contrast ratio of over 2,000,000:1 (really?).

The models look to have slipped under the radar and hit the U.S. last month. The TC-P58V10 is $2700; the TC-P65V10 is $4000. [Panasonic USA | Panasonic @ IFA]

The unnamed Panasonic "3D Full HD" camcorder features two lenses that record two separate video tracks onto Panasonic's proprietary P2 flash memory system (it's not explained how the internal imaging chips work, but we assume that there are at least two of those as well). The result is an easy-to-use 3D camcorder that will compliment Panasonic's recent push into 3D plasmas.

There's no word on price or availability, and the word "concept" is tossed around casually in the press release. (UPDATE: Panasonic clarified that it's definitely just a concept as the company "starts development of a 3D Full HD Production System," with no word on price or availability) But still, I didn't expect to see this when I woke up this morning.

PANASONIC TO START DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PROFESSIONAL 3D PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Industry's First System to Support Efficient Production of 3D Full HD Content

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 19, 2009) — Panasonic Corporation, a world leader in High Definition technology, today announced it will start developing a professional 3D Full HD production system. The system, which is expected to be the first of its kind in the industry, consists of a twin-lens P2 professional camera recorder and a 3D-compatible High Definition Plasma display. Panasonic will exhibit concept models of the 3D system at its booth (Central Hall #3712) at NAB 2009 to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 20, 2009.

Panasonic is exhibiting a conceptual model of a 3D Full HD Camera Recorder at the 2009 NAB Show where it announced it would start development of a 3D Full HD Production System.

With Hollywood studios moving towards creation of more 3D entertainment content, Panasonic successfully debuted the world's first 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System based on Plasma display and Blu-ray Disc technologies at the CEATEC trade show in Japan in September 2008. More recently, the company also established the Advanced Authoring Center within Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in February 2009 to support Hollywood studios in developing 3D Full HD Blu-ray Disc titles.

Production of 3D movies requires a great deal of time and effort. With the new 3D production system, which can enable an easier and more efficient 3D production process and environment, Panasonic will contribute to accelerating the realization of easier high-quality 3D content production.

At present, 3D content producers have to hand-build their own 3D production systems by physically connecting multiple 2D production devices. Panasonic is now starting to work on developing a twin-lens, 3D camera system. Also, Panasonic's Plasma displays have been used in many post-production facilities in Hollywood, thanks to their high-quality imaging performance, which has been endorsed by leading Hollywood professionals. Technologies and expertise obtained from their use in post-production has enabled Panasonic to further develop high-quality 3D viewing performance in its Plasma technologies. As a result of this process, Panasonic's 3D Plasma display system will help 3D content producers to quickly and easily evaluate the image quality of 3D content.

Each component of Panasonic's innovative 3D Full HD production system has unique features. The twin-lens P2 camera recorder enables the capturing of natural and high-quality live 3D images. Thanks to the non-mechanical solid-state construction of the P2 system, the camera recorder will be compact enough to allow more flexible 3D shooting, thereby maximizing the creativity of the filmmakers by eliminating the stress factor from the use of the equipment.

3D Full HD recording using Panasonic's proprietary P2 system also enables recording of two channels of Full HD images on the P2 card. P2's non-mechanical construction and compactness will also be incorporated into the company's 3D image recording and editing equipment to make production in the field highly flexible and efficient.

Panasonic's 3D Drive System enables the display of Full HD moving pictures for the left and the right eyes, so large screen 3D viewing will become possible. The excellent moving picture performance and accurate color reproduction characteristics achieved by Plasma's self-illuminating technology enables the realization of high-quality 3D image evaluation capabilities required in the professional content production field

"Panasonic is continuing its efforts to enable consumers to enjoy 3D movies in the comfort of their own living rooms with its 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System, which incorporates a Plasma HDTV and a Blu-ray Disc player," said Dr. Paul Liao, Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America. "The professional 3D Full HD image production system we are going to develop will improve the 3D production environment and accelerate creation of 3D titles."

You see, while I thought that I'd arrived at the right spot for the 3DHD demo, I'd really been waiting in a sort of backstage area, where engineers, CEOs and Titanic producer Jon Landau were gearing up to pitch me and 30 other members of the press about their low power 3D plasmas.

I thought it was strange enough to see Panasonic corporate types posing with Landau's Oscar that he'd brought out for the occasion, handing off their cellphones to grab proud shots with the statue. Then a man in a gray suit and glasses walked up to one of the engineers standing to the side. He had an aura of overconfidence.

"Do you handle demonstrations of the 3DHD display technology," he asked the Panasonic engineer.
"Yes," the engineer responded after a moment.
"And you have prototypes in the US?"
"Yes, why?" asked the engineer, growing a bit uncomfortable at the man's forward nature.

The suited man paused for an intentional beat.

"I'm with the CIA, and we'd like to include your product in a presentation at the White House for the President." This was said nonchalantly, in that way people present grand pieces of information in a euphemistic tone meant to draw the listener in.

But it backfired when applied to the Japanese engineer whose English wasn't so fluent. So the engineer's following "what?" wasn't one of "holy cow, how is this possible?" but more just an earnest "what are you talking about?"

"The President of the United States," the CIA guy repeated, this time using full ceremonial emphasis.

"Uhhh..." the engineer responded nervously, completely confused now as to what was going on.

"I'm with the CIA. We're giving a presentation in two months to the President on eco technologies that will reduce our nation's dependence on oil. You know, oil?"

"...OK."

We'd like to include your display if you have one available in the States."

"...OK."

"Can I take a look?" Mr. CIA asked, motioning to the demo room.

"...OK."

And with that, another international technological concordance was made. [Image]

Before you read any further, I'll answer that nagging question. Yes, you need to wear special glasses.

The demo system starts with a retrofitted 103-inch Panasonic plasma. Coupled with active shutter glasses, a Blu-ray player feeds a 120fps 1080P signal to the television. 60fps are for the right eye while the other 60fps are for the left. IR syncs the glasses to the Blu-ray player to the TV, and presto, 3D magic is made.

So how's it look?

Good. It is sharp, I'll give Panasonic that. 60fps per eye means that the 3D image isn't created through some cheap interlacing effect that would kill the resolution. Watching highlights of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies (captured on dual lens 3D cameras), I was really impressed by the endless lines of drummers popping off the screen without the hokey feel of most 3D. A basketball game was equally impressive. It was like watching a perfectly photo-realistic NBA video game, minus the canned animations.

But I never really felt connected to the image. I blame the shutter glasses. There's something imperceptibly distancing about that technology to me—which was only exacerbated by a greasy smear on one of the lenses. It was work to watch these short clips.

Panasonic hopes to commercialize the technology by 2010, something I believe with their huge push with Hollywood types like James Cameron endorsing the technology. And while I can see the appeal of 3D imaging for everyday video content, I really don't think that it will be popularized with shutter glasses, regardless of Blu-ray and fancy plasmas.

The 7.1-channel setup pushes an impressive 1250 watts through a centerpiece that integrates a Blu-ray player/audio receiver/iPod dock. The bundle includes seven speakers and a subwoofer (and the two rear speakers are conveniently wireless).

As for the Blu-ray player itself, you're looking at a pretty typical BD-Live-compliant unit with some extra connectivity options to Panasonic Viera-branded TVs. The priceless setup goes on sale in March.