Panasonic will sell four full HD 3D plasma television models and a 3D Blu-ray player from June this year, with pricing starting at $3200 for a 50 inch TV and $599 for the Blu-ray player. The company will also commence a nationwide shopping centre roadshow to showcase its 3D technology to consumers “within the next couple of weeks,” according to Director Consumer Electronics Group, Paul Reid.
Samsung 3D televisions and Blu-ray players went on sale nationally this week, but rather than be the first with 3D, Panasonic says its “will be the best 3D solution in the marketplace”. The company will offer full HD NeoPlasma in 50, 54, 58 and 65 inch sizes, with pricing yet to be announced for the last three mdoels.
Each 3D Panasonic television will be bundled with a Blu-ray copy of Coraline and Ice Age 3 in 3D, as well as a single set of active shutter glasses valued at $199. Kitting out everyone in the family for 3D viewing, then, promises to be an expensive exercise, although according to Reid, anyone attending the company’s 3D roadshow can register and, should they go onto buy a 3D television, will be sent a second pair of glasses for free via redemption.
Panasonic’s 3D roadmap was accompanied by the announcement of a total of 51 new products, including 31 televisions. These include the company’s first LED LCD models, its first plamsa televisions to receive a five star energy rating, LCD models capable of recording to attached hard drives, plus Skype and wireless DLNA equipped televisions. Wireless DLNA, via an attached dongle, will also be offered on select Blu-ray players and recorders.
The company also announced the October release of its first full HD 3D broadcast camcorder. The AG-3DA1 has dual lenses and two 1920 x 1080, 2.07 megapixel 3-MOS imagers for recording 1080/24 (and 50i, 60i, 30p and 25p) video in AVCHD format. It records up to 180 minutes of HD on dual 32GB SD cards.
