PANAVISION MAKES MAJOR PURCHASE OF SONY 24P CINEALTA HIGH DEFINITION CAMCORDERS Panavision Stakes Digital Cinematography Claim With 100 HDW-F900 24P Camcorders And Related Equipment Worth Close to $18 Million. LAS VEGAS, April 9, 2000 Sony Electronics today announced that Panavision, the premier designer and supplier of cameras, lenses and accessories to the motion picture and television production community, has made an initial purchase of 100 HDW-F900 camcorders for 24P digital production. Panavision's acquisition of nearly $18 million of Sony equipment will begin in early May, with the shipment of the HDW-F900 cameras. Panavision will then modify (Panavise) these devices and couple them with its new Primo Digital"! lenses, designed to maximize the inherent performance of the HDW-F900. Panavisionís Digital Cinematography system will be customized for a variety of users, including feature-length film, prime time television programming, television commercial and documentary productions. "We have been and will continue to work with Sony to develop 24P equipment as part of our goal to offer a complete digital cinematography system," said John Farrand, president and CEO of Panavision. "Panavision is dedicated to fulfilling the needs of our customers whose passion is storytelling through images. The choices available to them has now been expanded to include digital imaging,î Farrand added. "Panavisionís purchase of 24P high-definition equipment goes a long way towards the validation of this system within the motion picture community," said Edward Grebow, president of Sony Electronics" Broadcast and Professional Company. "Panavision adds unique value to our HD acquisition systems with its custom optics systems that are demanded by the world's leading film cinematographers. Their acceptance of our product signifies the beginning of a new era in filmmaking, and we're excited by the new potential they bring to this creative process," Grebow added. "Sony's new CineAlta line of 24P production equipment includes the HDW-F900 24P digital high definition camcorder and the associated HDW-F500 editing VTR. "Sony's newly developed CCDs, which feature higher sensitivity and a wider dynamic range coupled with a 12-bit A/D converter and advanced digital signal processing make a camcorder that is totally unique and ideal for digital cinematography in terms of exposure latitude, tonal and color reproduction,î said Larry Thorpe, vice president of acquisition systems for Sony Electronicsí Broadcast and Professional Company. "The introduction of full HD studio signal processing within the camcorder considerably extends creative flexibility, while also simplifying the overall set up and operation," Thorpe added.