Panasonic is one of the companies behind the SDHC standard, a high-capacity version of the SD cards found in numerous cameras and video cameras. The small, light cards are great, but until recently, they haven't been fast enough to handle full-frame high def video.

Panasonic's new SDHC cards, available in 6GB or 12GB can record full 1080P movies without skipping a beat.

Pricing was not set in the press release (below):

PRESS RELEASE:

Panasonic introduces new SDHC Memory Card line suitable for HD video recording

New-sized SDHC Memory Cards offer optimum performance with 6GB and 12GB storage capacities(1)

Cologne, Germany (September 23, 2008) - Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is best known, will display at Photokina its line of SD High Capacity (SDHC) (2) Memory Cards - in 6GB and 12GB storage capacities, which are ideal for video recording with High Definition (HD) camcorders, and are capable of recording 90 minutes and 180 minutes of 1920x1080 Full HD content, respectively. The new cards, RP-SDM06G (6GB) and RP-SDM12G (12GB) record with Class 4 specification.

The SD Card-based HD camcorders market is growing, and Panasonic, which has the number one share in SD Memory Card camcorders worldwide, now provides the most suitable options for recording HD video. Since Panasonic manufactures both hardware and media, it can offer highly reliable products that offer superb performance with AVCHD recording.

When used with Panasonic's newly-introduced HDC-SD100 High Definition camcorder, the new SDHC Memory Cards can record 90min (6GB) or 180min (12GB) of 1920 x 1080 Full HD video, while in HX mode (9Mbps). Users can also select other HD recording modes from HE (6Mbps) to HA (17Mbps), the recording time varies according to the modes chosen. With HE mode, users can enjoy up to 135min (6GB) or 270min(12GB) of 1440x 1080 High Definition video recording. The cards can also be used for standard definition video recording.

Panasonic's 6GB Class 4 SDHC card Beyond its high-performance capabilities when paired with HD camcorders, the new Panasonic SDHC Memory Cards are designed to be resistant to bending and twisting, protecting important data stored on the card. Since the cards employ industrial-grade flash memory, they are extremely reliable even under severe temperature conditions. The cards can function in temperatures ranging from -25C to +85C, thus assuring consistent performance even when used in extreme cold or hot environments (3). In addition, the cards preserve data, even when power is turned off during access.

The RP-SDM06G (6GB) and RP-SDM12G (12GB) SDHC Memory Cards incorporate user-friendly features, such as memo-labels, which allow users to write directly on the front of the card, making it easy to organize and file according to content. The approximate recording time on each mode is also shown on the package so that users can easily choose the most suitable card or modes for their video shooting.
 
12GB Class 4 SDHC from Panasonic:
(1)1GB=1,073,741,824 bytes. Usable capacity will be less
(2) SDHC (SD High Capacity) Memory Cards can only be used in SDHC host devices, which support the SDHC Memory Card format.
(3) Panasonic recommends that you never leave any electronic product sitting in direct sunlight or under other severe heat conditions.

About Panasonic:
Best known for its Panasonic brand name, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 9.07 trillion yen (approx. US$90.52 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2008. The Company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:MC) stock exchanges. For more information on the Company and the Panasonic brand, visit the Company's website at http://www.panasonic.net.