I have had mine for about 2 years. Rock solid, reliable, convenient. The portability is a huge benefit. The built in livestream feature is a bonus. I always use an external mic, as they are better than the built in.
Just bought a 1500 for use in my workshop for making UA-cam videos covering Electronics repairs. Often overheads of circuit boards of which using the Focus Assist has been invaluable. I have 4 LED light panels on a gantry above the workbench, 2 on the left, 2 on the right which I can slide around as required. I was a little concerned at first the small sensor was going to be an issue, but spending a day to set it all up properly has completely eased my worries. I can't wait to release my first 4k video repair. Great video btw Robert.
That sounds cool. Post your link where when you publish it. I'm glad you found the video helpful and that the camera has worked out better than you expected. Cheers.
A great in depth review which is invaluable to an intending purchaser, many thanks it has helped me a lot in my decision to buy the HC X2000....Keep up the good work....
Thanks for this video - I have two Panasonic cameras - HPX 170 (2009) and HC-X2 (2023)...I am looking answer for 2 questions: Question 1. There is a option in HPX170 and it calls MARK CLIP - this function we could set to USER button on body of camera and quickly mark in meta info (OK) in video clip. It was very useful. Do you know where is it in these new cameras? Qustion 2 : Is there any quicker way to change the recording system from 4K to 1080p except the pushing and scrolling throw the camera menu? Is there any way to shourtcut this? THANK YOU
Hi Rob I been thinking of getting hcx 2000. But I was wondering how it would be for doing weddings and bar mitzvahs. I am using a panasonic ag80..it old ya I know but it's a work horse . I need to downside to make my life easier. Wasn't sure if this camera would be a good fit was just wondering your thoughts
I don’t know much about cameras at all never studied how to use them but this video helped me decide to purchase this camera I want to start a UA-cam Channel this is a start
Hi Rob you were talking about additional light using the 2000 do you mean light on board camera or light or lights that are on stand to light up the venue
Lighting is a tricky subject. It means different things to different people. If your experience with lighting is that of a hybrid photographer and videographer that understands the concepts of key, rim, fill, and bounce lighting, and you have a good understanding of spill and scene lighting, and understand the exposure triangle well enough to get a good exposure in low light without lighting, then any of the lighting you choose will do well with the HCX 2000. This includes the on handle light. If lighting and low light videography are new to you, then the disadvantage in the HCX 2000 is the small 1/2.5-in sensor. New videographers using smaller sensor camcorders often don't understand the exposure triangle well enough to make the decisions necessary to properly expose a low light scene. Sometimes, shadows and darkness are exactly what you want in a low light scene. The choice is how to expose for the highlights. The difference in contrast between the low light shadows and the highlight bright spots will create a moody environment. If you add some color to it from a sunset, or neon lights of a busy street, or the flickering lamp light of an old country road, then you're really setting yourself up for something special. However, if you have to have a subject in those lighting situations, then you will need additional light. The small light on the handle works well for documentary style interviews. I do not use it often at dark wedding receptions. When I have the option, I don't generally use the HCX 2000 indoors in dark environments. It's because they look like capabilities aren't great. When I have to use it, I augment it with stand lights when possible. When I can't do that, I will use a different on camera light, like a bar light. If I have to use the on handle light, then I make sure that I put a correct to orange gel in the light itself, and turn it on. It works well enough for me, but it would also be my last option for indoor low light videography. If you were using it indoors in low light, don't zoom. Be as wide as you can, and open your aperture all the way up to F1.8. When I'm outside, sometimes I choose this camcorder specifically because it's small and easy to use, even in low light environments. When I'm outdoors, I don't worry about the low light performance as much because I use it more as a event specific tool. If I'm going to work with a band on an outdoor concert stage, I know the band will have good enough lights on stage that I'll be able to zoom and be wide and get a good image. If I'm working indoors with a band on stage, again, I don't worry about the lighting because the stage lighting will be bright enough for any of the conditions I need to work in. When I'm outdoors photographing at night I specifically look for areas with spill light. That means I'm looking for interesting areas that have a lot of cars passing by with their headlights casting light everywhere, or lots of lights on the roadside, or lights from businesses or buildings. I would not use The HCX 2000 on a pitch black night in the middle of a cornfield to film a horror flick. I don't believe there would be enough ambient light for it to work. I would, however, use it on a full moon night with the reflections of the moon off the water at a beach. I hope this helps.
Is it spotty on the live streaming/wifi? or just as good as anything like a laptop? I'm tired of carrying an A7siii with huge lens and hdmi cables always breaking
Does the hc-x1500 have the same sensor as the xf1? On their website is says one is a BsI MOS sensor (wfx1) and just MOS on the 1500. What’s your opinion ?
I currently have a AG DVX200. Would the HC-X2000 be a good camera to pair with DVX200? I try to shoot in a cinematic style even though it’s a camcorder and not a DSLR. But lately I’ve been shooting podcast and I would like a better multi cam setup than just using and iPhone Pro.
I film at drag strips, including at night, and looking for an upgrade. The venue lighting is static and not horrible, but my main concern is when the jet cars come out. Any thoughts on if the 1500 would handle that kind of dynamic range and exposure shifts (20ft flames popping off and on at night) from a hobbyist perspective? Or maybe the X1? I have some videos on my channel to give you an idea if you need examples, though shot on my phone.
Hi. I checked the channel out to see some examples. Overall, no. I think you would be better suited with a different camera or camcorder. With what you're doing, you're going to need a larger sensor, even if it's not a 10-bit sensor. This will be especially true when you start recording in 60 frames per second, because you'll need to double your shutter speed to get proper motion blur, and maybe triple it if you would like to get really sharp night images. By that point the HCX 1500 series of cameras will show quite a bit of noise which will need correction in post. The camera can however handle the dynamic range differences with the jet cars, and The camcorder produces a sharp image even with noise at high gain settings and fast shutter speeds. This is a great position if you do a lot of post-production work, but it still is additional work. So, if I had a choice between the HCX-1, or the HCX 1500, I would choose the HCX1. If I had to use the HCX 1500, it would do the job fine with post-production. However, my choice would be to not deal with the post-production. That being said, I often record bands on stage with the HCX 1500 and I do the post-work, and the images look great. It really just depends on skill level and knowledge. I think a better option for you might be a mirrorless camera with an electronic zoom lens. This could be a bridge camera or a rig style camera with a follow focus or Nautilus type zoom control. If you pack something out like that using an XT3 or microphone thirds camera, or even an a73 (full frame) then you will get all the low light you can imagine because the sensors are much bigger than the one on the x 1500. It really depends on your budget as well, there are a lot of choices. I completely understand the desire to use a camcorder, and this is a job that a camcorder fits perfectly. That long lens, electronic zoom, excellent autofocus, XLR inputs for on camera mics, all those things make the camcorder a great choice for what you're doing. I think you should look for a 1 in camcorder even if the technology is older. It's a personal decision. Make a choice, and let me know. I'd like to hear what you end up doing. Cheers..
@@RobertHamm wow, that was a much quicker and detailed reply than I expected, so thanks for that first off! In terms of post production work, I'm not opposed to that. I use Topaz Video AI for some things, which can do video noise reduction pretty well (and DaVinci Resolve free for the bulk of my edits). I don't doubt that a full frame mirrorless camera would work better in image quality, but I have done minor video work on my current DSLR and the ergonomics of that simply don't work for me. I'm willing to sacrifice some image quality for better usability. The one thing that I've seen against the X1 is it apparently has a slower zoom than the 1500. I've only recently started seriously looking, but that is something I'll need to research more to see if it'll be a detriment in my uses. If not, I'll bump it up the list. But it sounds like with those caveats in mind and being willing to post process, the 1500 may still remain a consideration. Again, thanks!
Thank you for you excellent and detailed review. I have just purchased a HCX1500 and a handle having watched your and other reviews. I also have a DJI pocket 3 which is good for indoor low light situations but has no zoom or built in ND filter but works well indoors when light is a bit scarce. I decided against the XE2 and the Canon XF605 as both are just to large and heavy for me to carry around on our holidays and day trips. The HCX1500 has a great zoom and stabilser and I have to say as I do not generally use a tripod, I have not found the buttons difficult. I find the instant Iris and instant focus really useful and the built in SD filters. The battery life is great. The EVF is ok for me as I have in the past used cheaper cameras which have very small EVFs. I guess that Panasonic (like Sony) could have used a larger sensor but that would have reduced the zoom capabilities. I record 4K HEVC and edit with Premier Pro and export to 1080p which is fine for UA-cam and my TV and Projector, which gives me scope to crop the image as required without any loss of quality. Thanks again for your help in making my choice.
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad my video was helpful. I agree, the small seneor allows Panasonic to give it some updated zoom and stabalization compared to other cameras from the time of its production. I find it to be an excelent little camcorder. I love the size, zoom, and image quality. I also use HEVC 4k and edit down in 1080. I recently found out that I love the 100mbos 1080 All-i. It's beautiful. The 200mbp is nice in 1080 422 10bit up to 120fps is great especially for editing. It's just a reall good 1080. It took me a couple of years to try it out. I'm glad I did. I wish I had earlier. You get some extra zoom, too. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Rob: I just picked up the HCX2000 for a project I'm working on. Enjoyed your explanation and review. Looking forward to getting the camera and spending some time with it. Interestingly, I was as the air show last September that you used throughout this piece. I may have seen my wife and me in one of the shots. I'm from Virginia Beach, so may drop in on you one day to catch up on details. Thanks, again.
It's a great camera. You'll enjoy it. I got so much footage at the air show that I don't know what to do with it. I was thinking about making a highlight compilation. The camera did a great job. Yeah, small world. I've seen a couple of my viewers before. Hampton Roads is such a large area. It's easy to run into people from time to time. The Guitar Hunter, Jeremy Shepard, lives in Newport News or Hampton. He's got a really big channel. I've never seen him, though. Email me is you ever want to meet. Cheers.
Dude, just find girls who like to make something, and ask them for magic artificial crystals that they like to glue for beauty, and just stick them on the right buttons. And then the necessary buttons will always be easily accessible. I did "focus", "menu", "iris", and now I always press these buttons in the dark without errors.
I love this in depth videos, I wish someone over at Canon would do something similar. Just one comment on filming, you might like to think about a decent tripod. Just saying
i'm curious about using the wifi at an airport where you don't need a password but has a login page that the airport has set. How would the camera bypass that.
Unknown. It may just bypass the specific login page and connect. It all has to do with the security type of the network. The network may allow client devices with certain identifiers, such as cameras, to connect without accessing the specific screen you are talking about. Also, the app may come in handy be allowing come kind of access. I don't know, I haven't tried it, but let me know what you find out. Cheers.
I have no idea about your "studio" use case. Do i consider it a good camera: yes. Do i consider it a good low light camera: yes, mostly, and if you know what you're doing. Does that make it a good studio camera: maybe.. it depends on your studio. I have pleanty of light in my studio and I use it often. I use it for lot's of stuff. If you could get a camera with a bigger sensor, that would probably be more helpful in low light situations, but I don't hesitate to use this camera at all. I love it.
Great video Rob, I Recently discovered your YT channel as am researching on buying a camcorder. I'm mainly a travel/hobbyist photo/videographer and do the odd semi pro event..weddings etc. I grew up with Panasonic analogue tape camcorders (i'm that old!) and then digital palmcorders (still have two). Recently I have switch to mirroless Lumix S5 and love the 4K 50 HLG (HDR) quality but with the 24-105mm lens I find it heavy and bulky for traveling with and miss the power zoom, long reach and built in ND filter and compactness that you get with camcorders. I guess my question is how will the 'vanilla' 4K 50 (small sensor) internal recording of the 1500 compare to the excellent 4K 50 HLG (cropped ASP-C) that i currently get with the Lumix S5. Is there enough range to get any kind of HDR out of the 1500?
Thanks for watching and want a great question. I have both cameras, use both in the same environments you describe, have the exact same lens you mentioned for the S5, and can tell you directly that the difference is gigantic in favor of the S5. Focus, however, favors the 1500. The small sensor in the 1500 is a big deal. The camera has a hard time holding down an image in a low light wedding reception without knowing what you're doing, and how to do it. When I talk about low light wedding receptions, I mean low light as in almost dark. It seems most of my wedding reception are usually very dark venues or conference hotels. If you were to choose to use an external light, then the issue is moot. However, that begs the question about gear, setup, and the right tool for the job. Generally speaking, I don't mind using as small of a 1" sensor camcorder in receptions described above, but I will generally not use the 1500 when given the choice in the same situation. The next consideration is COULD it be possible, and have I done it? Yes it is, and yes I have. I have used the 1500 and DJI Pocket 2, both small sensor cameras albeit the Pocket 2 sensor is larger. It always comes out well on the card, and then I can polish it up in post production. When I shoot that way, I know my post production will require additional steps for noise reduction and color correction, so I shoot for the edit very carefully. The final consideration is this: what is your overall use case for the camera. If the majority of your shooting will be daylight or night scenes where there is ample spill and environmental light, and only a wedding reception from time to time (whatever that means to you), the the overall usefulness of the 1500 will outweigh any workarounds you may employ for those few times you are really pushing the camcorder. I really like the camcorder. I didn't at first, because of the buttons, but the image quality, especially night sunsets over the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, have turned out great. Out of the two, the S5 is better in every way except AF. Which would I prefer to use for video, the 1500. Better, isn't always better. Just because the S5 is better in most ways, it's not necessarily better. I like using the 1500, so I use it first most of the time. Even in these videos, if you don't see it in the shot, it's probably because it's recording the shot. Oh, and when I do use the S5, it's on manual 60-70% of the time. I hardly ever shoot on manual with the 1500. If you choose the 1500 to compliment your S5, keep in mind that the Synchro shutter is helpful in low light but will show a lot of motion blur when panning. Also, the aperture at the wide angle id 1.8 instead of the usual 2.4. That extra stop'ish of light really does help. Expect to spend extra time in post with Neat Video Noise reduction or whatever you may want to use. Keep me posted on what you decide. I hope this helped. Cheers.
Hello Robert, thank you for you detailed review. One million dollar question: better to buy a 1500 and play with environmental light in low light situations, or to look after another camera with a 1inch sensor? I was thinking about Canon XA50, even is the price is a little higher
Hello. Overall, the addition of a light on the Top Handle will help a lot in low light situations. However, after having both, a 1" sensor will result in better low light overall. Even if that sensor is one generation older than the Panasonic x1500, it will still provide better low light performance. But low light isn't the only thing to consider. If you want to use the 1500 and intend to do some post production, you could always use a denoising and sharpening program like Neat video or Topaz. I use neat video and it works great. It can take a lot of time on an older PC, though. Just remember that many news agencies issue the x2000 to their reporters. However, when you have a reporter and a video journalist working together, then many news stations issue a 1" sensor like the AGCX350. When you get into anchor reporting, that's when the really big cameras come out. At least, that's what I've seen in my area. Good luck.
Hello Robert, thank you for your answer and patience! It is worth to ask you an other question: do you think that from Pana VX1 to 1500 there is a noticeable upgrade? Can't wait to read your answer. Thanks a lot
It's a good thought, but you likely won't be happy. Panasonic dropped the max bitrate to 72 megabits per second In the highest 4k recording mode. Think about that when it comes to image detail. It's a lot more compression. This means that the 1080 is also more compressed. I believe it's around 50 megabits per second. The two cameras are very different, even though they're built on the same platform. You can very easily see that the x1500 has the body shape from the previous version. They just took it to a semi-pro level construction. But they didn't do this without thought. All of the upgrades, like the ability to remove the lens hood with a barn door lens hood at the same time as adapting a lens filter, the ability for the top handle to screw in to and integrated connector for power as well as be used as a cold shoe when it's taken off, the professional audio upgrades for audio inputs such as pads and line level signals. All of these things are a big deal. The lens itself is a huge upgrade. I don't even know if like a uses the decamar branding, but the lenses aren't the same. Most importantly the image stabilization system isn't the same. Combine all those things, and I'd skip the cheaper version. A better question to ask, if you want to save some money, is do you really need a camcorder? You could get a nice mirrorless camera that'll give you excellent video for less money. Then it'd be dual roll - photo and video! Good luck.
Like you have have been using this camera for the past couple of years. I do a lot of run and gun style of shooting and the automatic settings do a great job especially when filing outdoors. One drawback of course is that the camera is not weather resistant, and for those days I use my GH5II. And as you detailed in your video low light is a challenge for the CX10. One of the other issues I don’t like about this camera is the menu settings, going into manual mode is like opening Pandora’s box. It’s like the engineers who built this thing don’t want you to film in manual mode. Perhaps in a future video you could do a deep dive into that area. I for one would have a front row seat. Thanks for pulling your thoughts on your review, I agree with your assessment this is a great little rig in the right conditions.
Thanks for your comment. I will consider it. If I think of something to add to the conversation fo shooting video in manual kodez I will make a video. Please subscribe to get notifications, or stop back by from time to time. Cheers.
Hi I have yet to find how to use the Digi zoom as there is nothing in the instructions. I have almost come to the conclusion that the one that I have either doesn't work or was never fitted with the software to make it work. It shows up in the menu and is switched on, and I have tried it in the different formats from 4k to 1080p. As you have mentioned the menu settings leave a lot to be desired and all the buttons on the lower edge are not the best for using it handheld !
I really enjoyed the video!! It was very informative!! So, if I just click on one of your links, Amazon automatically knows to pay you? I want to do that, but I want to make sure you are getting your cut.
Hi Rob, while I'm watching the vid I'll just throw in a question, I dont seem to have use of on camera headphone jack after I used a HDMI connection for Portkeys monitor, which worked fine on Portkeys headphone jack. My question is: Is there anywhere in the settings I missed to re-activate the on camera headphone jack? I looked everywhere to reset it, bar from the reset to start, and can not find it, cheers. Btw, my mainboard on HC-X2000 died 1 month after warranty, however Panasonic Australia arranged to replace it under warranty, works well now, I just dont charge it in camera anymore.
All good I found it, it was the dial in button bottom front left for monitor section, I think HDMI automatically made monitor silent without the prosses retuning after removing it... God, it drove me mad, lol....
Zastanawiam się nad modelami: Panasonic Hc-X2000 vs Panasonic HC-X1. Która według Ciebie, ma lepszy obraz? XC jest starsza, ale ma matryce 1 cala. Będę filmował w lesie.
The HCX1 will give you better dynamic range and low light sensitivity. If you're looking between the two cameras, and plan to be filming in forests, the HCX-1 is probably a better option. But their expensive for what they do today. Compared to other systems, there are a lot of options. You would probably be better off with a mirrorless camera and a couple of lenses. That would probably be the most helpful thing in low light situation in a forest.
Hello! I’m a new user of Panasonic HC x2000 and I need a bit a good help in setting the camera properly! First of all, I was digging into internet to find optimal menu setups, I’ve tried to follow indications from this source and other….. but always the same problem I have: the image is grainy , whenever is on auto or manual mode, obviously in darker environments, which I understand… but is also on well illuminated room, or outdoors. On the camera monitor is not that visible, but when is connected to a 55” tv, the difference is really noticeable! Please any help/advise? Many thanks! If are some advice, please note that I am a little novice related with this camera, every good explanation it helps
What are the camera settings? I have a x1500 and the images in all formats are sharp with no grain or noise. I did a lot of testing with the gain levels. At 18 db I could not see much noise--even pushed all the way to 30, the image is quite good in low light situations.
Vibrations like you will encounter may require additional image stabalization other than what the camera ships with. Although very good, those klinds situations can cause rumble jitters. You could benefit from a gimbal on whatever camera you use. I don't think the issue will be in camera shake. I think your issue with this camera in your situation would be low light. If you are keen on videography and associated techniques, then the low light and smaller sensor will be fine for studio use. There would be better options for indoor use, but the 1500 could do a great job if you know how to work around a small sensor. If you don't know much about low light small sensor videography, or if you want an option that would be easier and better in the same price range, consider a mirrorless camera. Anything with a 1" sensor or higher will do well. Ideally you would want at least a M4/3 sized sensor or larger. I can think of many cameras that can be had used for a great price- the Fujifilm XT3, the Sony A73, a Sony A6400 camera or higher. You could even consider Some Canon or Nikon cameras. It's worth a look at the Sony RX10 series as well. The thing here is to conside the system. You will need video, audio, lens, and light. A camcorder can give all of that to you in one convnient package. Any camcorder will struggle with lowlight situations compared to mirrorless cameras becasue the sensors in camcorders are smaller than those in most interchangable lens cameras. However, most camcorders will offer a lot of versitility in audio recording, allowing you ro use XLR cables to plug right in from a sound board, use peofessional external mics, and come with better preamps and audio bitrates. Everything is integrated so a single package will do all the jobs well, and some jobs, such as low light, poorly. Of course the camcorder will likely be cheaper in the long run because it's an all in one package. With a camera you will have to buy all the things to make itt work. Now that I have said all that, remember that low light quality isn't the only thing that makes a video good. If you are shooting in low light and want a gritty organic look, then the smaller sensor will help you get it. Also, if you are good in post production, or willing to learn a little about iot through trial and error, you can generally correct poor footage and get a very good image for the final product. But here is the real answer to your question. A camcorder is a one trick pony. It only does video. A mirrorless camera will do both photo and video. I always suggest a mirrorless camera, lens, and field recorder to anyone who asks the camcorder vs camera question. If you need a camcorder, then you know you need a camcorder. If you are wondering about a camcorder, then you probably would be better off with a camera. Let me know how you end up, and subscribe if you havent already. Cheers.
It's a completely different camera. The 53 is a 2016 design and release. Even though it has had some software updates, the physical tech is two generations or more behind. Camcorders progress much slower than cameras, so it's about 2 camcorder generations which is about four camera generations (when talking about sensor technology and AF). Anyway, it would be a big update in quality of life features and codecs. Toid get 10 bit color as compared to 8, and that's a big deal. The noise profile will be improved compared to the 53. Will you feel it is an upgrade? Maybe not. It's been my experience that when people say upgrade they really mean low light and bokeh. In that regard, the low light will be improved, but the easw of getting blurry backgrounds will be about the same as the 53. This is because ehte cameras both use the same sensor size and have similar focal lengths. If that sounds like you, consider a 1" sensor camcorder. Cheers.
Use a mic with a lower self noise. It's not the XLR. Also, check the mix specs and set the input level in the settings to match the gain setting of the mic. If your mic has 40 DB of gain, and you have your input set to 60db of gain, you're going to hear noise. Remember to change it when you change to a different mic.
The settings don't matter as much as you Amy think because each shooting situation requires different settings. However, panning quickly while zoomed in can cause autofocus to have a hard time, not having autofocus turned on will cause a blurry image. It's hard to tell when you are in AF or MF because there isn't a big icon on the screen, and the screen makes everything look in focus. Then on focus peaking and make sure you are in AF by looking for "AF" on the screen. Try and shoot at 60fps to cut down on motion blur.
Hi. Thanks for your question. In 2024, the camera will work as great as it did in 2020. Better, in fact because there have been several major firmware updates that improve things a lot. The only thing to consider when purchasing this camera, in my opinion, is how often you plan to use it in low light, and how much time do you want to spend learning how to get great images in low light. Image quality wise, it's hard to beat especially in regular or great lighting. It does begin to struggle in low light, but I don't have a problem with it, and I use it for the majority of my videos in studio and out and about. I really like using this camera when I go out with my family because it's smaller than my bigger camcorders and I can take it more places. If I'm worried about it looking " too professional", then I just take off the top handle. I do expect Panasonic to introduce its successor either at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. So I think we are in a point about 4 years in its life cycle where they will probably upgrade it within the next year to 18 months. That, however, is a complete speculation on my part. All in all, other than the buttons, which are the only ergonomic part of the camera that I don't like to this day, I absolutely love this little camera. It does great for me and I use it professionally and for my personal work.
@@RobertHamm I have the Canon G50. Looking to upgrade. Would be just mostly say video. Didn’t know how much better the Panasonic compare to the Canon was.
So have used DSLRs and honestly with gorilla filmmaking I find changing lenses all the time an annoying hassle. How well does it hold up in low light at 24p? How’s the bokeh?
Low light and bokeh are areas where this camera struggles. It's completely possible to get them, but you've got to know about photographic techniques... Using spill and environmental light, using sunchro shutter, and making good use of the wide aperture at the wide end of the lens when in low light; and using a long zoom with close focus to get bokeh. It sounds like you're familiar with those things already. However, a 1" camcorder is much easier, although bigger, to get better low light and bokeh. When I have a project with low light, I generally choose a DSLR or 1" sensor camcorder. I've done videos of all of this- specifically lowifht with the x1500 and camcorders in general. Check them out for more information. Cheers.
In another person's video they said that it does not charge the battery while recording. Is this true? Does this mean that the camcorder does not use the battery while it's plugged in and recording? Does this mean that I can have it plugged in while recording, the battery won't be used, but if the camera suddenly gets unplugged will it switch to the battery without any issue or loss in footage? I was looking into getting this camcorder because I record footage sometimes that can be longer than 4 hours, and I usually just plug in my camcorder, press record, and let it record everything.
I think you should download the manual from Panasonic. Just download it and read it. It will answer all of your questions. And it's free! And then you learn a lot about the camera. As for charging - mine charges when it's plugged in.
Tough choice. They are very different cameras offering two different shooting results, long zoom or better low light performance. That should be the question to answer to determine which one would be best.
The viewfinder isn't great. It's small with low magnifcation. It is bright, but not very fun to use. This is coming from a glasses and contacts point of view. The magnification is so little that when looking through the VF the screen seems like it's a long way away. But this has the added detriment when using contacts for the diopeter adjustment to not be high enough for me to focus my eye on the screen clearly. I can see the screen but it is hard for me to read the characters. It's not much better with glasses. I have to take thw eyecup off the camera, but then my eye is further away from the screen and I have to shade my eye from the sun just to be able to see it (because I remove the eyecup). At that point the screen is crisp because my glasses allow my eyes to focus better in this situation, but since my eye is physically further away from the screws, and the screen is small, I still can't read the characters. I use the VF very seldom. Most of thebtime I will use the LCD screen, which is bright enough for use in the sun. If I needed something larger and brighter, I would use an external 2100nit screen.
Robert, I just ran across your channel and couldn't be more impressed. You have a great way of explaining things. I'm a wildlife photographer (hobbyist) and want to explore wildlife videography. Would the HC-X1500 be a good option in your opinion? I've tried doing video with my mirrorless camera but it just doesn't seem to work for me. I like the idea of the portability of a camcorder. Thank you the great videos and your time....Bob
Thanks, and yes. The X1500 would be a great camera for wildlife videography. Nice long zoom, small size, easy to use, and excellent image quality. Many people use it for the exact reason. Cheers.
@@RobertHamm Thank you for getting back to me, I just ordered the X1500 based on your video. I have some other items I need and will use your affiliate links when I order them. I also subscribed to your channel, you explain things so well. Do you have any setting tips for wildlife video with the X1500. I'll buy you a cup of coffee :)
No problem. Film in bright light, use 60fps when you want slow motion. Most likely use a 60fps for all recording, it would be helpful. Use ND filters and keep your shutter speed twice your frame rate. So, around 1/125 if possible. Remember that the HDMI port does 10Bit output, so if you want to record at a more robust acquisition codec, you could use a Ninja V and get DNX HR HqX if you needed it. That's unlikely, but a great option to know you have. The 200Mbps H.265 420 10bit in 4k60 looks great. If you need better color you can drop to 150Mbps 422 at 4k30/24 and love it. If you really want to take your videos to the next level, then add some natural sound recordings from your environment, include calls, wing flaps, breeze, and other on location sounds. Set up your color profiles based on your shooting conditions. For the most dynamic range start with a CineD color space and adjust your gamma and knew to shot the look you want. The knee adjusts the white clipping. Customizing this is helpful when you are concerned that your highlights are blowing out too quickly. Be careful with the dynamic range stretcher. It can cause you to loose contrast in some scenes because it tries to brighten the shadows and darken the highlights. Most of all, experiment. Be ready to fail, so do a lot of testing before any important shoot. That way you'll be familiar enough to use the camera in any setting you are in. People ask me about my settings a lot, but the reality is that pros don't work off of settings. Settings aren't a recipe. Instead, settings are like funing the suspension of a car. Getting the best performance depends on the materials, course, and experience of the driver. So, it's the knowledge from practice that means the most. Cheers.
Thanks for showing me how bad the image stabilization is. I almost bought this camcorder today. It might do better hand held. I assume this was all shot on a tripod.
Yeah. All that footage was from a tripod. The internet never ceases to amaze me on how many idiots there are out there. Of course that was tripod footage. How could it possibly be any less stabilized than have been used on a tripod. The only way the footage should have gotten any better is if it was handheld.
@@RobertHamm I find it very difficult to shoot flying aircraft with a tripod, it always works better handheld. I would be interested in seeing some handheld aircraft video for comparison. I’m looking for something that does 4k 60fps video with decent zoom and image stabilization.
@@RobertHamm in my search for Panasonic RC app, it appears this is only if a wi-fi connection is available. Or is there a Bluetooth app to connect HCX1500 to an I-Phone?
Thanks for the review. Sent a PayPal. I have the 2000. I'm not a professional videographer. I live stream HS sporting events in a gym on UA-cam as a volunteer/hobby. Any suggested settings for the 2000 you can offer?
Excellent Video, i currently use the Panasonic HC-X1 and find it terrible for filming fast Aircraft , the Video kind of snaps away from the object when trying to keep up with it.
Hi I have yet to find how to use the Digi zoom as there is nothing in the instructions. I have almost come to the conclusion that the one that I have either doesn't work or was never fitted with the software to make it work. It shows up in the menu and is switched on, and I have tried it in the different formats from 4k to 1080p.
The Digital zoom is called i-zoom you can turn it on or off. In 4k you can do 2x zoom. In 1080 toi can do 4x. It is a seamless integration. The only way you will know you are in i-zoom is if you change a setting to show the zoom as a percentage instead of focal length. So, you'll see 50% for 1/2 of the zoom range instead of 80mm. Anything above 99% zoom will simply show i-zoom. It's such a good implementation of digital zoom you may have been using it all along and not noticed the difference. I can make a whole video about this. Panasonic's iZoom is amazing.
Is it just me, or does the camera have a difficult time picking up blue colors? Of all the footage I've seen from this camera, they sky always looks terrible. Is there anyway to make blue more 'blue'?
That is a big question to answer. No, the camera has no issues picking up blue skies. But why aren't skies always blue? Well, that has to do with photography. The sky is very bright for a camera when compared to a person. The sky is multiple times brighter. If you expose for the sky, it will be blue, but the person will be underexposed, or dark, maybe completely black depending on the conditions. When you expose for the person, that means brightening the person so they are properly exposed, which also brightens the sky to overexposure. Saturation loss is directly related to exposure and over exposure. Make something red too bright, and it will turn white on camera. The same thing is happening to the sky. So, it's not that the camera can't pick up blue.. it's that videographers, people, or the camera (when in auto mode) have to make choices about exposure. Time of day, external lighting, filming direction, everything plays it's part.
Been shooting with the 1500 for a few months and recently had an issue where the IS started rapidly panning left-right. This was unprovoked by camera shake or any extreme action in frame. Have you ever had any issues with the IS going nuts? Happy to share files to illustrate the problem if that helps as I'm not finding any documentation on the issue elsewhere. Thanks!
No. I haven't heard experienced that. If you were using a tripod at the time of occurrence then it could have to download with the IS settings. If you were on any setting other than IS off and IS Pan/tilt (mode 2 I think) then that additional movement would be seen.
I was still listening after 20 minutes, but it became obvious at that point that I am an engineer and not a professional photographer. Any of these cameras are way beyond my abilities but I enjoy watching.
Thanks for your comment. It's easy to get good at manual with camcorders because they have a lot of functions and generally have very good manuals. So, all it takes is experience. Until then, they also come with really good automatic modes. That makes learning them even easier. That footage was simply me putting it in auto (mostly) and pointing at jets. If you would like to see what that camera looks like in an actual production, here is the first episode of a show in production now. ua-cam.com/video/RbCwVfPpxnc/v-deo.html Cheers!
@RobertHamm I appreciate the kind message. I just started my channel 8 months ago, mostly just messing around with old camcorders, and I am 100% amateur. Although I did do 3 weddings for my nephews, I refused to accept money for it. My newest camcorder is a brand new 5 year old HC-WXF1. Panasonic really has given up on the consumer line and is selling 5 year old camcorders as if they are current. I had considered the HC-1500 but figured it was beyond my needs for just capturing family videos. But I like seeing what the pros are using. Just pointing at the jets is my speed. My day job I work for NASA but towards the end there you kind of lost me, 😆
Well enjoy making videos and good luck on your channel. If you're lot interested in zoom, then consider the DJI pocket 2, or an insta 360 camera. Both of those products will offer you single focal length, excellent footage. I really like the Pocket 2 for all kinds of filming- and it's sensor is actually larger than the x1500! But if you need zoom, then you need zoom. It's very hard to beat the x1500 right now when it comes to size, zoom, performance, and handling. Yes, the camcorder market is at least two generations of sensor behing most flagship cameras. This is a shame. However, to make up for that, the makers usually support their camcorders with more firmware updates. Often adding new features.. that's an issue for me because it means that those features could have been enabled from the start in most cases, but I'll take what I can get. Cheers.
The CX-10 is now discontinued. If you do pro work, the SDI connection of the 2000 makes it worth the extra money over the 1500. SDI is far superior to HDMI.
Thanks for he tip about the cx10. SDI is better than HDMI... for certian specific applications- like extreme low latency for broadcast situations.. and the 3G SDI connection only supports 1080... so if you want to record or output in 4k, it'll have to be HDMI. And HDMI is perfect for YoloBox, OBS, Xsplit, Streamyard.. you name it.
@@RobertHammI do dragracing videos on my UA-cam channel & I use the Sony fdr ax53 shooting 1080p@60fps…you can see the image quality of the Sony ax53 on my channel just look at my Dragracing videos….however I want to step up to 4k@60fps next year so im considering the Panasonic you have….my Sony AX53 can shoot 4k but only at 30fps So I won’t even consider shooting any fast motion in 30fps or anything that requires a lot of panning….I love the BOSS stabilization on my Sony & everything I shoot is handheld in the grandstands….Would you suggest I step up to the Panasonic 2000 for my Dragracing videos next year or do you perceive some issues using it for what I do which is dragracing ? Thank you in advance for your reply. 👍
Hello, no need. All the settings were reported on the video. It was all Auto. Auto everything except for shutter speed. I put that at 120 and shot in 4k 60 qpbit 420. Image stabilization was on and it was all handheld. Great job by the camcorder. Cheers.
@@RobertHamm I was asking why I noticed image quality and color, I thought they were manual adjustments, I record in CINEMA D 4K 200MB, and I don't get such good colors. Thanks for everything.
Good color has everything to do with angle of the point light source as compared to lens direction. You will have the best saturation and color when the point light is behind the camera, that is the lens is 180° opposite. As you rotate along the circle to 90° to the lens. As you turn toward the point light source, the color and saturation will fade, and the contrast will fade as well. This effect can be used to show details in dark areas of a backlit subject. Lower contrast usually shows more details but is less sharp. Give that a shot and see if it helps.
Panasonic should have just updated the DVX200. Make it 6K keep the MFT sensor size. And give it bit and color depth, equal to GH6. (10 bit 4:2:2). 800 mb/sec Apple Pro res HQ and Vlog.
Did you take the air show with the hcx1500? Those bandings destroy the quality completely. Am I the only one who thinks that video quality is nearly unusable? Anyway, excellent demo and explanations.
Hello. I did use the x1500. You may see banding on your device. I don't see it on mine. Also, the original files have no banding either. Remember UA-cam compresses the video quality a lot, over and above the compression info when I export from premiere pro. Also, your viewing screen may not properly display an image. That answers your other question about other people not seeing the banding you are seeing.. it's because it's not there for them. The video quality out of this camera is exceptional. The delivery quality will depend on compression, media, bitrate, and bandwidth. When watching a video on UA-cam, the viewer will often never see the same quality as the uploader. This is the same with audio.
@@RobertHamm I have been learning a lot of your knowledge via this url about this cam because I want to replace my Canon XF100 (2012) for a younger one and found this cam. probably the best one for me. But being a little bit afraid for the advise to use the manualsettings ("box of pandora" one stated) am I right as I conclude that by showing my (hobby) films only on UA-cam it is useless to deep dive into the "box of pandora" and just use the autofunction? I am happy with the quality of the XF100 on YT and this Pan. 1500 (or 2000) must be much better so I keep satisfed i.m.o. Am I right? Thanks!
I love your detailed videos, thankyou. I'm torn between this camcorder versus the HC-X20. I'm not a professional but love camcorders and would like to use one again (have used mobile phones for the last few years) for family events and my daughters sports events. I was going to buy the HC-X2000 but your reference to the buttons has put me off a little, plus the smaller sensor plus it is now a few years old so perhaps a new version is due soon. The HC-X20 is at an excellent price point and I know is more geared to professionals but I love the look of it but the size and weight worry me a little because it will stand out when using it in public. Out of interest have you used both of these camcorders or similar (I have seen your video regarding the HC-X2 & HC-X20) and are you able to share any thoughts regarding the size difference and usability between the two please?
What a question. This is tough. Thanks for asking and watching. I appreciate it. You can't go wrong either way. Yes, I dislike the buttons, yes, the x20 is newer. No, I don't think the age of the x1500 series is anything to worry about. It's probably 1/2 way through its life cycle. I would say it's got another 2 to 3 years before Panasonic releases an upgrade. They seem to be on a 4-6 year upgrade path with camcorders. The X1500 series just got a huge firmware update which brings it a ton of new features. I view the two cameras as very similar. The differences being price, physical size, sensor size, zoom, and low light. The x20 is bigger, has a bigger sensor, is a lot more expensive than the base model x1500, and $500 more expensive than the base x1500 plus top handle. So, you get a bigger system, which means more looks from the public. You will be mistaken for a news crew when you use that camera out and about. You will have better low light performance without question. The hcx2 has 13 stops of Dynamic range in the Vlog profile. That's not available on the x20, but you can imply similar upgrades as the sernors are similar. I would guess that the low light is probably 1 to 1.5 stops better on the larger sensor x20 over the x1500. That's just a guess, though. But the 1500 plus top handle can be found pretty cheap used, so you can save more money than buying new. But still save $500 over the x20 if you buy the x1500 and top handle new. They can be had for about 2k compared to 2.5k for the x20. You'll also get a smaller unit with a longer zoom and the ability to take off the top handle and go even more compact. You won't look as "pro" either. If that's important to you. I don't have an x2 or x20, but I do have the x1. The new models are the exact same chassis as the x1. So I understand the size and weight difference. Given the choice, I'd buy the x20. But only because I work in low light a lot. Which one would I prefer? The x1500. I love it's size, and with the updates formware, it works even better than before. I like them both. It's very hard to say the x20 over the x1500. But if both were available when I got the x1500, if I could have looked at them side by side, I probably would have picked up the x20. However, after using the x1500 for the past two years or more.. whenever it came out.. I will tell you that it is a lot more capable than a 1/2" type sensor sounds on paper. Let me throw this out there.. If you've got the budget for the x20 then consider the x1500 and some accessories, like wireless mics and lav mics, lights, a good tripod and monopos. You will need those things anyway if you don't already have them. Also, think about why you want the camcorder. If all you really need is a lens and good low light, consider a mirror less camera and lens. You will get a lot better low light performance even with a m43 camera over any camcorder. Cheers.
@Robert Hamm many thanks for the detailed response. Interestingly, in the UK where I live, the HC-X2000 is approximately £1900 and the HC-X20 can be bought for just under £2100 so it's not a huge difference. I think based on what you have said and what I know already, the HC-X2000 is the right option for me. I will need some accessories, and I definitely dont want to get mistaken for a pro! It's a shame because I love the aesthetics of the HC-X20, but equally, it sounds like there may be plenty of life left in the HC-X2000, so my money will go there. Thanks again for taking the time to respond and your comprehensive videos.
I'm happy I could help. The price difference in the US is a much bigger gap. It's usually the other way around. It's usually more expensive in other areas from my experience. The size difference is noticable. The low light will be a noticable difference too. The zoom will be noticable as well. You can't go wrong either way. I don't mind shooting video in 8bit. Even my older HCX1 with it's larger 8bit sensor is better than the x1500 in low light. But I take the x1500 anyway! Good Low light shooting has more to do with technique than raw specs. However, it's always better to have the best gear you can for a situation, eg.. a larger sensor, but good technique can make up for a lot of specs in many cases. I would say one thing- if you don't need the features of the x2000, namely the SDI output, then there is no reason to pay for it. Please do yourself a favor and check the pricing of the X1500 and the pricing of the top handle. In the US I can get the x1500 for $1700 and the top handle for $300. That's $2k total. The x2000 is $2200, so $200 more for a feature (the SDI port) that I will never use. Other than the SDI port, the x2000 and x1500+top handle are identical.
@@RobertHamm I finally decided that although the HC-X1500 appears to be the correct option and the right camcorder for me, primarily due to my size concerns of the HC-X20, I have ordered both from Amazon. I can then see the size difference and understand the practicality of the HC-X20 vs the HC-X1500 myself and then return one of them. I'm really hoping that I'm ok with the HC-X20 but have a strong feeling that I will be sending that one back and then ordering the top handle for the HC-X1500. I agree, I don't require the SDI output and completely forgot that this was one of the key differences, so thanks for pointing that out as I will save just over £200 if I keep the smaller model. Based on your experience and the likely lifespan of the HC-X1500, I do have a better feeling for that model now and either will be a massive step up to my old camcorder that I last used a few years ago which is the Canon HV20. So both are a steep learning curve but what a fun hobby this will be. Thanks again.
I have the hc-x2000, to be honest, i hate it so much that i hate myself for buying it, i work on event and weddings, and this camera on low light is just trash.
I love mine. I don't have the same experience as you with it. It's not great in low light, but I use it and get great results across many settings. I'm sorry it doesn't work out for you.
No need to watermark your videos. Compared to AirshowStuffVideos, your footage is garbage. They shoot amazing air show videos with a Sony AX-53, which is not even a pro camcorder. IDK whether the Sony stabilization is better, or AirshowStuffVideos is just better at operating a camera.
I have had mine for about 2 years. Rock solid, reliable, convenient. The portability is a huge benefit. The built in livestream feature is a bonus. I always use an external mic, as they are better than the built in.
Yeah, its a pint sized powerhouse. Cheers.
Just bought a 1500 for use in my workshop for making UA-cam videos covering Electronics repairs. Often overheads of circuit boards of which using the Focus Assist has been invaluable.
I have 4 LED light panels on a gantry above the workbench, 2 on the left, 2 on the right which I can slide around as required.
I was a little concerned at first the small sensor was going to be an issue, but spending a day to set it all up properly has completely eased my worries. I can't wait to release my first 4k video repair.
Great video btw Robert.
That sounds cool. Post your link where when you publish it. I'm glad you found the video helpful and that the camera has worked out better than you expected. Cheers.
A great in depth review which is invaluable to an intending purchaser, many thanks it has helped me a lot in my decision to buy the HC X2000....Keep up the good work....
Thanks for this video - I have two Panasonic cameras - HPX 170 (2009) and HC-X2 (2023)...I am looking answer for 2 questions:
Question 1. There is a option in HPX170 and it calls MARK CLIP - this function we could set to USER button on body of camera and quickly mark in meta info (OK) in video clip. It was very useful. Do you know where is it in these new cameras?
Qustion 2 : Is there any quicker way to change the recording system from 4K to 1080p except the pushing and scrolling throw the camera menu? Is there any way to shourtcut this?
THANK YOU
Great video, thanks! I was confused about the difference between the 1500 and the 2000. This video answered my questions.
Glad to hear it!
Hi Rob I been thinking of getting hcx 2000. But I was wondering how it would be for doing weddings and bar mitzvahs. I am using a panasonic ag80..it old ya I know but it's a work horse . I need to downside to make my life easier. Wasn't sure if this camera would be a good fit was just wondering your thoughts
Well, after watching this and your other HC-X2000/1500 videos I've decided to buy one. Thanks for your reviews!
Glad I could help!
I don’t know much about cameras at all never studied how to use them but this video helped me decide to purchase this camera I want to start a UA-cam Channel this is a start
I'm glad you liked the video. The camera works great for studio. I use it all the time for the videos tou see on this channel. Cheers.
Should I buy this or an older camera with a bigger sensor for hs football games?
I want to buy a decent camcorder and only use it full auto mode, it seems like this a good choice, correct?
Hi Rob you were talking about additional light using the 2000 do you mean light on board camera or light or lights that are on stand to light up the venue
Lighting is a tricky subject. It means different things to different people. If your experience with lighting is that of a hybrid photographer and videographer that understands the concepts of key, rim, fill, and bounce lighting, and you have a good understanding of spill and scene lighting, and understand the exposure triangle well enough to get a good exposure in low light without lighting, then any of the lighting you choose will do well with the HCX 2000. This includes the on handle light.
If lighting and low light videography are new to you, then the disadvantage in the HCX 2000 is the small 1/2.5-in sensor. New videographers using smaller sensor camcorders often don't understand the exposure triangle well enough to make the decisions necessary to properly expose a low light scene. Sometimes, shadows and darkness are exactly what you want in a low light scene. The choice is how to expose for the highlights. The difference in contrast between the low light shadows and the highlight bright spots will create a moody environment. If you add some color to it from a sunset, or neon lights of a busy street, or the flickering lamp light of an old country road, then you're really setting yourself up for something special. However, if you have to have a subject in those lighting situations, then you will need additional light.
The small light on the handle works well for documentary style interviews. I do not use it often at dark wedding receptions. When I have the option, I don't generally use the HCX 2000 indoors in dark environments. It's because they look like capabilities aren't great. When I have to use it, I augment it with stand lights when possible. When I can't do that, I will use a different on camera light, like a bar light. If I have to use the on handle light, then I make sure that I put a correct to orange gel in the light itself, and turn it on. It works well enough for me, but it would also be my last option for indoor low light videography.
If you were using it indoors in low light, don't zoom. Be as wide as you can, and open your aperture all the way up to F1.8.
When I'm outside, sometimes I choose this camcorder specifically because it's small and easy to use, even in low light environments. When I'm outdoors, I don't worry about the low light performance as much because I use it more as a event specific tool. If I'm going to work with a band on an outdoor concert stage, I know the band will have good enough lights on stage that I'll be able to zoom and be wide and get a good image. If I'm working indoors with a band on stage, again, I don't worry about the lighting because the stage lighting will be bright enough for any of the conditions I need to work in.
When I'm outdoors photographing at night I specifically look for areas with spill light. That means I'm looking for interesting areas that have a lot of cars passing by with their headlights casting light everywhere, or lots of lights on the roadside, or lights from businesses or buildings.
I would not use The HCX 2000 on a pitch black night in the middle of a cornfield to film a horror flick. I don't believe there would be enough ambient light for it to work. I would, however, use it on a full moon night with the reflections of the moon off the water at a beach.
I hope this helps.
Excellent 👍
I’ve had the HCX-1500 for about 18 months. It has its limitations but overall a great camera.
You know, for all it's faults, I use it more than ALL of my other cameras and camcorders. I love to hate it, but I love it more!
Is it spotty on the live streaming/wifi? or just as good as anything like a laptop? I'm tired of carrying an A7siii with huge lens and hdmi cables always breaking
Does the hc-x1500 have the same sensor as the xf1? On their website is says one is a BsI MOS sensor (wfx1) and just MOS on the 1500.
What’s your opinion ?
I currently have a AG DVX200. Would the HC-X2000 be a good camera to pair with DVX200? I try to shoot in a cinematic style even though it’s a camcorder and not a DSLR. But lately I’ve been shooting podcast and I would like a better multi cam setup than just using and iPhone Pro.
Thanks Robert. !!!!!!
Really handy video coming from not using anything since a dvx100 it’s been really good to know what model to jump back into with
I'm glad you found the video helpful. Please subscribe and help me make more!
I film at drag strips, including at night, and looking for an upgrade. The venue lighting is static and not horrible, but my main concern is when the jet cars come out. Any thoughts on if the 1500 would handle that kind of dynamic range and exposure shifts (20ft flames popping off and on at night) from a hobbyist perspective? Or maybe the X1?
I have some videos on my channel to give you an idea if you need examples, though shot on my phone.
Hi. I checked the channel out to see some examples. Overall, no. I think you would be better suited with a different camera or camcorder. With what you're doing, you're going to need a larger sensor, even if it's not a 10-bit sensor. This will be especially true when you start recording in 60 frames per second, because you'll need to double your shutter speed to get proper motion blur, and maybe triple it if you would like to get really sharp night images. By that point the HCX 1500 series of cameras will show quite a bit of noise which will need correction in post.
The camera can however handle the dynamic range differences with the jet cars, and The camcorder produces a sharp image even with noise at high gain settings and fast shutter speeds. This is a great position if you do a lot of post-production work, but it still is additional work.
So, if I had a choice between the HCX-1, or the HCX 1500, I would choose the HCX1.
If I had to use the HCX 1500, it would do the job fine with post-production. However, my choice would be to not deal with the post-production. That being said, I often record bands on stage with the HCX 1500 and I do the post-work, and the images look great. It really just depends on skill level and knowledge.
I think a better option for you might be a mirrorless camera with an electronic zoom lens. This could be a bridge camera or a rig style camera with a follow focus or Nautilus type zoom control. If you pack something out like that using an XT3 or microphone thirds camera, or even an a73 (full frame) then you will get all the low light you can imagine because the sensors are much bigger than the one on the x 1500.
It really depends on your budget as well, there are a lot of choices. I completely understand the desire to use a camcorder, and this is a job that a camcorder fits perfectly. That long lens, electronic zoom, excellent autofocus, XLR inputs for on camera mics, all those things make the camcorder a great choice for what you're doing. I think you should look for a 1 in camcorder even if the technology is older.
It's a personal decision. Make a choice, and let me know. I'd like to hear what you end up doing. Cheers..
@@RobertHamm wow, that was a much quicker and detailed reply than I expected, so thanks for that first off!
In terms of post production work, I'm not opposed to that. I use Topaz Video AI for some things, which can do video noise reduction pretty well (and DaVinci Resolve free for the bulk of my edits). I don't doubt that a full frame mirrorless camera would work better in image quality, but I have done minor video work on my current DSLR and the ergonomics of that simply don't work for me. I'm willing to sacrifice some image quality for better usability. The one thing that I've seen against the X1 is it apparently has a slower zoom than the 1500. I've only recently started seriously looking, but that is something I'll need to research more to see if it'll be a detriment in my uses. If not, I'll bump it up the list.
But it sounds like with those caveats in mind and being willing to post process, the 1500 may still remain a consideration. Again, thanks!
Thank you for you excellent and detailed review. I have just purchased a HCX1500 and a handle having watched your and other reviews. I also have a DJI pocket 3 which is good for indoor low light situations but has no zoom or built in ND filter but works well indoors when light is a bit scarce. I decided against the XE2 and the Canon XF605 as both are just to large and heavy for me to carry around on our holidays and day trips. The HCX1500 has a great zoom and stabilser and I have to say as I do not generally use a tripod, I have not found the buttons difficult. I find the instant Iris and instant focus really useful and the built in SD filters. The battery life is great. The EVF is ok for me as I have in the past used cheaper cameras which have very small EVFs. I guess that Panasonic (like Sony) could have used a larger sensor but that would have reduced the zoom capabilities. I record 4K HEVC and edit with Premier Pro and export to 1080p which is fine for UA-cam and my TV and Projector, which gives me scope to crop the image as required without any loss of quality. Thanks again for your help in making my choice.
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad my video was helpful. I agree, the small seneor allows Panasonic to give it some updated zoom and stabalization compared to other cameras from the time of its production. I find it to be an excelent little camcorder. I love the size, zoom, and image quality. I also use HEVC 4k and edit down in 1080. I recently found out that I love the 100mbos 1080 All-i. It's beautiful. The 200mbp is nice in 1080 422 10bit up to 120fps is great especially for editing. It's just a reall good 1080. It took me a couple of years to try it out. I'm glad I did. I wish I had earlier. You get some extra zoom, too. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Thank you for your response. I will try out your suggestions and again thank you for a very helpful video.
Rob: I just picked up the HCX2000 for a project I'm working on. Enjoyed your explanation and review. Looking forward to getting the camera and spending some time with it. Interestingly, I was as the air show last September that you used throughout this piece. I may have seen my wife and me in one of the shots. I'm from Virginia Beach, so may drop in on you one day to catch up on details. Thanks, again.
It's a great camera. You'll enjoy it. I got so much footage at the air show that I don't know what to do with it. I was thinking about making a highlight compilation. The camera did a great job. Yeah, small world. I've seen a couple of my viewers before. Hampton Roads is such a large area. It's easy to run into people from time to time. The Guitar Hunter, Jeremy Shepard, lives in Newport News or Hampton. He's got a really big channel. I've never seen him, though. Email me is you ever want to meet. Cheers.
Dude, just find girls who like to make something, and ask them for magic artificial crystals that they like to glue for beauty, and just stick them on the right buttons. And then the necessary buttons will always be easily accessible. I did "focus", "menu", "iris", and now I always press these buttons in the dark without errors.
Nope. I'm not glueing anything on it. I just don't like the buttons, but I live iwht it and still use it daily.
I have found the app works and you can access the buttons from the app.
Can anyone recommend a good media player for this camera. VLC media player doesn't seem to cope with 4K video recordings VERY GOOD
If you mount camera on tripod,stabilization go off? thanks
I love this in depth videos, I wish someone over at Canon would do something similar.
Just one comment on filming, you might like to think about a decent tripod. Just saying
i'm curious about using the wifi at an airport where you don't need a password but has a login page that the airport has set. How would the camera bypass that.
Unknown. It may just bypass the specific login page and connect. It all has to do with the security type of the network. The network may allow client devices with certain identifiers, such as cameras, to connect without accessing the specific screen you are talking about. Also, the app may come in handy be allowing come kind of access. I don't know, I haven't tried it, but let me know what you find out. Cheers.
@@RobertHamm Yeah I might have a go and buy one thanks
Do you think this would be a good studio film camera? Looking for something easy to use with a solid auto focus.
I have no idea about your "studio" use case. Do i consider it a good camera: yes. Do i consider it a good low light camera: yes, mostly, and if you know what you're doing. Does that make it a good studio camera: maybe.. it depends on your studio. I have pleanty of light in my studio and I use it often. I use it for lot's of stuff. If you could get a camera with a bigger sensor, that would probably be more helpful in low light situations, but I don't hesitate to use this camera at all. I love it.
Great video Rob, I Recently discovered your YT channel as am researching on buying a camcorder. I'm mainly a travel/hobbyist photo/videographer and do the odd semi pro event..weddings etc. I grew up with Panasonic analogue tape camcorders (i'm that old!) and then digital palmcorders (still have two). Recently I have switch to mirroless Lumix S5 and love the 4K 50 HLG (HDR) quality but with the 24-105mm lens I find it heavy and bulky for traveling with and miss the power zoom, long reach and built in ND filter and compactness that you get with camcorders.
I guess my question is how will the 'vanilla' 4K 50 (small sensor) internal recording of the 1500 compare to the excellent 4K 50 HLG (cropped ASP-C) that i currently get with the Lumix S5. Is there enough range to get any kind of HDR out of the 1500?
Thanks for watching and want a great question. I have both cameras, use both in the same environments you describe, have the exact same lens you mentioned for the S5, and can tell you directly that the difference is gigantic in favor of the S5. Focus, however, favors the 1500.
The small sensor in the 1500 is a big deal. The camera has a hard time holding down an image in a low light wedding reception without knowing what you're doing, and how to do it. When I talk about low light wedding receptions, I mean low light as in almost dark. It seems most of my wedding reception are usually very dark venues or conference hotels.
If you were to choose to use an external light, then the issue is moot. However, that begs the question about gear, setup, and the right tool for the job. Generally speaking, I don't mind using as small of a 1" sensor camcorder in receptions described above, but I will generally not use the 1500 when given the choice in the same situation.
The next consideration is COULD it be possible, and have I done it? Yes it is, and yes I have. I have used the 1500 and DJI Pocket 2, both small sensor cameras albeit the Pocket 2 sensor is larger. It always comes out well on the card, and then I can polish it up in post production. When I shoot that way, I know my post production will require additional steps for noise reduction and color correction, so I shoot for the edit very carefully.
The final consideration is this: what is your overall use case for the camera. If the majority of your shooting will be daylight or night scenes where there is ample spill and environmental light, and only a wedding reception from time to time (whatever that means to you), the the overall usefulness of the 1500 will outweigh any workarounds you may employ for those few times you are really pushing the camcorder.
I really like the camcorder. I didn't at first, because of the buttons, but the image quality, especially night sunsets over the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, have turned out great.
Out of the two, the S5 is better in every way except AF. Which would I prefer to use for video, the 1500. Better, isn't always better. Just because the S5 is better in most ways, it's not necessarily better. I like using the 1500, so I use it first most of the time. Even in these videos, if you don't see it in the shot, it's probably because it's recording the shot. Oh, and when I do use the S5, it's on manual 60-70% of the time. I hardly ever shoot on manual with the 1500.
If you choose the 1500 to compliment your S5, keep in mind that the Synchro shutter is helpful in low light but will show a lot of motion blur when panning. Also, the aperture at the wide angle id 1.8 instead of the usual 2.4. That extra stop'ish of light really does help. Expect to spend extra time in post with Neat Video Noise reduction or whatever you may want to use.
Keep me posted on what you decide. I hope this helped. Cheers.
GRAZIE, from Italy!
Hello Robert, thank you for you detailed review. One million dollar question: better to buy a 1500 and play with environmental light in low light situations, or to look after another camera with a 1inch sensor? I was thinking about Canon XA50, even is the price is a little higher
I use it for news reporting and journalism, both in daylight and at night
Hello. Overall, the addition of a light on the Top Handle will help a lot in low light situations. However, after having both, a 1" sensor will result in better low light overall. Even if that sensor is one generation older than the Panasonic x1500, it will still provide better low light performance.
But low light isn't the only thing to consider. If you want to use the 1500 and intend to do some post production, you could always use a denoising and sharpening program like Neat video or Topaz. I use neat video and it works great. It can take a lot of time on an older PC, though.
Just remember that many news agencies issue the x2000 to their reporters. However, when you have a reporter and a video journalist working together, then many news stations issue a 1" sensor like the AGCX350. When you get into anchor reporting, that's when the really big cameras come out. At least, that's what I've seen in my area.
Good luck.
Hello Robert, thank you for your answer and patience! It is worth to ask you an other question: do you think that from Pana VX1 to 1500 there is a noticeable upgrade? Can't wait to read your answer. Thanks a lot
It's a good thought, but you likely won't be happy. Panasonic dropped the max bitrate to 72 megabits per second In the highest 4k recording mode. Think about that when it comes to image detail. It's a lot more compression. This means that the 1080 is also more compressed. I believe it's around 50 megabits per second.
The two cameras are very different, even though they're built on the same platform. You can very easily see that the x1500 has the body shape from the previous version. They just took it to a semi-pro level construction. But they didn't do this without thought. All of the upgrades, like the ability to remove the lens hood with a barn door lens hood at the same time as adapting a lens filter, the ability for the top handle to screw in to and integrated connector for power as well as be used as a cold shoe when it's taken off, the professional audio upgrades for audio inputs such as pads and line level signals. All of these things are a big deal. The lens itself is a huge upgrade. I don't even know if like a uses the decamar branding, but the lenses aren't the same. Most importantly the image stabilization system isn't the same.
Combine all those things, and I'd skip the cheaper version.
A better question to ask, if you want to save some money, is do you really need a camcorder? You could get a nice mirrorless camera that'll give you excellent video for less money. Then it'd be dual roll - photo and video!
Good luck.
Like you have have been using this camera for the past couple of years. I do a lot of run and gun style of shooting and the automatic settings do a great job especially when filing outdoors. One drawback of course is that the camera is not weather resistant, and for those days I use my GH5II. And as you detailed in your video low light is a challenge for the CX10. One of the other issues I don’t like about this camera is the menu settings, going into manual mode is like opening Pandora’s box. It’s like the engineers who built this thing don’t want you to film in manual mode. Perhaps in a future video you could do a deep dive into that area. I for one would have a front row seat. Thanks for pulling your thoughts on your review, I agree with your assessment this is a great little rig in the right conditions.
Thanks for your comment. I will consider it. If I think of something to add to the conversation fo shooting video in manual kodez I will make a video. Please subscribe to get notifications, or stop back by from time to time. Cheers.
Hi I have yet to find how to use the Digi zoom as there is nothing in the instructions. I have almost come to the conclusion that the one that I have either doesn't work or was never fitted with the software to make it work. It shows up in the menu and is switched on, and I have tried it in the different formats from 4k to 1080p. As you have mentioned the menu settings leave a lot to be desired and all the buttons on the lower edge are not the best for using it handheld !
@@gstree You need the manual for ag-cx98/ag-cx10, which is the same camera as hc-x1500/hc-x2000, but the manual is more detailed.
I really enjoyed the video!! It was very informative!! So, if I just click on one of your links, Amazon automatically knows to pay you? I want to do that, but I want to make sure you are getting your cut.
Hi Rob, while I'm watching the vid I'll just throw in a question, I dont seem to have use of on camera headphone jack after I used a HDMI connection for Portkeys monitor, which worked fine on Portkeys headphone jack. My question is: Is there anywhere in the settings I missed to re-activate the on camera headphone jack? I looked everywhere to reset it, bar from the reset to start, and can not find it, cheers.
Btw, my mainboard on HC-X2000 died 1 month after warranty, however Panasonic Australia arranged to replace it under warranty, works well now, I just dont charge it in camera anymore.
All good I found it, it was the dial in button bottom front left for monitor section, I think HDMI automatically made monitor silent without the prosses retuning after removing it... God, it drove me mad, lol....
Hi, I want to know if the fill light can be inserted into the color film to change the color. I hope it can be used as a Tally light.
Yes. See my video Gel your Light.
Zastanawiam się nad modelami: Panasonic Hc-X2000 vs Panasonic HC-X1. Która według Ciebie, ma lepszy obraz? XC jest starsza, ale ma matryce 1 cala. Będę filmował w lesie.
The HCX1 will give you better dynamic range and low light sensitivity. If you're looking between the two cameras, and plan to be filming in forests, the HCX-1 is probably a better option. But their expensive for what they do today. Compared to other systems, there are a lot of options.
You would probably be better off with a mirrorless camera and a couple of lenses. That would probably be the most helpful thing in low light situation in a forest.
Danke. Tolles Video. Alle Fragen beantwortet.
Guten Tag :)
Hello! I’m a new user of Panasonic HC x2000 and I need a bit a good help in setting the camera properly! First of all, I was digging into internet to find optimal menu setups, I’ve tried to follow indications from this source and other….. but always the same problem I have: the image is grainy , whenever is on auto or manual mode, obviously in darker environments, which I understand… but is also on well illuminated room, or outdoors. On the camera monitor is not that visible, but when is connected to a 55” tv, the difference is really noticeable! Please any help/advise? Many thanks! If are some advice, please note that I am a little novice related with this camera, every good explanation it helps
What are the camera settings? I have a x1500 and the images in all formats are sharp with no grain or noise. I did a lot of testing with the gain levels. At 18 db I could not see much noise--even pushed all the way to 30, the image is quite good in low light situations.
Great Info !
Hello Rob. How you compare this Panasonic 2000 to new Canon AX70/75 ?
Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/MXF_6UW7PEE/v-deo.html
Hi Robert - would you recommend this camera for a drum studio with alot of floor vibrations?
Vibrations like you will encounter may require additional image stabalization other than what the camera ships with. Although very good, those klinds situations can cause rumble jitters. You could benefit from a gimbal on whatever camera you use. I don't think the issue will be in camera shake. I think your issue with this camera in your situation would be low light. If you are keen on videography and associated techniques, then the low light and smaller sensor will be fine for studio use. There would be better options for indoor use, but the 1500 could do a great job if you know how to work around a small sensor.
If you don't know much about low light small sensor videography, or if you want an option that would be easier and better in the same price range, consider a mirrorless camera. Anything with a 1" sensor or higher will do well. Ideally you would want at least a M4/3 sized sensor or larger. I can think of many cameras that can be had used for a great price- the Fujifilm XT3, the Sony A73, a Sony A6400 camera or higher. You could even consider Some Canon or Nikon cameras. It's worth a look at the Sony RX10 series as well.
The thing here is to conside the system. You will need video, audio, lens, and light. A camcorder can give all of that to you in one convnient package. Any camcorder will struggle with lowlight situations compared to mirrorless cameras becasue the sensors in camcorders are smaller than those in most interchangable lens cameras. However, most camcorders will offer a lot of versitility in audio recording, allowing you ro use XLR cables to plug right in from a sound board, use peofessional external mics, and come with better preamps and audio bitrates. Everything is integrated so a single package will do all the jobs well, and some jobs, such as low light, poorly.
Of course the camcorder will likely be cheaper in the long run because it's an all in one package. With a camera you will have to buy all the things to make itt work.
Now that I have said all that, remember that low light quality isn't the only thing that makes a video good. If you are shooting in low light and want a gritty organic look, then the smaller sensor will help you get it. Also, if you are good in post production, or willing to learn a little about iot through trial and error, you can generally correct poor footage and get a very good image for the final product.
But here is the real answer to your question. A camcorder is a one trick pony. It only does video. A mirrorless camera will do both photo and video. I always suggest a mirrorless camera, lens, and field recorder to anyone who asks the camcorder vs camera question. If you need a camcorder, then you know you need a camcorder. If you are wondering about a camcorder, then you probably would be better off with a camera.
Let me know how you end up, and subscribe if you havent already. Cheers.
Very good review! Thank you very much!
Glad it was helpful!
How would this camera compare to the Sony ax53? I’m looking to upgrade but I’m not sure it’s worth it.
It's a completely different camera. The 53 is a 2016 design and release. Even though it has had some software updates, the physical tech is two generations or more behind. Camcorders progress much slower than cameras, so it's about 2 camcorder generations which is about four camera generations (when talking about sensor technology and AF).
Anyway, it would be a big update in quality of life features and codecs. Toid get 10 bit color as compared to 8, and that's a big deal. The noise profile will be improved compared to the 53.
Will you feel it is an upgrade? Maybe not. It's been my experience that when people say upgrade they really mean low light and bokeh. In that regard, the low light will be improved, but the easw of getting blurry backgrounds will be about the same as the 53. This is because ehte cameras both use the same sensor size and have similar focal lengths. If that sounds like you, consider a 1" sensor camcorder.
Cheers.
Im wondering why the footage looks oddly shaky. Ive seen some of your other footage. Was steady shot not on?
Hit that subscribe button for an answer!
I have a white noise problem when I use xlr is there any way to fix it many people have the problem but there seems to be no fix
Use a mic with a lower self noise. It's not the XLR. Also, check the mix specs and set the input level in the settings to match the gain setting of the mic. If your mic has 40 DB of gain, and you have your input set to 60db of gain, you're going to hear noise. Remember to change it when you change to a different mic.
Can you show us footage of the camera on the Crane 3??? I’ve been looking for a gimbal for my camcorder I think you might’ve just solved my problem!!!
please whrite settings for this camera, because we got blur or unfocus most of the time..
The settings don't matter as much as you Amy think because each shooting situation requires different settings. However, panning quickly while zoomed in can cause autofocus to have a hard time, not having autofocus turned on will cause a blurry image. It's hard to tell when you are in AF or MF because there isn't a big icon on the screen, and the screen makes everything look in focus. Then on focus peaking and make sure you are in AF by looking for "AF" on the screen. Try and shoot at 60fps to cut down on motion blur.
How do you think the camera hold up in 2024 now? I'm looking for a video camera.
Hi. Thanks for your question. In 2024, the camera will work as great as it did in 2020. Better, in fact because there have been several major firmware updates that improve things a lot. The only thing to consider when purchasing this camera, in my opinion, is how often you plan to use it in low light, and how much time do you want to spend learning how to get great images in low light.
Image quality wise, it's hard to beat especially in regular or great lighting. It does begin to struggle in low light, but I don't have a problem with it, and I use it for the majority of my videos in studio and out and about. I really like using this camera when I go out with my family because it's smaller than my bigger camcorders and I can take it more places. If I'm worried about it looking " too professional", then I just take off the top handle.
I do expect Panasonic to introduce its successor either at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. So I think we are in a point about 4 years in its life cycle where they will probably upgrade it within the next year to 18 months. That, however, is a complete speculation on my part.
All in all, other than the buttons, which are the only ergonomic part of the camera that I don't like to this day, I absolutely love this little camera. It does great for me and I use it professionally and for my personal work.
@@RobertHamm I have the Canon G50. Looking to upgrade. Would be just mostly say video. Didn’t know how much better the Panasonic compare to the Canon was.
So have used DSLRs and honestly with gorilla filmmaking I find changing lenses all the time an annoying hassle. How well does it hold up in low light at 24p? How’s the bokeh?
Low light and bokeh are areas where this camera struggles. It's completely possible to get them, but you've got to know about photographic techniques... Using spill and environmental light, using sunchro shutter, and making good use of the wide aperture at the wide end of the lens when in low light; and using a long zoom with close focus to get bokeh.
It sounds like you're familiar with those things already. However, a 1" camcorder is much easier, although bigger, to get better low light and bokeh.
When I have a project with low light, I generally choose a DSLR or 1" sensor camcorder.
I've done videos of all of this- specifically lowifht with the x1500 and camcorders in general. Check them out for more information. Cheers.
In another person's video they said that it does not charge the battery while recording. Is this true? Does this mean that the camcorder does not use the battery while it's plugged in and recording? Does this mean that I can have it plugged in while recording, the battery won't be used, but if the camera suddenly gets unplugged will it switch to the battery without any issue or loss in footage? I was looking into getting this camcorder because I record footage sometimes that can be longer than 4 hours, and I usually just plug in my camcorder, press record, and let it record everything.
I think you should download the manual from Panasonic. Just download it and read it. It will answer all of your questions. And it's free! And then you learn a lot about the camera. As for charging - mine charges when it's plugged in.
Can't decide between this one or the sony AX 700?
Tough choice. They are very different cameras offering two different shooting results, long zoom or better low light performance. That should be the question to answer to determine which one would be best.
@@RobertHamm Sony have a better low light ?
Great review! How well does the view finder work with glasses? I’d love to also shoot air shows if I get it.
The viewfinder isn't great. It's small with low magnifcation. It is bright, but not very fun to use. This is coming from a glasses and contacts point of view. The magnification is so little that when looking through the VF the screen seems like it's a long way away. But this has the added detriment when using contacts for the diopeter adjustment to not be high enough for me to focus my eye on the screen clearly. I can see the screen but it is hard for me to read the characters. It's not much better with glasses. I have to take thw eyecup off the camera, but then my eye is further away from the screen and I have to shade my eye from the sun just to be able to see it (because I remove the eyecup). At that point the screen is crisp because my glasses allow my eyes to focus better in this situation, but since my eye is physically further away from the screws, and the screen is small, I still can't read the characters. I use the VF very seldom. Most of thebtime I will use the LCD screen, which is bright enough for use in the sun. If I needed something larger and brighter, I would use an external 2100nit screen.
Robert, I just ran across your channel and couldn't be more impressed. You have a great way of explaining things. I'm a wildlife photographer (hobbyist) and want to explore wildlife videography. Would the HC-X1500 be a good option in your opinion? I've tried doing video with my mirrorless camera but it just doesn't seem to work for me. I like the idea of the portability of a camcorder. Thank you the great videos and your time....Bob
Thanks, and yes. The X1500 would be a great camera for wildlife videography. Nice long zoom, small size, easy to use, and excellent image quality. Many people use it for the exact reason. Cheers.
@@RobertHamm Thank you for getting back to me, I just ordered the X1500 based on your video. I have some other items I need and will use your affiliate links when I order them. I also subscribed to your channel, you explain things so well. Do you have any setting tips for wildlife video with the X1500. I'll buy you a cup of coffee :)
No problem. Film in bright light, use 60fps when you want slow motion. Most likely use a 60fps for all recording, it would be helpful. Use ND filters and keep your shutter speed twice your frame rate. So, around 1/125 if possible. Remember that the HDMI port does 10Bit output, so if you want to record at a more robust acquisition codec, you could use a Ninja V and get DNX HR HqX if you needed it. That's unlikely, but a great option to know you have. The 200Mbps H.265 420 10bit in 4k60 looks great. If you need better color you can drop to 150Mbps 422 at 4k30/24 and love it. If you really want to take your videos to the next level, then add some natural sound recordings from your environment, include calls, wing flaps, breeze, and other on location sounds. Set up your color profiles based on your shooting conditions. For the most dynamic range start with a CineD color space and adjust your gamma and knew to shot the look you want. The knee adjusts the white clipping. Customizing this is helpful when you are concerned that your highlights are blowing out too quickly. Be careful with the dynamic range stretcher. It can cause you to loose contrast in some scenes because it tries to brighten the shadows and darken the highlights. Most of all, experiment. Be ready to fail, so do a lot of testing before any important shoot. That way you'll be familiar enough to use the camera in any setting you are in. People ask me about my settings a lot, but the reality is that pros don't work off of settings. Settings aren't a recipe. Instead, settings are like funing the suspension of a car. Getting the best performance depends on the materials, course, and experience of the driver. So, it's the knowledge from practice that means the most. Cheers.
@@RobertHamm I sent 10 bucks to you via PayPal. Thanks for the the information and your great videos!
Thanks, Bob. Much appreciated!
Thanks for showing me how bad the image stabilization is. I almost bought this camcorder today. It might do better hand held. I assume this was all shot on a tripod.
Yeah. All that footage was from a tripod. The internet never ceases to amaze me on how many idiots there are out there. Of course that was tripod footage. How could it possibly be any less stabilized than have been used on a tripod. The only way the footage should have gotten any better is if it was handheld.
@@RobertHamm I find it very difficult to shoot flying aircraft with a tripod, it always works better handheld. I would be interested in seeing some handheld aircraft video for comparison. I’m looking for something that does 4k 60fps video with decent zoom and image stabilization.
Is there a wireless remote controller you can recommend for the HCX-1500?
The Panasonic RC app is free. Download it and you can control the camera. You won't get a live view through.
@@RobertHamm in my search for Panasonic RC app, it appears this is only if a wi-fi connection is available. Or is there a Bluetooth app to connect HCX1500 to an I-Phone?
Thanks for the review. Sent a PayPal. I have the 2000. I'm not a professional videographer. I live stream HS sporting events in a gym on UA-cam as a volunteer/hobby. Any suggested settings for the 2000 you can offer?
Great Air Show images. Where was it? Pensacola, FL?
Thanks. Virginia Beach, VA at NAS Oceana.
What’s the brand of the mic mount you attached to the rear of your handle?
Hello. Here is a link. Good mic. amzn.to/3LcU4jG
Excellent Video, i currently use the Panasonic HC-X1 and find it terrible for filming fast Aircraft , the Video kind of snaps away from the object when trying to keep up with it.
That's not been my experience with the HCX1. I have that camcorder as well. Maybe your OIS settings could be adjusted.
Hi I have yet to find how to use the Digi zoom as there is nothing in the instructions. I have almost come to the conclusion that the one that I have either doesn't work or was never fitted with the software to make it work. It shows up in the menu and is switched on, and I have tried it in the different formats from 4k to 1080p.
The Digital zoom is called i-zoom you can turn it on or off. In 4k you can do 2x zoom. In 1080 toi can do 4x. It is a seamless integration. The only way you will know you are in i-zoom is if you change a setting to show the zoom as a percentage instead of focal length. So, you'll see 50% for 1/2 of the zoom range instead of 80mm. Anything above 99% zoom will simply show i-zoom. It's such a good implementation of digital zoom you may have been using it all along and not noticed the difference. I can make a whole video about this. Panasonic's iZoom is amazing.
Is it just me, or does the camera have a difficult time picking up blue colors? Of all the footage I've seen from this camera, they sky always looks terrible. Is there anyway to make blue more 'blue'?
That is a big question to answer. No, the camera has no issues picking up blue skies.
But why aren't skies always blue? Well, that has to do with photography. The sky is very bright for a camera when compared to a person. The sky is multiple times brighter. If you expose for the sky, it will be blue, but the person will be underexposed, or dark, maybe completely black depending on the conditions. When you expose for the person, that means brightening the person so they are properly exposed, which also brightens the sky to overexposure. Saturation loss is directly related to exposure and over exposure. Make something red too bright, and it will turn white on camera. The same thing is happening to the sky.
So, it's not that the camera can't pick up blue.. it's that videographers, people, or the camera (when in auto mode) have to make choices about exposure. Time of day, external lighting, filming direction, everything plays it's part.
Been shooting with the 1500 for a few months and recently had an issue where the IS started rapidly panning left-right. This was unprovoked by camera shake or any extreme action in frame. Have you ever had any issues with the IS going nuts? Happy to share files to illustrate the problem if that helps as I'm not finding any documentation on the issue elsewhere. Thanks!
No. I haven't heard experienced that. If you were using a tripod at the time of occurrence then it could have to download with the IS settings. If you were on any setting other than IS off and IS Pan/tilt (mode 2 I think) then that additional movement would be seen.
I was still listening after 20 minutes, but it became obvious at that point that I am an engineer and not a professional photographer. Any of these cameras are way beyond my abilities but I enjoy watching.
Thanks for your comment. It's easy to get good at manual with camcorders because they have a lot of functions and generally have very good manuals. So, all it takes is experience. Until then, they also come with really good automatic modes. That makes learning them even easier.
That footage was simply me putting it in auto (mostly) and pointing at jets. If you would like to see what that camera looks like in an actual production, here is the first episode of a show in production now.
ua-cam.com/video/RbCwVfPpxnc/v-deo.html
Cheers!
@RobertHamm I appreciate the kind message. I just started my channel 8 months ago, mostly just messing around with old camcorders, and I am 100% amateur. Although I did do 3 weddings for my nephews, I refused to accept money for it.
My newest camcorder is a brand new 5 year old HC-WXF1. Panasonic really has given up on the consumer line and is selling 5 year old camcorders as if they are current. I had considered the HC-1500 but figured it was beyond my needs for just capturing family videos. But I like seeing what the pros are using. Just pointing at the jets is my speed. My day job I work for NASA but towards the end there you kind of lost me, 😆
Well enjoy making videos and good luck on your channel. If you're lot interested in zoom, then consider the DJI pocket 2, or an insta 360 camera. Both of those products will offer you single focal length, excellent footage. I really like the Pocket 2 for all kinds of filming- and it's sensor is actually larger than the x1500! But if you need zoom, then you need zoom. It's very hard to beat the x1500 right now when it comes to size, zoom, performance, and handling.
Yes, the camcorder market is at least two generations of sensor behing most flagship cameras. This is a shame. However, to make up for that, the makers usually support their camcorders with more firmware updates. Often adding new features.. that's an issue for me because it means that those features could have been enabled from the start in most cases, but I'll take what I can get. Cheers.
The CX-10 is now discontinued. If you do pro work, the SDI connection of the 2000 makes it worth the extra money over the 1500. SDI is far superior to HDMI.
Thanks for he tip about the cx10. SDI is better than HDMI... for certian specific applications- like extreme low latency for broadcast situations.. and the 3G SDI connection only supports 1080... so if you want to record or output in 4k, it'll have to be HDMI. And HDMI is perfect for YoloBox, OBS, Xsplit, Streamyard.. you name it.
@@RobertHammwell doesn’t the Panasonic have a port for memory cards ????
@@RobertHammI do dragracing videos on my UA-cam channel & I use the Sony fdr ax53 shooting 1080p@60fps…you can see the image quality of the Sony ax53 on my channel just look at my Dragracing videos….however I want to step up to 4k@60fps next year so im considering the Panasonic you have….my Sony AX53 can shoot 4k but only at 30fps So I won’t even consider shooting any fast motion in 30fps or anything that requires a lot of panning….I love the BOSS stabilization on my Sony & everything I shoot is handheld in the grandstands….Would you suggest I step up to the Panasonic 2000 for my Dragracing videos next year or do you perceive some issues using it for what I do which is dragracing ? Thank you in advance for your reply. 👍
What USB plug goes in the USB slot?
The Ethernet USB adapter. You can get it from Panasonic.
Hi, can you upload your custom settings during those air show recordings?
Hello, no need. All the settings were reported on the video. It was all Auto. Auto everything except for shutter speed. I put that at 120 and shot in 4k 60 qpbit 420. Image stabilization was on and it was all handheld. Great job by the camcorder. Cheers.
@@RobertHamm I was asking why I noticed image quality and color, I thought they were manual adjustments, I record in CINEMA D 4K 200MB, and I don't get such good colors. Thanks for everything.
Good color has everything to do with angle of the point light source as compared to lens direction. You will have the best saturation and color when the point light is behind the camera, that is the lens is 180° opposite. As you rotate along the circle to 90° to the lens. As you turn toward the point light source, the color and saturation will fade, and the contrast will fade as well. This effect can be used to show details in dark areas of a backlit subject. Lower contrast usually shows more details but is less sharp. Give that a shot and see if it helps.
Panasonic should have just updated the DVX200. Make it 6K keep the MFT sensor size. And give it bit and color depth, equal to GH6. (10 bit 4:2:2). 800 mb/sec Apple Pro res HQ and Vlog.
Agreed.
Did you take the air show with the hcx1500? Those bandings destroy the quality completely. Am I the only one who thinks that video quality is nearly unusable? Anyway, excellent demo and explanations.
Hello. I did use the x1500. You may see banding on your device. I don't see it on mine. Also, the original files have no banding either. Remember UA-cam compresses the video quality a lot, over and above the compression info when I export from premiere pro. Also, your viewing screen may not properly display an image. That answers your other question about other people not seeing the banding you are seeing.. it's because it's not there for them. The video quality out of this camera is exceptional. The delivery quality will depend on compression, media, bitrate, and bandwidth. When watching a video on UA-cam, the viewer will often never see the same quality as the uploader. This is the same with audio.
@@RobertHamm I have been learning a lot of your knowledge via this url about this cam because I want to replace my Canon XF100 (2012) for a younger one and found this cam. probably the best one for me. But being a little bit afraid for the advise to use the manualsettings ("box of pandora" one stated) am I right as I conclude that by showing my (hobby) films only on UA-cam it is useless to deep dive into the "box of pandora" and just use the autofunction? I am happy with the quality of the XF100 on YT and this Pan. 1500 (or 2000) must be much better so I keep satisfed i.m.o. Am I right? Thanks!
I love your detailed videos, thankyou. I'm torn between this camcorder versus the HC-X20. I'm not a professional but love camcorders and would like to use one again (have used mobile phones for the last few years) for family events and my daughters sports events. I was going to buy the HC-X2000 but your reference to the buttons has put me off a little, plus the smaller sensor plus it is now a few years old so perhaps a new version is due soon.
The HC-X20 is at an excellent price point and I know is more geared to professionals but I love the look of it but the size and weight worry me a little because it will stand out when using it in public.
Out of interest have you used both of these camcorders or similar (I have seen your video regarding the HC-X2 & HC-X20) and are you able to share any thoughts regarding the size difference and usability between the two please?
What a question. This is tough. Thanks for asking and watching. I appreciate it. You can't go wrong either way. Yes, I dislike the buttons, yes, the x20 is newer. No, I don't think the age of the x1500 series is anything to worry about. It's probably 1/2 way through its life cycle. I would say it's got another 2 to 3 years before Panasonic releases an upgrade. They seem to be on a 4-6 year upgrade path with camcorders. The X1500 series just got a huge firmware update which brings it a ton of new features. I view the two cameras as very similar.
The differences being price, physical size, sensor size, zoom, and low light.
The x20 is bigger, has a bigger sensor, is a lot more expensive than the base model x1500, and $500 more expensive than the base x1500 plus top handle.
So, you get a bigger system, which means more looks from the public. You will be mistaken for a news crew when you use that camera out and about. You will have better low light performance without question. The hcx2 has 13 stops of Dynamic range in the Vlog profile. That's not available on the x20, but you can imply similar upgrades as the sernors are similar. I would guess that the low light is probably 1 to 1.5 stops better on the larger sensor x20 over the x1500. That's just a guess, though.
But the 1500 plus top handle can be found pretty cheap used, so you can save more money than buying new. But still save $500 over the x20 if you buy the x1500 and top handle new. They can be had for about 2k compared to 2.5k for the x20. You'll also get a smaller unit with a longer zoom and the ability to take off the top handle and go even more compact. You won't look as "pro" either. If that's important to you.
I don't have an x2 or x20, but I do have the x1. The new models are the exact same chassis as the x1. So I understand the size and weight difference.
Given the choice, I'd buy the x20. But only because I work in low light a lot. Which one would I prefer? The x1500. I love it's size, and with the updates formware, it works even better than before. I like them both. It's very hard to say the x20 over the x1500. But if both were available when I got the x1500, if I could have looked at them side by side, I probably would have picked up the x20. However, after using the x1500 for the past two years or more.. whenever it came out.. I will tell you that it is a lot more capable than a 1/2" type sensor sounds on paper.
Let me throw this out there..
If you've got the budget for the x20 then consider the x1500 and some accessories, like wireless mics and lav mics, lights, a good tripod and monopos. You will need those things anyway if you don't already have them.
Also, think about why you want the camcorder. If all you really need is a lens and good low light, consider a mirror less camera and lens. You will get a lot better low light performance even with a m43 camera over any camcorder. Cheers.
@Robert Hamm many thanks for the detailed response. Interestingly, in the UK where I live, the HC-X2000 is approximately £1900 and the HC-X20 can be bought for just under £2100 so it's not a huge difference.
I think based on what you have said and what I know already, the HC-X2000 is the right option for me. I will need some accessories, and I definitely dont want to get mistaken for a pro! It's a shame because I love the aesthetics of the HC-X20, but equally, it sounds like there may be plenty of life left in the HC-X2000, so my money will go there.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond and your comprehensive videos.
I'm happy I could help. The price difference in the US is a much bigger gap. It's usually the other way around. It's usually more expensive in other areas from my experience. The size difference is noticable. The low light will be a noticable difference too. The zoom will be noticable as well. You can't go wrong either way. I don't mind shooting video in 8bit. Even my older HCX1 with it's larger 8bit sensor is better than the x1500 in low light. But I take the x1500 anyway! Good Low light shooting has more to do with technique than raw specs. However, it's always better to have the best gear you can for a situation, eg.. a larger sensor, but good technique can make up for a lot of specs in many cases.
I would say one thing- if you don't need the features of the x2000, namely the SDI output, then there is no reason to pay for it. Please do yourself a favor and check the pricing of the X1500 and the pricing of the top handle. In the US I can get the x1500 for $1700 and the top handle for $300. That's $2k total. The x2000 is $2200, so $200 more for a feature (the SDI port) that I will never use.
Other than the SDI port, the x2000 and x1500+top handle are identical.
@@RobertHamm I finally decided that although the HC-X1500 appears to be the correct option and the right camcorder for me, primarily due to my size concerns of the HC-X20, I have ordered both from Amazon. I can then see the size difference and understand the practicality of the HC-X20 vs the HC-X1500 myself and then return one of them.
I'm really hoping that I'm ok with the HC-X20 but have a strong feeling that I will be sending that one back and then ordering the top handle for the HC-X1500. I agree, I don't require the SDI output and completely forgot that this was one of the key differences, so thanks for pointing that out as I will save just over £200 if I keep the smaller model.
Based on your experience and the likely lifespan of the HC-X1500, I do have a better feeling for that model now and either will be a massive step up to my old camcorder that I last used a few years ago which is the Canon HV20. So both are a steep learning curve but what a fun hobby this will be. Thanks again.
I have the hc-x2000, to be honest, i hate it so much that i hate myself for buying it, i work on event and weddings, and this camera on low light is just trash.
I love mine. I don't have the same experience as you with it. It's not great in low light, but I use it and get great results across many settings. I'm sorry it doesn't work out for you.
No need to watermark your videos. Compared to AirshowStuffVideos, your footage is garbage. They shoot amazing air show videos with a Sony AX-53, which is not even a pro camcorder. IDK whether the Sony stabilization is better, or AirshowStuffVideos is just better at operating a camera.
Don't hate on my video- go tell them how much better they are! You're pretty dumb.