First Look: Panasonic AG-DVX200 4K fixed-lens camcorder
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- We were amongst a small group of bloggers invited to a Panasonic event at central London to show off and have a quick preview of the new AG-DVX200.
It's a "run and gun" 4K camcorder with a micro 4/3rds sensor but a fixed (13x) lens. So it's a sort of ENG camcorder for 4K.
It does also feature V-Log and CineLike gamma profiles though, so coupled with the sensor you can get quite cinematic with it.
We had about half an hour to go out on the streets and test it out, so it's a bit of an overview rather than a full review but we hope to get our hands on the final unit for a few days soon.
Published by www.tubeshooter.co.uk
tubeshootermag
tubeshootermag
I do like this but I'd like it even so much more if it did 10 bit 4:2:2 and at least 200 mb/sec. 400 would be perfect. 100 mb/sec is way too compressed, and although I do own a Atomos Shogun. I actually hate setting it up and I hate accidently touching the HDMI wire and get a glitch in the recording. Sometimes there I have the Shogun going to black and have to wait for picture to go back online. The lag or delay in external recorders is also a put off. I have 2 GH4's but my DSLR's days are coming to an end. I only bought those as I was waiting for a 4K HPX250 replacement which didn't come. Give me a rocker powered zoom. XLR mic inputs with dials for levels. I've been on plenty of Indie film shoots where they used canon 5d etc. When the crews put all the rigs, cages and plug ins. I think to myself shit that took as long as the Panavison 35mm cine camera to get going.
I discovered that the DVX200 is not capable of outputting OSD info to an external EVF via HDMI when shooting in any format over 1080p. Making it almost impossible to film effectively in 4K while shooting with an external EVF. I go to Menu->Output Setup-> and Video Out OSD is greyed out when in 4K, and when I click on it, it says "Cannot Set". This is beyond infuriating especially after investing $4000.
Great presentation! I cant wait for this camera!Thank you.
I'm already seeing these in local access scenarios. I like the concept of building a run and gun camera with the GH4 look. Shooting static with a GH4 is fine, but try shooting a football game with one.Not to big on the aesthetics of the camera, I want to be inconspicuous when shooting. Can they offer build one that's all black? It reminds me of the old JVC KY-2000 and Ikegami ITC-730 series.
I would hate to film sports on any of the stills cams that do video. Awkward! It's hard enough on an ENG type!! Good luck going incognito - maybe a load of black gaffer tape..?!!
Thanks for the great overview! I am still shooting on a GH3 and looking for not only 4K but also a run and gun configuration. DSLRs on rigs just aren't working for me. I am very interested in this camcorder however I am very put off by the poor image quality thus far. I understand they are pre-production and there is web compression but even so... When viewed at 1080p the images seem soft as though they are 720 being viewed on a 1080 display or that the videographer is just missing focus. I really want to like and own this piece of gear as it checks all the boxes I need and want. I am really looking forward your full production review of this product. My fingers are crossed hoping that it doesn't disappoint...
Cheers,
Greg
It looks sharp in the original footage; dare I wonder if your GH3 "over sharpens" the footage digitally which can make other stuff look soft? (I don't know, I'm just wondering). Don't underestimate the heavy, heavy web compression.
+Greg Allen I have one of the first UK production models on loan for review. I am looking for a camera that will give me better narrow depth of field and a more filmic look to replace my P2 panasonic shoulder mount camera. So far I am very impressed both with the relative ease of transition from an ENG type camera to a 'pro-sumer' style camcorder and also the on screen results which are excellent. There are also some really useful features that my P2 camera doesn't have. All in all I think it will make a worthy successor to the P2 panasonic.
+Colin Riddle Thanks... I am checking out every new video posted on the DVX200... I will probably get one in late January. It would be nice to see some competition show up as well between now and then. :-)
+Greg Allen how is your hunt going?
I'm using a DSLR (70D) but I would like to have something more ergonomical with a top handle and with a better audio.
What are some cameras you've looked at? Any tips? (run-and-gun-ability is more important to me than having 4K)
thanks
+SamoScopom Hi! Well, after months and months of researching about every camera on the market I must say, generally speaking, I am not impressed with the offerings when compared to the DSLR market or even cell phones for that matter. Canon just released two new "professional" camcorders that are basically re-branded versions of the four year old models they replaced. (I literally can't find any differences, and the specs are outdated) Plus they lack ND filters, shoot really low bit rates and only capture 16bit audio. Sony's new HXR-NX100 at $1699 has just okay viewfinders and LCD. In 2016 I expect OLED displays. It does shoot 50mbps and 24bit audio which is important. With that said none of the models mentioned above with provide better video quality than my GH3. So other then ergonomics alone I can't justify purchasing one of them. Enter the Sony PXW-X70. This camera shoots 10 bit 4:2:2 video with 24bit audio internally on decent CODEC's. This allows for a fair amount of post editing. At $1999 it seems to be the best bang for your buck. For an additional $250 you can bundle it with the 4K upgrade. If I was you I wouldn't hesitate to do it. 4K allows you to zoom and pan the video in post when down sampling to 1080p. Not to mention the down sampled 1080p video will look way better than any natively shot 1080p video out there. Sony just released the PXW-Z150 4K camcorder ($3199) that won't be available until next month. It is basically an upgraded NX100. Although it has a much improved sensor, shoots 4K and 120fps slow motion to me the upgrades aren't worth the extra $1500. My wife's iPhone shoot 120fps slow motion and it looks amazing when used correctly. Then the DVX200. I wanted to love this camera but I have not been impressed with the video. Maybe the people that are posting videos do not know how to properly set up the camera etc.. I have just seen way to many poor quality sampes to feel confident in buying one. Beyond those there are a bunch of older models that I eliminated quickly. Many have tiny sensors (cell phone size) they are ridiculously expensive, use expensive proprietary cards for video capture etc. Staying in the fixed lens category my personal choice is the Sony PWX-X70 with 4K. Beside the previously mentioned features it's pretty small which allows you to easily carry it around. Because of its small size and weight you can mount it to a small flycam, slider, jib etc. and you aren't breaking the bank. This is just my perception on the current offerings but I hope it helps.
I've been thinking about getting a canon XA20 for sometime but it seems they mush be getting close a refresh soon. I like this model but it is a bit out of my price range.
Great review! I hope there is something sim soar on the horizon. I really just want 60fps UHD to crop to Hd, but that is hard to find.
Mmm, yes, that's a tough ask if the XA20's too costly, I think you'll be lucky to get UHD 60 in a decent unit for less than the DVX200
Ah! I meant the DVX200 is a tad out of my price rage.
The the XA20 is a suitable price however the 2-year-old frame is probably due for a refresh.
Fantastic work on the channel - I am always happy to recommend your work to anybody else I know in the industry.
I beg your pardon, I misread your sentence. Yes I like the XA20 though Canon's not renowned for quick or frequent updates... Thank you for the compliment :-)
1) 200 Mbit/s on SDXC? -- P2 cards are dead.
2) "Sure, fillmakers will use GH4" - I do not agree. With the DVX200 you get the same sensor and a very usable 13x lens with fixed front glass. I think this is a perfect combo. I like red accent and hard geometric edges on the back - finally Panasonic not only engineered a usable camera, they also make a camera that is handsome.
Perhaps I should have said "can" use the GH4 given that it's cheaper and has that lens flexibility.
No 4K at 60 FPS ?
Looks quite good and I like the features and I always wondered why camcorders didn't have larger sensors like 4/3 or Super 35 etc.., good to see there is one now. For a professional camera though, it should have internal 10-bit 4:2:2 coded for convenience as you wouldn't always want to use an external recorder, especially in some situations where you wouldn't have time to attach and use an HDMI recorder, but for broadcast, would want at least 4:2:2 subsampling, like news shooting.
However, its great that it has it via HDMI. Too bad the lens zoom is a little short, would have been nice to have at least x20 zoom which would have been a good zoom range. 5:47 for a larger 4/3 sensor, I was a bit surprised to see that noise being as noticeable as that as larger sensor cameras are usually good at handling noise grain.
Yes it's a little noisy. However, I suspect if you shoot V Log and grade it to squish the deepest blacks, that noise should be effectively hidden. Also, Panasonic pointed out these were "almost" production ready and that they were still addressing the noise issue.
Do you consider the 4:2:0 colour space for internal recording to be an issue for broadcast news work? Sure, it can record 4:2:2 externally but that just adds on a whole bunch of stuff, cables and mounting that makes things a lot more complicated.
+King Chai Woon No, not an issue in my book. Broadcast news is too fast turnaround to worry much about anything other than the most basic colour correction (if that!) so the extended detail afforded by 4:2:2 should not be an issue. Most broadcast news places that I know transmit everything exactly as shot with no grading at all (sometimes you wish they wouldn't...!!)
COST?!?!
Another good review - I wonder who down-voted this, and why!
+Alex Lake Thanks! There's always someone who downvotes. Sometimes they're 'disliking' the product rather than the video which is rather annoying :-(
sous titre french please
I do not speak French so cannot provide subtitles in that language.