I use a GH5. But on holiday I don't want to cart it around, together with maybe two alternative lenses, and constantly mess about with a variable ND, etc. This would be an all-in-one solution. The footage won't be as good as the GH5, that's understood. But the convenience ! I think this will be a complimentary piece of kit rather than a replacement. Thanks for the frank review - would have appreciated more actual footage.
@@grahamfjlaws6108 yes I think you completely get what this camcorder is about. Regarding the sample footage .. yeah there isn't enough sample footage in this review.. one main reason is I lost a lot of sample footage i have shot and only realised that when compiling the review video and I have already returned it to Panasonic :( my silly mistake sorry about that
Camcorders, in my opinion offer a few major benefits: 1. Everything is integrated. Including XLR audio. No plugging in extra devices, no lenses to change. You don't need to worry about as many cables that can get unplugged at the worst times. 2. Externally mounted batteries. Changing batteries is really quick and easy, whereas mirrorless/DSLR type cameras need to be taken off the tripod to open the battery compartment. 3. Zoom controllers are great. Most high-end camcorders have LANC ports so you can plug a wired remote to control zoom and start/stop recording. 4. Ergonomics. I don't know about you but a photo camera's grip isn't so great for shooting video. You know why most serious filmmakers have to get extra handles for their mirrorless cameras? Because they need to hold it better. Camcorders have better ergonomics without having to bolt on >$300 of metal and wood. 5. Better rolling shutter performance. 6. Smaller (and lighter). Sure, you can configure your mirrorless camera to be smaller than a camcorder but you're usually giving up audio, ergonomics, battery life and zoom range. Because everything is integrated, you always have what you need, no matter the situation.
It’s a unique combination of 4k60 + unlimited recording + reliable auto focus + stabilized 600mm + plus touch focus + all day battery + plus a flip screen. Not available in mirrorless today. For what it is it suits the cases you’ve pointed out. Looks like a good run and gun with another mirrorless low light capable B cam. I’m hard pressed to think what I wouldnt have covered if I pair this with my A7iii, except weather sealing. If my sporting event turned rainy I would be in trouble.
Thanks for going over some of the features on this camera. One thing I've done to learn about this camera is just print out the entire pdf manual, place it in a binder and tab each chapter for a quick reference. The reason I went with this camera is my wife's dslr overheated quickly when filming my son's basketball game in 4k 60p. This camera will achieve filming 4k 60p without overheating (making it great for events - as you mentioned).
Very helpful.The community I live in just purchased an HC-X2000 and I will have a live orientation to it next week. I wanted a video orientation. Yours was helpful. I could not find a video resource that would give a basic tutorial to the HC-X2000. Yours was as close as I could find. Thank you.
The sensor size issue is overblown. I have the Sony AX53 with the same size sensor as this Panasonic. I also have the 1 inch sensor AX100. In theory the 1 inch sensor should be better in low light, but it is not, so why is that? Larger sensors means a slower aperture unless there is a large increase in lens size. The f2.8 maximum aperture on the AX100 means more gain in low light, and the gain means more noise. A faster aperture reduces gain, and therefore reduces noise. The f1.8 aperture lens on this camera makes a huge difference. This camera will not be a low light king, but it will be dramatically better than a GoPro with more than a full stop of aperture advantage at the wide end. With a much higher bit rate this camcorder should produce excellent results. As to why use camcorder vs mirrorless camera. Besides that the camcorder is optimised for video, price is a huge reason. To get the necessary accessories and lenses, the mirrorless camera generally costs quite a lot more to get similar video capabilities. The mirrorless has some advantages in terms of being creative with depth of field and specialist lenses such as tilt/shift lenses, but the camcorder has huge advantages with its built in lens such as the power zoom, and it is parfocal. Add to that long video recording times with no overheating issues, and the ergonomics, and a camcoder is first choice for general purpose videography. I use several camcorders plus mirrorless and action cameras, and each has their place. My A7S ii is the low light king. The A7R ii I use for super 35 creativity with creative lens choices, GoPro and Insta360 One X for action, Panasonic DVX-200 for serious/high quality videography, and AX53 and AX100 for B-roll. I am intending to add the Panasonic VX1 and X1500 in the next 12 months. I am choosing the X1500 and adding the handle because it is cheaper than the X2000 and I have SDI requirements met on the DVX-200 already. The interesting thing to me is how Sony started to get ahead with their camcorders in recent years, but with the newer camcorders, Panasonic is now the better choice. Also, there was a time when camcorders just weren’t good enough compared to mirrorless, but that has changed and the better camcorders are providing incredibly good value for general purpose videography such as interviews and events.
This was the type of comment I was looking for. Thanks for explaining the difference’s by someone who is working in the field with both mirrorless and camcorders. I’m finally able to decide to get this X2000 to handle bigger video projects than relying on my Fuji XT3.
Hi i have been using the AX43 for 3 years now and am very pleased with what it can do, of course in low light situations can be a a bit problematic sometimes. I was thinking of getting the HC-X1500 since it does 60p. What is your opinion? Do you see it as an upgrade or not much of a significant difference?
@@artistjoh Thank you for your reply , it encourages the move. Still will wait a bit until they go down with the price , maybe Black Friday will bring a good deal for this camera. All the best ,Emmanuel.
You are correct. I shot some great clips with my HC-X2000: ua-cam.com/video/FuwTB8BdkMo/v-deo.html. Sensor size is not everything. My other main camera is the Sony ZV-1 on the Crane M2 gimbal when I need better low light performance and more bokeh. I chose the Sony ZV-1 over the Sony AX700 for example because even though they have the same size sensors, the 1 inch sensor camcorders are f/2.8 instead of f/1.8 at the wide end like on the Sony ZV-1. Most reviewers don't mention these sorts of facts. Overall, the f/1.8 on the wide end of the HC-X2000 means it is respectable even in lower lit conditions (like you said, better than a GoPro which has a fixed f/2.8 aperture). I sold my Sony AX53, I had been waiting for years for a proper professional camcorder upgrade. Panasonic did it with the HC-X1500, HC-X2000 and CX-10.
Thank you for making this review video. You addressed what I wanted to know to see if this would make a good camera for recording speakers at conferences and public events and I do believe it would.
your review comes from a practical application approach and thats why I choose to shoot with a camcorder over mirrorless for event or documentary type work. The servo zoom and dual mic inputs alone make the camcorder a better choice over mirrorless.
Great video! Thank you so much for making this. This has helped a tremendous amount and I think I'll be buying this cam because of this review. Subscribed!
I went with this camera (HC-X1500) as it will be exclusively used to film videos in my workshop where the lighting is very good. I couldn't justify spending another £1000 on say a Sony NX80. I also manual focus explusively, and teh Focus Assist is just great.
The IOS is good but not a patch on the Sony BOSS system. I came from a Sony to the HC-X1500 and can say that the Pansonic image stabilization is nowhere near as good... but good enough.
I am currently looking at buying one. I like shooting wildlife and birds and I think this unit is more simple, no changing lenses and autofocus works well, built in ND, greater recording time limits, 4k 60fps, autofocus in HD 120fps.
For your usage I think a camcorder like the hcx2000 totally make sense. Imagine carry any mirrorless camera with up to 600mm eq focal length and you still can't zoom smoothly and have to change lenses and carry a bunch of accessories
ua-cam.com/video/8DOqfEdOIz4/v-deo.html I shot that video with my back turned to them all the time. They were out easily 100 yards from me. There's no way I could've done with with a DSLR, but with a camcorder, everything was super easy.
Good review - thank you. The main reason fro me to buy this, even though I have the GH5 mark 2, is that when I wish to video something quickly such as a bird this camera has the lens without the delay of changing as is usually the case with the GH5.
Sensor size means absolutely nothing except to pixel peepers. It is an invalid argument. This camcorder literally does virtually everything that would cost $10,000 to replicate with a mirrorless and then you'd still have no power zoom if any at all, no infrared and no nd filters. This camera has no weaknesses that mean anything in the real world. Paired with my lumix g9 this is the ultimate setup.
The stabilization at 8:20 is quite impressive. I had an Olympus mirrorless, which is well known for having good IBIS, but such a handheld shot at 600 eq. is not possible. Maybe at 300.
Have you experienced any hissing issues with the external mic input? I have just received the camera and I noticed when I plugged any mic or any 3.5 cable into the external audio input, there is a constant hissing sound that isn't coming from the mic or cable. It looks like a camera issue and isn't fixable with gain settings.
I just bought this camera and the hiss when a cable is plugged into the mic input is insanely loud and pervasive. Its so bad I am going to have to return it. Still there when dialling the gain down to -30dB which makes recording via external input completely useless. Giving it a 1 star rating.
There is something weird. I usually use a Boya external omni (because I often film in wind and the inbuilt mic picks up a *lot* of wind noise). This setup works well but sometimes (only sometimes) when I use my R0de wireless mic, the audio track consists of high-level white noise only. Very annoying! I don't have this problem with the R0de on any other camera.
Thank you for this very informative video. I use the AX53 for my channel and was thinking of using 60p which this camera (HC-X1500) offers. In terms of size , are both almost the same size? Or is the HC-X1500 bigger? Shooting inside of planes (which is what i do) ,i cannot use a much bigger camera due to the limited space.
interesting - i think the one thing it misses for me vs a smartphone is a wide-angle lens as i need around 12-18mm for any real estate and landscape work
Another advantage - try to zoom from 25 to 600mm so smooth on not camcoder. Are you still have it? I have some questions. Particular about *infrared* .
Infrared is working as expected. True very good infrared witth filters. There is two modes - white (monochrome) and classical green. Would be much better to have third one - no any color modification (like modded to IR DSLRs). It's very easy to turn on. But overall (for 1800) camera is questionable. ND filters not affect IR, just pass through (sad)
DSLR`s are not good in quick use. I need camcorders, it`s the only way. I don`t have time to change any lenses or whatever. When I start to film it has to work just like that and I need to be able to do all kinds of different setups in a very quick follow. No chance I could do that with a DSLR. Camcorder workflow is just faster.
Thank hou Sir for this review. I am considering this camera (HC-X1500) to buy as successor to my HC-X920. We use these camcorders to record public events and mainly for amateur purposes. So I guess this camera should be good upgrade of personal rig as well as for improving knowledge and experience with more professional hardware than before. I am little worried about possible problems in low light conditions but I guess this is just about level of acceptance for each user personally.
The reason for using camcorder over camera is the 30 minutes recording time limit on most of the cameras and their tendency to overheat, thus making cameras unsuitable for recording concerts or anything event that last more than 30 minutes.
Amazing review Mr Wong! I wonder if you can help me, I have the exact same model that i'm using to record an indoor storytelling video. Problem is that but I'm heavily struggling to find good settings for getting rid of noise grain. Wich settings work the best for the purpose?
Sorry I've returned this camera so can't really help you with this. To reduce noise, the most important thing is lower the ISO/Gain of the camera. So either increase amount of ambient light, or shoot with a faster aperture/iris is the best way.. Also make sure your ND filter is disabled if you are shooting under low light
Hi Richard. Great review! I like camcorders but - we have another brand new top camcorder from Panasonic however they intentionally does not give a large sensor... moreover with the senor the same as in the smartphone ?! WTF ! Came on Panasonic, what you guys doing??? The situation is the same as with a Canon, the new camera releases on the market G7X III but without dual auto-focus... SO I HAVE SOLUTION FOR THIS: If they playing with people this way, so maybe people should stop buying cameras and camcorders and focus on smartphones ??? One more moment and the phones will replace the cameras, business will collapse we will see what they will do then. I think that the cheaper cameras on the market at the moment are much more worth than the new ones compared to the costs. People have to stop being fooled by such tricks of large concerns. The only positive thing I see in this camera is live stream, but the phones also offer this function...
Wise person speaks. Thank you for stating the facts, phones are 8k now "Samsung s20" then there is osmo pocket, osmo mobile 3 and go pro hero 7 and 8. All you have bbn to do is order the ND filters for these devices and that's it. Low budget filming at it's best
Great review Richard. Any chance you would consider doing a set-up video on this camcorder? By set-up I'm talking about a deeper dive into the manual settings.
You damn right it's a dope camera. ua-cam.com/video/6SLOMZGU8cs/v-deo.html - I used the HC-X2000 to record like 95% of the ground level shots (those that aren't obviously GoPro, driving, or drone shots). A great camcorder for run-n-gun ... who says a camcorder can't be used in a cinematic way? I do! Good video isn't all about achieving the most bokeh :)
Hi Richard, thanks for this. I looked up the specs on the Panasonic website. If I read those correctly, 10 bit 422 is only for HD. 4k is 10 bit 420, not 422.
@@TheRealRichardWong Yes it could be an incomplete spec listing as the camera hasn't even been released for sale yet. I just watched a video about it from Holdan, a UK camera store, and they said 30 fps 10 422 internal, 60 fps is 10 420 internal and 10 422 external. That is not bad is that is the case, and makes sense in terms of bit rates needed. Using an external recorder kind of goes against using a tiny camcorder, but the option is there as least.
@@AW-go1tf yes that matches the info I've received as well. Yeah I agree with you using external recorder kind of opposite to why we should use a camcorder like this. But as you said, at least there is an option. 10bit 420 4k60 isn't bad at all for a camera at this price.
Hi . This is a very nicely considered opinion from you. I've just bought sony a6400 with a nice sony lens and some pentax primes and an adapter I had from my dslr. Being new to video, and think video quality to cost ratio was my main goal... I've discovered many of the details you discussed here. I'm now thinking I may add something like this video camera and keep the sony for the additional creative control with prime lenses allowing some experimentation and learning. The complications of Handling 4k is another issue I did not anticipate, I may down size my video files for editing. Great post. Thanks.
mirrorless...some great cameras out there...sure...but where do you get a parfocal 600mm zoom for any one of them? adding the built in functionality to a Mirrorless camera...the focal range with even kit lenses would be an additional 3000 spend.then there's the audio capture...to get dual XLR inputs you'd have to buy a recorder...thats another 250...plus you then have to sync the audio in post. Battery life is horrible and you'll need a camera cage to rig up all this extra stuff on it anyway...and for what? The same basic image? No client has ever said to me..."I love how you put together our project...great storytelling, lovel colour rendition and amazing audio...but we see you've only got F4 at the top end of the zoom and the bokeh in the interview segment wasnt cinema-like..."
It is not replacement of full frame, its addition. Low light? Buy a light. Do not shoot 'in the restroom'. I think at day time quality is decent and very good, as well its very compact compared to 70-200 / 400mm tele lens etc. Only cons, that they did not include power delivery over USB-C, that is great feature on S1 series.
Yes usb power delivery would be good. But then the battery life with that standard battery is already very good much better than any mirrorless camera and most camcorders in the market.
@@TheRealRichardWong here is a bummer that battery of that kind is very expensive... but probably you don't need in one day 4.5 hours continuos recording outside (or can use AC power)
@@rendermanpro I got a spare battery with my HC-X1500 because I do all-day coverage of some events but I'm gobsmacked at how long the battery life is on a charge. I can honestly say that I have not ever used the spare yet, despite some very long days of shooting. That 4.5 hours of claimed battery life is probably conservative (IMHO).
@@xjet You can forget to charge battery :) Or I left viewfinder in open position one time and recording inside a bag and discharge by mistake..... I know, battery is very good and I would like a spare one, but man, it cost about 200 bucks.... No usb power is not a "deal breaker", but S1 for example have that option. Or you can charge it everywhere from usb, so would be nice to have.
@@rendermanpro Actually you raise the BIGGEST COMPLAINT I have with this camera. There's no audio-cue to indicate whether the record button has registered your press. All my other camcorders make a "bing" noise when you start recording and a "bing bong" noise when you go back to standby. The Panasonic is deathly silent and the record button does NOT always recognise a press. This means I have lost count of the number of times I have got out of sync when filming events and ended up with lots of footage of my leg and the grass instead of what I thought I was capturing. Even worse, if you then close the viewfinder and the EVF without realising that it is still recording, it does not turn the camera off and you end up filling an SD card with blank footage whilst running down the battery. This is very close to a deal-breaker for me and even though I try very hard to make sure I check that the REC symbol is on when recording, being focused on framing and tracking things in a fast-moving scene inevitably means I get it wrong sometimes. Why on earth doesn't the HCX1500 have an audible cue for record/standby????? Just as importantly, why isn't it smart enough to turn off if you close the LCD and the EVF while recording???
WHAT'S THE BEST cameras for weddings to shoot inside church with good room lighting light but also at receiption venue with numerous low light sources? Tell me some models
Hello Mr. Wong! I just came across your very informative video review thank you! Was trying to decide between the HC-X1500 and the Sony FDR AX53 for recording sons baseball games. A good zoom with stability is important, also would like to be able to play back in slow motion not sure if the Sony model offers that. Any thoughts? Thank you!
Hi Mike, sorry i cannot really comment too much about the Sony AX53 as i haven't got a chance to use the Sony and do a review. But i do notice the Panasonic can do 4k60, while the Sony can only do 4k25, and the Panasonic seems to have a slightly faster lens (gather more light).
What is the highest resolution recording mode of this camera? I need to record a dance choreography indoors but we will have good light. Which recording mode do you recommend? I would like the image to be nice and sharp.
Currently only have an Eken action cam. So, I am looking for a much better camera than even a GoPro Hero 8. I have been struggling with what camera to go with. This camera seems to fit the bill but I would still like a good mirrorless camera. Not sure on the direction I should go? It looks like a Mirrorless camera that shoots 4k 60 would be thousand over this camera after you get a lens to go on the camera body. Nice review Richard. Is there any real reason to consider the AG CX10 over the HC-x2000?
Hi @TealcJack. the AG CX10 and HC-X2000 are very similar in terms of specs, the AG CX10 has some extra features that are really professional oriented so most people wouldn't benefit much from it.
As a relatively recent owner of aHC-X2000 Ican agrre with what you say 100%. Just which I had seen this video ofyors when maing up my mind on purchasing either the HC-X200 and Cannon vid cams. More than happ with the HC-X200. Only one problem with it is the rubbish (crap) user manual LOL. But as you say there is a lot of help on UA-cam.
Camcorders are actually more relevant going into 2024 than the were back when you made this video. People (ie the internet) has gotten so saturated with "cinematic" looking content, that is has lost all its value. Now with a drive towards authenticity many companies are asking for my production company to film with camcorders. Isn't life funny? Makes me happy too as I love shooting with a camcorder any day!
Hi, Two years on from this review anything you would now add? Also I have Panasonic VX1 and the 4K is awesome for field hockey games compared with V800 on 1080p but wanted to go to 4K 50fps, which X2000 does. The VX1 has the same sensor so filming at night isn't an issue (or at least I already know the quality). Do you know if you can have one card slot recording 4K and the card slot recording 1080p @ 120 fps? Sometimes in hockey we want to go frame by frame so if it could do 4kand 1080 at the same time this it would be awesome. Also how good does the computer CPU need to be to process 4K 50fps, as the one I have does 4k 24fps from the VX1 just fine. Thanks in advance
Hi RuckingGoodStats, Sorry i don't have the X2000 with me to check and get you the answers. But re one card slot recording 4k and one slot recording 1080p @120fps, i'm pretty sure you can't do that. The setting like shutter speed would probably be a bit different as 120fps would require quite a bit higher shutter speed. But I think it would be a great feature that i would want to use a lot myself but I am not aware what other camera at this price level can do this kind of thing. If your computer can handle 4k24 from VX1 smoothly, you should be able to process the 4k50 from the X2000 OK at least. You can always create proxies if it becomes a bit too slow/choppy. hope that answer your questions, if you have more questions, please feel free to ask and i'll try to answer. (maybe best to post as a new comment as UA-cam doesn't really notify me when reply to an existing thread)
Wich camera you recommend for outdoor soccer high tripod set up?. I like how the ag-dvx200 looks I don't know much about cameras but willing to learn.. someone said the cx10 or x1500 was good..
Great video revue. It’s a good value camcorder if you can live with its limitations, But the fz2000 has a 1” sensor and can be found for £500, If you add an atomos ninja v to the fz2000 You have a better recording rig for half the money.
You just highlighted the biggest reason anyone would go for a professional camcorder over a photo cameras with external recorder: Everything is integrated. You only need batteries for one device and no extra cables to worry about. Also, the FZ2000 can't record UHD at 50/60 fps.
@Carl Siemens but I'm looking at bang per buck. You can pick up very cheap cameras that will give you amazing output to external recorders for a fraction of the cost. Sure, camcorders can be all in one solutions, but a panasonic S1 with a ninja v can be picked up second hand with warentee today for £1400. That can give you upto 6k raw output from a full frame camera, tell me of any camcorder that can do that?
I suspect the huge feature set at modest cost makes these cameras still relevant in 2023 -- and especially now, at lower, "discontinued" $500USD or so lower than their original retail pricepoints! I just acquired the HC-x1500 and an anxious to see what type alternative, 3rd party "top handle" solution I end up going with!
Great video. One question. How do I connect 2 Rode XLR shotgun mics. to the handle please. Is there a screw thread, bracket, or something similar ? Thanks. ( Thinking of upgrading from an HC X1, for the streaming functions.)
@@TheRealRichardWong I have sorted it now. Rode do an adapter DCS-1, that screws into a cold mount and allows 2 mics. side by side. Just waiting for the HC- X2000 to become available. Might be a while yet, unless you may know different ?
Yes it should be good. High contrast scene is always a bit of challenge in terms of exposure so you might need to adjust the exposure a bit yourself but otherwise it should work well
Yes, I have the very first Sony HD camcorder with the BOSS system (the HD PJ760V) and I've been waiting a *long* time for Sony to come out with a 4K/60 version. Eventually I gave up waiting and bought the HC-X1500 which does NTSC and PAL compatible frame rates up to 60FPS. The stab is not as good as BOSS but it makes up for that in every other possible way and using a high enough shutter speed I can stabilize in post quite effectively to get rid of any last bit of shaking -- quite important when (like me) you have Parkinson's :-)
awesome overview and opinion. this year I want to replace my Canon XF300 and Canon Xf100 which have been really good for concerts and live events (I use a C100 mk2 for weddings and corporate). How do you find the HC-X2000 in low light -not dark but indoors? I need good 1080p-many of my clients DO NOT need 4k but if I'm to buy new cameras I want them to be 4k even if I shoot mostly 1080p. This one reminds me of the Canon XF100 but I hope the low light is better...I watched your video. 4K looks a bit soft...it could be my eyes...and youtube's compression...I was looking at the Canon XF400 but didnt like it...I hear the panny CX350 is ok...are these ones better? and I can't afford the Canon XF705! I will wait for more footage samples from these new Panny cameras. In a perfect world I would get an AG-CX10 and one HC-X1500 for b camera...thoughts? thanks so much for sharing
Hi Erick sorry I missed your comment until now. low light is definitely not the strength of this camcorder. The fast aperture and built in light helps quite a bit but it does get noisy quite easily especially if you don't want to turn on the led light.
@@TheRealRichardWong hi Richard..wow...what a difference 2 weeks make! gosh...the entire planet has gone into a crisis...wow..I'm in Canada but I was vacationing in California-L.A and San Fran when SF went into a lockdown and I decided to fly to Detroit and then drive to Toronto! talk about escapes..I self-isolated for 2 weeks and my two weeks are up and I'm ok-for now but I have to stay vigilant and careful for at least 3 months here in Canada, but my heart aches for the millions of citizens of the world that will suffer the pandemic...I hope you are ok and that the pandemic is brought under control before the end of summer. Then...it will be time to rebuild. The lucky ones will be able to work again making videos but I have the feeling that it will be a long time before some joy comes back into our lives. hmm...this camera might be a nice toy- I hope I can test it someday this year. Stay healthy
@@TheRealRichardWong hi again...hmm...I was hoping this camera would be ok in low light...but I know that only mirrorless and some DSLRs are good in low light because of the super 35 sensor...I do live events and other lifestyle videos and a GOOD camcorder is very useful. I have a Canon 90D and a Sony a6400 but a good 1080p/4k camcorder would be great..which one? Thanks
Would this be suitable for weddings? How long a battery can hold and how much GB/h does a 4k footage using this camera usually takes? Thank you, Richard! :)
Ok, so here is my question. I’ve been shooting trains with 3 different viewpoints simultaneously (drone, video camera and GoPro) and editing them together. My 10 year old Panasonic tm900 with 3moss image sensor takes fantastic video but only 1080p/60. I want to upgrade but need a video camera that still offers a nice smooth long zoom to catch the approach of the trains. I’m torn between getting a Mirror less camera (but once you factor in the cost of a lens that offers the sort of zoom that the 2000 has your talking big money) . I’m lost as to what I should do.
One factor that you should consider is that smaller sensors will generally have better rolling shutter performance (less jello effect) than larger sensors. Since you film trains, you will see a lot more rolling shutter effect when the trains are moving. IMHO, HC-X1500/X2000 would suit you better than a mirrorless would. Also, camcorders mount the battery on the outside which makes battery changes much easier.
How does the video quality compare iPhone 12 at not zoomed focal length? Also for normal user who just want to record their travel and some street photography, does it make sense to just have iPhone or with additional of this camcorder or a camera like Leica Q2? Love camcorder but haven't own one, love to able to zoom so far Also, hows the moon quality looks like at 600mm on this camcorder?
Sorry I havent got a iphone 12 so hard to comment. For shooting moon, it is probably ok if it's a full moon which is quite bright... But new moon it may struggle
for the moon 600mm is not enough. the video quality from this camcorder is much higher than that of the iphone, it has very good quality, but it is rather weak in low light.
Gh5 would be better for low light, and shallow depth of field look if that's what you want. But the hcx2000 is an all in one unit that has a few other advantages like a big zoom lens built in
Wonderful video Mr Wong! Curious if you might know the answer to a problem I have with my HC-X2000. I bought it to record family moments and birthdays and such, been shooting with it onto 1 card for the last year. Only recently I tried to retrieve the footage I had recorded and when the files were uploaded to my computer they were playable however the sound was gone and in its place was a very loud audio hiss ON ALL MY VIDEOS! :( I was recording with a small rodes shotgun mic plugged in through the AUX mic input, and when the files are played back on the camera the IS sound. Its just when they are on the computer. I cant find any information online and I'm totally stumped
Hi Cameron, oh the problem you describe is quite weird. I have never have or heard of issues like that. But the hiss is quite likely caused by the external mic. So are you saying it sounds ok when you play it back on the camcorder? Could it be just the camcorder's speaker isn't good so it "hide" the hiss sound? Can you reproduce it again? What about try another mic and internal mic to see if it's caused by the mic or the camcorder? I would try to contact your local Panasonic support or ring it back to the shop and see if they can help you? Unfortunately it's a bit hard to troubleshoot it without the camcorder/mic
For a wedding service I would have the HC-X1500/2000 as the PRIMARY camera and NOT SECONDARY. I would have my Lumix S5 as a static secondary regardless of the low light conditions in the church. Servo zoom and long reach trumps everything the mirrorless full frame large sensor S5 has to offer.
Many people seem to get in a muddle about the effect of sensor size on camera performance/image characteristics. How about making a UA-cam video that attempts to record the same video/image (with the same depth of field) on a range of cameras with different sensors? For example: 1/2.5" @F2 @ISO 400 1" @F4 @ISO 1600 m43 @F5.6 @ISO 3200 APS-C @F8 @ISO 6400 Full Frame @F16 @ISO 12800 Is there actually that much difference in image quality?
Good suggestions Stephen. I will definitely give it a try if I have a chance to gather a few cameras with different sensor size and test it out. And I have a feeling the result would be very similar.. and might be even better with the smaller sensor camera? Will see if I can try that out
Yankee Indeed. But it is also true that consumers are bombarded by half-truths about camera specifications by manufacturer marketing departments. A bit of basic knowledge about the relevance or otherwise of these claims to real photography and/or videography can only help people reach their creative goals in my opinion.
Hey, 11:27 - oh, man. You'll not believe..... And it's clearly seen - the same mistake as I have. *It is not a small viewfinder.* You (and me) tried it in totally wrong way - *you used it with one eye closed!* . If you just open another eye it (seems to be really magically) fill out all around black area and you somekind see though camera with one eye. Kind of have screen in front of you. It really make HUGE difference. Do not close one eye and look with both eyes opened.
how much did you pay for the camcorder I useally find my camcorder at walmart or best buy the camcorder I bout it was like a $291.99 dollars in life that camcorder you have is it expensive or something can it take pictures or videotape things mys can to what store did you bout it from I bout mys at walmart in life
The best one is the B.O.S.S. (Balanced Optical Steady Shot) system in the Sony AX53. The entire imaging system including the sensor is on a balancing gimbal inside the camera. But that camera is a consumer camera and not professional, it's also from the year 2016. This new Panasonic is VERY close to the Sony AX53 though. I like it a lot and am going to get it to replace my old Sony AX53 :)
@@BackusCreativeImaging Yes, I would have bought an AX53 instead of the HCX-1500 except for the fact that the AX53 only does 30FPS at 4K. Huge limitation if you're looking to film fast action sports or activities.
@@xjet I used to have an AX53 then later sold it. I ended up buying the HC-X2000 and I like it! I have used it for 90 hours so far, it takes some time to master. It's definitely a pro level tiny sensor camcorder. Here's some test footage I took with it, read the description for settings I used: ua-cam.com/video/FuwTB8BdkMo/v-deo.html
Reporting - I disagree about weight. Camera is very light and weight is good. *BUT* , might be I hold it wrong way - its *extremely* uncomfortable to hold. Kind of preasure to palm or something. I had shoot on S1, that is much bulky and heavy - no any issues of discomfort. So, who wanna shot handheld (no top grip) - its better to try it before for 5-10 minutes. Image qualiry - do not expect GH5 or S1 level of sharpness in 4K... But not bad. Made in Malaysia, not China.
I agree GH5 or even S1 by itself is not that heavy. But once you added a lens (or a few) which covers the same focal length range, and then with accessories like LED light, ND filter...etc then it adds up quite a bit.
had th HC-X1000, hated it, bad blurry video and terrible low light noise, HC-X2000 seems to suffer the same fate, i wish panasonic just put a 1inch censor in and let it be.
Do you shoot video with camcorder? What camcorder do you use and what makes you choose a camcorder instead of a mirrorless or other type of camera?
Not currently but tempted to get one as a supplement to my main camera
YOU FORGOT TO PIN THIS..
@@goldenlion8123 Ah! Pinned now. Thanks!
I use a GH5. But on holiday I don't want to cart it around, together with maybe two alternative lenses, and constantly mess about with a variable ND, etc. This would be an all-in-one solution. The footage won't be as good as the GH5, that's understood. But the convenience ! I think this will be a complimentary piece of kit rather than a replacement. Thanks for the frank review - would have appreciated more actual footage.
@@grahamfjlaws6108 yes I think you completely get what this camcorder is about. Regarding the sample footage .. yeah there isn't enough sample footage in this review.. one main reason is I lost a lot of sample footage i have shot and only realised that when compiling the review video and I have already returned it to Panasonic :( my silly mistake sorry about that
Camcorders, in my opinion offer a few major benefits:
1. Everything is integrated. Including XLR audio. No plugging in extra devices, no lenses to change. You don't need to worry about as many cables that can get unplugged at the worst times.
2. Externally mounted batteries. Changing batteries is really quick and easy, whereas mirrorless/DSLR type cameras need to be taken off the tripod to open the battery compartment.
3. Zoom controllers are great. Most high-end camcorders have LANC ports so you can plug a wired remote to control zoom and start/stop recording.
4. Ergonomics. I don't know about you but a photo camera's grip isn't so great for shooting video. You know why most serious filmmakers have to get extra handles for their mirrorless cameras? Because they need to hold it better. Camcorders have better ergonomics without having to bolt on >$300 of metal and wood.
5. Better rolling shutter performance.
6. Smaller (and lighter). Sure, you can configure your mirrorless camera to be smaller than a camcorder but you're usually giving up audio, ergonomics, battery life and zoom range. Because everything is integrated, you always have what you need, no matter the situation.
It’s a unique combination of 4k60 + unlimited recording + reliable auto focus + stabilized 600mm + plus touch focus + all day battery + plus a flip screen. Not available in mirrorless today. For what it is it suits the cases you’ve pointed out. Looks like a good run and gun with another mirrorless low light capable B cam. I’m hard pressed to think what I wouldnt have covered if I pair this with my A7iii, except weather sealing. If my sporting event turned rainy I would be in trouble.
Thanks for going over some of the features on this camera. One thing I've done to learn about this camera is just print out the entire pdf manual, place it in a binder and tab each chapter for a quick reference. The reason I went with this camera is my wife's dslr overheated quickly when filming my son's basketball game in 4k 60p. This camera will achieve filming 4k 60p without overheating (making it great for events - as you mentioned).
Very helpful.The community I live in just purchased an HC-X2000 and I will have a live orientation to it next week. I wanted a video orientation. Yours was helpful. I could not find a video resource that would give a basic tutorial to the HC-X2000. Yours was as close as I could find. Thank you.
Glad the video helped Philip!
The sensor size issue is overblown. I have the Sony AX53 with the same size sensor as this Panasonic. I also have the 1 inch sensor AX100. In theory the 1 inch sensor should be better in low light, but it is not, so why is that? Larger sensors means a slower aperture unless there is a large increase in lens size. The f2.8 maximum aperture on the AX100 means more gain in low light, and the gain means more noise. A faster aperture reduces gain, and therefore reduces noise. The f1.8 aperture lens on this camera makes a huge difference. This camera will not be a low light king, but it will be dramatically better than a GoPro with more than a full stop of aperture advantage at the wide end. With a much higher bit rate this camcorder should produce excellent results.
As to why use camcorder vs mirrorless camera. Besides that the camcorder is optimised for video, price is a huge reason. To get the necessary accessories and lenses, the mirrorless camera generally costs quite a lot more to get similar video capabilities. The mirrorless has some advantages in terms of being creative with depth of field and specialist lenses such as tilt/shift lenses, but the camcorder has huge advantages with its built in lens such as the power zoom, and it is parfocal. Add to that long video recording times with no overheating issues, and the ergonomics, and a camcoder is first choice for general purpose videography. I use several camcorders plus mirrorless and action cameras, and each has their place. My A7S ii is the low light king. The A7R ii I use for super 35 creativity with creative lens choices, GoPro and Insta360 One X for action, Panasonic DVX-200 for serious/high quality videography, and AX53 and AX100 for B-roll. I am intending to add the Panasonic VX1 and X1500 in the next 12 months. I am choosing the X1500 and adding the handle because it is cheaper than the X2000 and I have SDI requirements met on the DVX-200 already.
The interesting thing to me is how Sony started to get ahead with their camcorders in recent years, but with the newer camcorders, Panasonic is now the better choice. Also, there was a time when camcorders just weren’t good enough compared to mirrorless, but that has changed and the better camcorders are providing incredibly good value for general purpose videography such as interviews and events.
This was the type of comment I was looking for. Thanks for explaining the difference’s by someone who is working in the field with both mirrorless and camcorders. I’m finally able to decide to get this X2000 to handle bigger video projects than relying on my Fuji XT3.
Hi i have been using the AX43 for 3 years now and am very pleased with what it can do, of course in low light situations can be a a bit problematic sometimes. I was thinking of getting the HC-X1500 since it does 60p. What is your opinion? Do you see it as an upgrade or not much of a significant difference?
Aero Mundos I think it is an upgrade. The newer sensor is a factor, but so is the feature set, and the phrase 10 bit internal is huge.
@@artistjoh Thank you for your reply , it encourages the move. Still will wait a bit until they go down with the price , maybe Black Friday will bring a good deal for this camera. All the best ,Emmanuel.
You are correct. I shot some great clips with my HC-X2000: ua-cam.com/video/FuwTB8BdkMo/v-deo.html. Sensor size is not everything. My other main camera is the Sony ZV-1 on the Crane M2 gimbal when I need better low light performance and more bokeh. I chose the Sony ZV-1 over the Sony AX700 for example because even though they have the same size sensors, the 1 inch sensor camcorders are f/2.8 instead of f/1.8 at the wide end like on the Sony ZV-1. Most reviewers don't mention these sorts of facts. Overall, the f/1.8 on the wide end of the HC-X2000 means it is respectable even in lower lit conditions (like you said, better than a GoPro which has a fixed f/2.8 aperture). I sold my Sony AX53, I had been waiting for years for a proper professional camcorder upgrade. Panasonic did it with the HC-X1500, HC-X2000 and CX-10.
Why so many dislikes? He did a good job on reviewing the camera
Best to ignore the malicious personalities out there that will hate you for the orange color of your Kodak shirt.
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
Thank you for making this review video. You addressed what I wanted to know to see if this would make a good camera for recording speakers at conferences and public events and I do believe it would.
your review comes from a practical application approach and thats why I choose to shoot with a camcorder over mirrorless for event or documentary type work. The servo zoom and dual mic inputs alone make the camcorder a better choice over mirrorless.
Getting this camera this week! I’m excited!
Enjoy!
Great revue, just one thing I wouldn't call these cameras semi pro. They are pro for sure. All the features that any pro would expect are there.
I think they're called "semi-pro" because they're not a shoulder-mounted camera like you see in broadcast.
Great video! Thank you so much for making this. This has helped a tremendous amount and I think I'll be buying this cam because of this review. Subscribed!
Thank you Randall. Glad the review helped
I went with this camera (HC-X1500) as it will be exclusively used to film videos in my workshop where the lighting is very good. I couldn't justify spending another £1000 on say a Sony NX80. I also manual focus explusively, and teh Focus Assist is just great.
That OIS is ridiculously good, amazing in fact.
Yes It is really good
The IOS is good but not a patch on the Sony BOSS system. I came from a Sony to the HC-X1500 and can say that the Pansonic image stabilization is nowhere near as good... but good enough.
Great Job! Will be getting 2 to help film weddings with my AG DVX 200 👍
I am currently looking at buying one. I like shooting wildlife and birds and I think this unit is more simple, no changing lenses and autofocus works well, built in ND, greater recording time limits, 4k 60fps, autofocus in HD 120fps.
For your usage I think a camcorder like the hcx2000 totally make sense. Imagine carry any mirrorless camera with up to 600mm eq focal length and you still can't zoom smoothly and have to change lenses and carry a bunch of accessories
ua-cam.com/video/8DOqfEdOIz4/v-deo.html I shot that video with my back turned to them all the time. They were out easily 100 yards from me. There's no way I could've done with with a DSLR, but with a camcorder, everything was super easy.
@@YankeeWoodcraft Panasonic VX1 much like the new x1500. Thanks for the info and video.
@@TheRealRichardWong yea its perfect for amateur or entry level animal watching/documentation
Good review - thank you. The main reason fro me to buy this, even though I have the GH5 mark 2, is that when I wish to video something quickly such as a bird this camera has the lens without the delay of changing as is usually the case with the GH5.
Sensor size means absolutely nothing except to pixel peepers. It is an invalid argument. This camcorder literally does virtually everything that would cost $10,000 to replicate with a mirrorless and then you'd still have no power zoom if any at all, no infrared and no nd filters. This camera has no weaknesses that mean anything in the real world. Paired with my lumix g9 this is the ultimate setup.
DOF and low light performance
Looks like a lot of bang for the buck. Very good, thorough review of this camera. Thank you for your effort. Marc T.
The stabilization at 8:20 is quite impressive. I had an Olympus mirrorless, which is well known for having good IBIS, but such a handheld shot at 600 eq. is not possible. Maybe at 300.
Have you experienced any hissing issues with the external mic input? I have just received the camera and I noticed when I plugged any mic or any 3.5 cable into the external audio input, there is a constant hissing sound that isn't coming from the mic or cable. It looks like a camera issue and isn't fixable with gain settings.
Can't remember having that issue
I just bought this camera and the hiss when a cable is plugged into the mic input is insanely loud and pervasive. Its so bad I am going to have to return it. Still there when dialling the gain down to -30dB which makes recording via external input completely useless. Giving it a 1 star rating.
@@VictorLaMonde I have just sent mine in for warranty work. If that doesn't fix it, will likely be returning it as well.
might have jumped the gun. I was monitoring thru headphone jack prior to recording. Recorded audio is a lot better quality
There is something weird. I usually use a Boya external omni (because I often film in wind and the inbuilt mic picks up a *lot* of wind noise). This setup works well but sometimes (only sometimes) when I use my R0de wireless mic, the audio track consists of high-level white noise only. Very annoying! I don't have this problem with the R0de on any other camera.
New sub! Great review. Thank you for taking the time to make this.
Thanks for the sub!
Thank you for this very informative video. I use the AX53 for my channel and was thinking of using 60p which this camera (HC-X1500) offers. In terms of size , are both almost the same size? Or is the HC-X1500 bigger? Shooting inside of planes (which is what i do) ,i cannot use a much bigger camera due to the limited space.
I think the hcx1500 is a bit bigger, from memory ax53 is pretty small but I have not compare them side by side
@@TheRealRichardWong The HC-X1500 does seem to be a bit bigger since i haven't had the opportunity to see it live. Thank you.
interesting - i think the one thing it misses for me vs a smartphone is a wide-angle lens as i need around 12-18mm for any real estate and landscape work
Another advantage - try to zoom from 25 to 600mm so smooth on not camcoder.
Are you still have it? I have some questions.
Particular about *infrared* .
Yes agree.
No sorry don't have it anymore. And I didn't test out the IR recording feature unfortunately
Infrared is working as expected. True very good infrared witth filters. There is two modes - white (monochrome) and classical green. Would be much better to have third one - no any color modification (like modded to IR DSLRs). It's very easy to turn on. But overall (for 1800) camera is questionable. ND filters not affect IR, just pass through (sad)
DSLR`s are not good in quick use. I need camcorders, it`s the only way. I don`t have time to change any lenses or whatever. When I start to film it has to work just like that and I need to be able to do all kinds of different setups in a very quick follow. No chance I could do that with a DSLR. Camcorder workflow is just faster.
Thank hou Sir for this review. I am considering this camera (HC-X1500) to buy as successor to my HC-X920. We use these camcorders to record public events and mainly for amateur purposes. So I guess this camera should be good upgrade of personal rig as well as for improving knowledge and experience with more professional hardware than before. I am little worried about possible problems in low light conditions but I guess this is just about level of acceptance for each user personally.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video ... It answered all the questions i wanted to ask ... Thanks again ... sorry Great Video and quality
Glad it was helpful!
For 4.2.2 color, you mentioned an external recorder. Which product is this?
The reason for using camcorder over camera is the 30 minutes recording time limit on most of the cameras and their tendency to overheat, thus making cameras unsuitable for recording concerts or anything event that last more than 30 minutes.
Great review, Richard - thank you so much!
Thanks for watching Dirk
1) how's the continuous auto focus?
2) and low lights?
There is some hunting... it has the same Venus engine as the GH5.
Amazing review Mr Wong! I wonder if you can help me, I have the exact same model that i'm using to record an indoor storytelling video. Problem is that but I'm heavily struggling to find good settings for getting rid of noise grain. Wich settings work the best for the purpose?
Sorry I've returned this camera so can't really help you with this. To reduce noise, the most important thing is lower the ISO/Gain of the camera. So either increase amount of ambient light, or shoot with a faster aperture/iris is the best way.. Also make sure your ND filter is disabled if you are shooting under low light
Hi Richard. Great review! I like camcorders but - we have another brand new top camcorder from Panasonic however they intentionally does not give a large sensor... moreover with the senor the same as in the smartphone ?! WTF ! Came on Panasonic, what you guys doing??? The situation is the same as with a Canon, the new camera releases on the market G7X III but without dual auto-focus... SO I HAVE SOLUTION FOR THIS: If they playing with people this way, so maybe people should stop buying cameras and camcorders and focus on smartphones ??? One more moment and the phones will replace the cameras, business will collapse we will see what they will do then. I think that the cheaper cameras on the market at the moment are much more worth than the new ones compared to the costs. People have to stop being fooled by such tricks of large concerns. The only positive thing I see in this camera is live stream, but the phones also offer this function...
Wise person speaks. Thank you for stating the facts, phones are 8k now "Samsung s20" then there is osmo pocket, osmo mobile 3 and go pro hero 7 and 8. All you have bbn to do is order the ND filters for these devices and that's it. Low budget filming at it's best
Great review Richard. Any chance you would consider doing a set-up video on this camcorder? By set-up I'm talking about a deeper dive into the manual settings.
Great suggestion! I will see if i can do that thanks for the suggestion :)
This is actually a really dope cam 🎥👌🔥
Add one to your camera rig 3.0!!!
@@TheRealRichardWong haha sounds like a plan! 😍
You damn right it's a dope camera. ua-cam.com/video/6SLOMZGU8cs/v-deo.html - I used the HC-X2000 to record like 95% of the ground level shots (those that aren't obviously GoPro, driving, or drone shots). A great camcorder for run-n-gun ... who says a camcorder can't be used in a cinematic way? I do! Good video isn't all about achieving the most bokeh :)
Hi Richard, thanks for this. I looked up the specs on the Panasonic website. If I read those correctly, 10 bit 422 is only for HD. 4k is 10 bit 420, not 422.
From the docs I have it says internal is 420 but external 4k is 422. I haven't test it myself so there is a chance my doc is wrong
@@TheRealRichardWong Yes it could be an incomplete spec listing as the camera hasn't even been released for sale yet. I just watched a video about it from Holdan, a UK camera store, and they said 30 fps 10 422 internal, 60 fps is 10 420 internal and 10 422 external. That is not bad is that is the case, and makes sense in terms of bit rates needed. Using an external recorder kind of goes against using a tiny camcorder, but the option is there as least.
@@AW-go1tf yes that matches the info I've received as well. Yeah I agree with you using external recorder kind of opposite to why we should use a camcorder like this. But as you said, at least there is an option. 10bit 420 4k60 isn't bad at all for a camera at this price.
Thanks from USA, Chicago, IL
Thanks for watching!
Just wish it had a bigger sensor. Need that low light performance with all the zoom range and all that good stuff.
Unfortunately if it has bigger sensor, the zoom range, price or size would all change :(
Hi . This is a very nicely considered opinion from you. I've just bought sony a6400 with a nice sony lens and some pentax primes and an adapter I had from my dslr. Being new to video, and think video quality to cost ratio was my main goal... I've discovered many of the details you discussed here. I'm now thinking I may add something like this video camera and keep the sony for the additional creative control with prime lenses allowing some experimentation and learning. The complications of Handling 4k is another issue I did not anticipate, I may down size my video files for editing. Great post. Thanks.
mirrorless...some great cameras out there...sure...but where do you get a parfocal 600mm zoom for any one of them?
adding the built in functionality to a Mirrorless camera...the focal range with even kit lenses would be an additional 3000 spend.then there's the audio capture...to get dual XLR inputs you'd have to buy a recorder...thats another 250...plus you then have to sync the audio in post. Battery life is horrible and you'll need a camera cage to rig up all this extra stuff on it anyway...and for what? The same basic image?
No client has ever said to me..."I love how you put together our project...great storytelling, lovel colour rendition and amazing audio...but we see you've only got F4 at the top end of the zoom and the bokeh in the interview segment wasnt cinema-like..."
Thanks for another great review, it looks like it is quite a good all-in-one video camera if you mainly shooting under good light.
It is not replacement of full frame, its addition. Low light? Buy a light. Do not shoot 'in the restroom'.
I think at day time quality is decent and very good, as well its very compact compared to 70-200 / 400mm tele lens etc. Only cons, that they did not include power delivery over USB-C, that is great feature on S1 series.
Yes usb power delivery would be good. But then the battery life with that standard battery is already very good much better than any mirrorless camera and most camcorders in the market.
@@TheRealRichardWong here is a bummer that battery of that kind is very expensive... but probably you don't need in one day 4.5 hours continuos recording outside (or can use AC power)
@@rendermanpro I got a spare battery with my HC-X1500 because I do all-day coverage of some events but I'm gobsmacked at how long the battery life is on a charge. I can honestly say that I have not ever used the spare yet, despite some very long days of shooting. That 4.5 hours of claimed battery life is probably conservative (IMHO).
@@xjet You can forget to charge battery :) Or I left viewfinder in open position one time and recording inside a bag and discharge by mistake..... I know, battery is very good and I would like a spare one, but man, it cost about 200 bucks.... No usb power is not a "deal breaker", but S1 for example have that option. Or you can charge it everywhere from usb, so would be nice to have.
@@rendermanpro Actually you raise the BIGGEST COMPLAINT I have with this camera. There's no audio-cue to indicate whether the record button has registered your press. All my other camcorders make a "bing" noise when you start recording and a "bing bong" noise when you go back to standby. The Panasonic is deathly silent and the record button does NOT always recognise a press. This means I have lost count of the number of times I have got out of sync when filming events and ended up with lots of footage of my leg and the grass instead of what I thought I was capturing. Even worse, if you then close the viewfinder and the EVF without realising that it is still recording, it does not turn the camera off and you end up filling an SD card with blank footage whilst running down the battery.
This is very close to a deal-breaker for me and even though I try very hard to make sure I check that the REC symbol is on when recording, being focused on framing and tracking things in a fast-moving scene inevitably means I get it wrong sometimes. Why on earth doesn't the HCX1500 have an audible cue for record/standby????? Just as importantly, why isn't it smart enough to turn off if you close the LCD and the EVF while recording???
WHAT'S THE BEST cameras for weddings to shoot inside church with good room lighting light but also at receiption venue with numerous low light sources? Tell me some models
Hello Mr. Wong! I just came across your very informative video review thank you! Was trying to decide between the HC-X1500 and the Sony FDR AX53 for recording sons baseball games. A good zoom with stability is important, also would like to be able to play back in slow motion not sure if the Sony model offers that. Any thoughts? Thank you!
Hi Mike, sorry i cannot really comment too much about the Sony AX53 as i haven't got a chance to use the Sony and do a review. But i do notice the Panasonic can do 4k60, while the Sony can only do 4k25, and the Panasonic seems to have a slightly faster lens (gather more light).
@@TheRealRichardWong Hello Mr. Wong, Ok I completely understand but thank you for your feedback and quick response sir!
What is the highest resolution recording mode of this camera? I need to record a dance choreography indoors but we will have good light. Which recording mode do you recommend? I would like the image to be nice and sharp.
Currently only have an Eken action cam. So, I am looking for a much better camera than even a GoPro Hero 8. I have been struggling with what camera to go with. This camera seems to fit the bill but I would still like a good mirrorless camera. Not sure on the direction I should go? It looks like a Mirrorless camera that shoots 4k 60 would be thousand over this camera after you get a lens to go on the camera body. Nice review Richard. Is there any real reason to consider the AG CX10 over the HC-x2000?
Hi @TealcJack. the AG CX10 and HC-X2000 are very similar in terms of specs, the AG CX10 has some extra features that are really professional oriented so most people wouldn't benefit much from it.
@@TheRealRichardWong Thanks for the response.
As a relatively recent owner of aHC-X2000 Ican agrre with what you say 100%. Just which I had seen this video ofyors when maing up my mind on purchasing either the HC-X200 and Cannon vid cams. More than happ with the HC-X200. Only one problem with it is the rubbish (crap) user manual LOL. But as you say there is a lot of help on UA-cam.
Camera user manuals in general are really not keeping up with the advance in technology.
I own this camera and I have a question. How do I transfer and view my videos on a PC without purchasing CODECS??? I appreciate your help.
Camcorders are actually more relevant going into 2024 than the were back when you made this video. People (ie the internet) has gotten so saturated with "cinematic" looking content, that is has lost all its value. Now with a drive towards authenticity many companies are asking for my production company to film with camcorders. Isn't life funny? Makes me happy too as I love shooting with a camcorder any day!
Hi, Two years on from this review anything you would now add? Also I have Panasonic VX1 and the 4K is awesome for field hockey games compared with V800 on 1080p but wanted to go to 4K 50fps, which X2000 does. The VX1 has the same sensor so filming at night isn't an issue (or at least I already know the quality). Do you know if you can have one card slot recording 4K and the card slot recording 1080p @ 120 fps? Sometimes in hockey we want to go frame by frame so if it could do 4kand 1080 at the same time this it would be awesome. Also how good does the computer CPU need to be to process 4K 50fps, as the one I have does 4k 24fps from the VX1 just fine. Thanks in advance
Hi RuckingGoodStats, Sorry i don't have the X2000 with me to check and get you the answers. But re one card slot recording 4k and one slot recording 1080p @120fps, i'm pretty sure you can't do that.
The setting like shutter speed would probably be a bit different as 120fps would require quite a bit higher shutter speed. But I think it would be a great feature that i would want to use a lot myself but I am not aware what other camera at this price level can do this kind of thing.
If your computer can handle 4k24 from VX1 smoothly, you should be able to process the 4k50 from the X2000 OK at least. You can always create proxies if it becomes a bit too slow/choppy.
hope that answer your questions, if you have more questions, please feel free to ask and i'll try to answer. (maybe best to post as a new comment as UA-cam doesn't really notify me when reply to an existing thread)
Glad I happened upon this great video review. Is the camera weather sealed?
Hi Rafael, Not that I know of!
This looks great. I wonder if I can use it on a gimbal and wifi it to studio one. Need some sort of addon that takes RTMP feed.
Nice! What file format does it save the video as .mov? .mp4?
It can record HEVC or AVC video in MOV or MP4 containers. AVCHD is supported too but that's only AVC not HEVC and max 1080p.
@@Crlarl Cool! Nice. Thank you :)
If someone captures Aircraft or Birds or wants a good camera to take on Holiday to shoot 4k I don't think you can go wrong with it.
An excellent overview, thank you.
Thank you!
Wich camera you recommend for outdoor soccer high tripod set up?. I like how the ag-dvx200 looks I don't know much about cameras but willing to learn.. someone said the cx10 or x1500 was good..
Hi there sorry I haven't test all those cameras so can't really say which is the best for you
Does the X1500 has IR night vision?
Would it be good to use Panasonic X1500 for TV entertainment shows?
Based on the bitrate and quality I would say absolutely. I'm not an expert though but my two cents.
Great video revue. It’s a good value camcorder if you can live with its limitations,
But the fz2000 has a 1” sensor and can be found for £500, If you add an atomos ninja v to the fz2000
You have a better recording rig for half the money.
You just highlighted the biggest reason anyone would go for a professional camcorder over a photo cameras with external recorder: Everything is integrated. You only need batteries for one device and no extra cables to worry about. Also, the FZ2000 can't record UHD at 50/60 fps.
@Carl Siemens but I'm looking at bang per buck. You can pick up very cheap cameras that will give you amazing output to external recorders for a fraction of the cost.
Sure, camcorders can be all in one solutions, but a panasonic S1 with a ninja v can be picked up second hand with warentee today for £1400.
That can give you upto 6k raw output from a full frame camera, tell me of any camcorder that can do that?
thanks for your review, I bought this camcorder. which usb cable is fitting? seems very hard to find the right one...
Isn't it just the normal usb cable? Sorry don't have the camcorder with me to check.. but maybe someone else can help
hey how is this camera , stabilisation ,ease of use out of box , usb type c , will you recommend this or something else ?
I am honestly confused between this and the other manufacturers who are offering the 1 inch sensors for the same cost? Can this still compete?
I suspect the huge feature set at modest cost makes these cameras still relevant in 2023 -- and especially now, at lower, "discontinued" $500USD or so lower than their original retail pricepoints!
I just acquired the HC-x1500 and an anxious to see what type alternative, 3rd party "top handle" solution I end up going with!
Great video. One question. How do I connect 2 Rode XLR shotgun mics. to the handle please. Is there a screw thread, bracket, or something similar ? Thanks. ( Thinking of upgrading from an HC X1, for the streaming functions.)
Hi John, sorry it's being a while since i did this review, and i don't have the camcorder with me anymore so can't really check for you :(
@@TheRealRichardWong I have sorted it now. Rode do an adapter DCS-1, that screws into a cold mount and allows 2 mics. side by side. Just waiting for the HC- X2000 to become available. Might be a while yet, unless you may know different ?
Can you set it up to show horizontal and vertical lines in the LCD?
What kind of camera did you take when the video started? I'd appreciate it if you could tell me the model.
Sorry it's been a while, I think it should be a lumix g85?
Is this camera good for recording indoor comedy shows? the performers are under a spot light and the rest of the room is dark.. thank you for any info
Yes it should be good. High contrast scene is always a bit of challenge in terms of exposure so you might need to adjust the exposure a bit yourself but otherwise it should work well
@@TheRealRichardWong thank you for your time and response
Where on Earth are the AX53 & VX1 successor? The 4K60 camcorders for
Yes, I have the very first Sony HD camcorder with the BOSS system (the HD PJ760V) and I've been waiting a *long* time for Sony to come out with a 4K/60 version. Eventually I gave up waiting and bought the HC-X1500 which does NTSC and PAL compatible frame rates up to 60FPS. The stab is not as good as BOSS but it makes up for that in every other possible way and using a high enough shutter speed I can stabilize in post quite effectively to get rid of any last bit of shaking -- quite important when (like me) you have Parkinson's :-)
Thanks from Chicago
which mic pop filter are you using? looks nice. thx
I was using a Rode USB mic with the supplied pop filter in this video
awesome overview and opinion. this year I want to replace my Canon XF300 and Canon Xf100 which have been really good for concerts and live events (I use a C100 mk2 for weddings and corporate). How do you find the HC-X2000 in low light -not dark but indoors? I need good 1080p-many of my clients DO NOT need 4k but if I'm to buy new cameras I want them to be 4k even if I shoot mostly 1080p. This one reminds me of the Canon XF100 but I hope the low light is better...I watched your video. 4K looks a bit soft...it could be my eyes...and youtube's compression...I was looking at the Canon XF400 but didnt like it...I hear the panny CX350 is ok...are these ones better? and I can't afford the Canon XF705! I will wait for more footage samples from these new Panny cameras. In a perfect world I would get an AG-CX10 and one HC-X1500 for b camera...thoughts? thanks so much for sharing
Bump
Hi Erick sorry I missed your comment until now. low light is definitely not the strength of this camcorder. The fast aperture and built in light helps quite a bit but it does get noisy quite easily especially if you don't want to turn on the led light.
@@TheRealRichardWong hi Richard..wow...what a difference 2 weeks make! gosh...the entire planet has gone into a crisis...wow..I'm in Canada but I was vacationing in California-L.A and San Fran when SF went into a lockdown and I decided to fly to Detroit and then drive to Toronto! talk about escapes..I self-isolated for 2 weeks and my two weeks are up and I'm ok-for now but I have to stay vigilant and careful for at least 3 months here in Canada, but my heart aches for the millions of citizens of the world that will suffer the pandemic...I hope you are ok and that the pandemic is brought under control before the end of summer. Then...it will be time to rebuild. The lucky ones will be able to work again making videos but I have the feeling that it will be a long time before some joy comes back into our lives. hmm...this camera might be a nice toy- I hope I can test it someday this year. Stay healthy
@@TheRealRichardWong hi again...hmm...I was hoping this camera would be ok in low light...but I know that only mirrorless and some DSLRs are good in low light because of the super 35 sensor...I do live events and other lifestyle videos and a GOOD camcorder is very useful. I have a Canon 90D and a Sony a6400 but a good 1080p/4k camcorder would be great..which one? Thanks
Great review, thanks for this.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for your review.I like your review.
Thank you very much!
Very imofrmative, helped me a lot!
Would this be suitable for weddings?
How long a battery can hold and how much GB/h does a 4k footage using this camera usually takes?
Thank you, Richard! :)
Definitely great for weddings. Sorry can't answer the question about gb/s as I don't have the camcorder with me to check for you
Ok, so here is my question. I’ve been shooting trains with 3 different viewpoints simultaneously (drone, video camera and GoPro) and editing them together. My 10 year old Panasonic tm900 with 3moss image sensor takes fantastic video but only 1080p/60. I want to upgrade but need a video camera that still offers a nice smooth long zoom to catch the approach of the trains. I’m torn between getting a Mirror less camera (but once you factor in the cost of a lens that offers the sort of zoom that the 2000 has your talking big money) . I’m lost as to what I should do.
As your other cameras all have a small sensor anyway I think a camcorder like this Panasonic would be a good fit when you mix the video together
@@TheRealRichardWong thank you, my drone is the DJI air 2s so it has a true 1” sensor but I understand your thoughts
One factor that you should consider is that smaller sensors will generally have better rolling shutter performance (less jello effect) than larger sensors. Since you film trains, you will see a lot more rolling shutter effect when the trains are moving.
IMHO, HC-X1500/X2000 would suit you better than a mirrorless would.
Also, camcorders mount the battery on the outside which makes battery changes much easier.
@TonyVRailfanning Did you buy this and if so, how is it working out for you? I'll check out your channel.
@ yes, its a great video camera! The zoom on it is amazing. As you will see the ground shots are very clear.
can you test low light conditions with zoom. cant find such test anywhere. thx
How does the video quality compare iPhone 12 at not zoomed focal length? Also for normal user who just want to record their travel and some street photography, does it make sense to just have iPhone or with additional of this camcorder or a camera like Leica Q2? Love camcorder but haven't own one, love to able to zoom so far
Also, hows the moon quality looks like at 600mm on this camcorder?
Sorry I havent got a iphone 12 so hard to comment. For shooting moon, it is probably ok if it's a full moon which is quite bright... But new moon it may struggle
for the moon 600mm is not enough. the video quality from this camcorder is much higher than that of the iphone, it has very good quality, but it is rather weak in low light.
How does it compare to the GH5 for video please?
Gh5 would be better for low light, and shallow depth of field look if that's what you want. But the hcx2000 is an all in one unit that has a few other advantages like a big zoom lens built in
Wonderful video Mr Wong!
Curious if you might know the answer to a problem I have with my HC-X2000. I bought it to record family moments and birthdays and such, been shooting with it onto 1 card for the last year. Only recently I tried to retrieve the footage I had recorded and when the files were uploaded to my computer they were playable however the sound was gone and in its place was a very loud audio hiss ON ALL MY VIDEOS! :( I was recording with a small rodes shotgun mic plugged in through the AUX mic input, and when the files are played back on the camera the IS sound. Its just when they are on the computer. I cant find any information online and I'm totally stumped
Hi Cameron, oh the problem you describe is quite weird. I have never have or heard of issues like that. But the hiss is quite likely caused by the external mic. So are you saying it sounds ok when you play it back on the camcorder? Could it be just the camcorder's speaker isn't good so it "hide" the hiss sound? Can you reproduce it again? What about try another mic and internal mic to see if it's caused by the mic or the camcorder?
I would try to contact your local Panasonic support or ring it back to the shop and see if they can help you?
Unfortunately it's a bit hard to troubleshoot it without the camcorder/mic
For a wedding service I would have the HC-X1500/2000 as the PRIMARY camera and NOT SECONDARY. I would have my Lumix S5 as a static secondary regardless of the low light conditions in the church. Servo zoom and long reach trumps everything the mirrorless full frame large sensor S5 has to offer.
Thanks for sharing your real life experience Kevin
Everything looks good in 4K, what about 1080?
Many people seem to get in a muddle about the effect of sensor size on camera performance/image characteristics. How about making a UA-cam video that attempts to record the same video/image (with the same depth of field) on a range of cameras with different sensors? For example:
1/2.5" @F2 @ISO 400
1" @F4 @ISO 1600
m43 @F5.6 @ISO 3200
APS-C @F8 @ISO 6400
Full Frame @F16 @ISO 12800
Is there actually that much difference in image quality?
Good suggestions Stephen. I will definitely give it a try if I have a chance to gather a few cameras with different sensor size and test it out. And I have a feeling the result would be very similar.. and might be even better with the smaller sensor camera? Will see if I can try that out
Panasonic V800 max gain, 1/2.5" vs Nikon D7200 F3.5, max ISO 25600
ua-cam.com/video/La_S8R6jTok/v-deo.html
Stats are for nerds. Content is king. 👍
Yankee Indeed. But it is also true that consumers are bombarded by half-truths about camera specifications by manufacturer marketing departments. A bit of basic knowledge about the relevance or otherwise of these claims to real photography and/or videography can only help people reach their creative goals in my opinion.
is there a wireless remote to operate this?
Hmm.. not that I can remember
@@TheRealRichardWong that will be the deal breaker lol
could you do the auto focus test please?
Anyone know how this compare to the sony pxw-z90? The price aside, are they comparable.
Hey, 11:27 - oh, man. You'll not believe..... And it's clearly seen - the same mistake as I have. *It is not a small viewfinder.* You (and me) tried it in totally wrong way - *you used it with one eye closed!* . If you just open another eye it (seems to be really magically) fill out all around black area and you somekind see though camera with one eye. Kind of have screen in front of you. It really make HUGE difference. Do not close one eye and look with both eyes opened.
What is frogging?
Is this good for indie films ?
yes, as long as you don't need to shoot under low light
does this particular model shoot in hdr? thanks!
No it doesn't
Would this bee good for a UA-cam studio set up with indoor lighting?
As long as the light is not too dim
how much did you pay for the camcorder I useally find my camcorder at walmart or best buy the camcorder I bout it was like a $291.99 dollars in life that camcorder you have is it expensive or something can it take pictures or videotape things mys can to what store did you bout it from I bout mys at walmart in life
That’s about as good an OIS as I’ve seen in a camcorder
The best one is the B.O.S.S. (Balanced Optical Steady Shot) system in the Sony AX53. The entire imaging system including the sensor is on a balancing gimbal inside the camera. But that camera is a consumer camera and not professional, it's also from the year 2016. This new Panasonic is VERY close to the Sony AX53 though. I like it a lot and am going to get it to replace my old Sony AX53 :)
@@BackusCreativeImaging Yes, I would have bought an AX53 instead of the HCX-1500 except for the fact that the AX53 only does 30FPS at 4K. Huge limitation if you're looking to film fast action sports or activities.
@@xjet I used to have an AX53 then later sold it. I ended up buying the HC-X2000 and I like it! I have used it for 90 hours so far, it takes some time to master. It's definitely a pro level tiny sensor camcorder. Here's some test footage I took with it, read the description for settings I used: ua-cam.com/video/FuwTB8BdkMo/v-deo.html
hi is possible buy in italy? i search in google italy but for me is impossible search the price please help me bye ciao
Thank you
Thank you for watching!
Can you do a walking and running stabilization test> Or cant u run?
Reporting - I disagree about weight. Camera is very light and weight is good. *BUT* , might be I hold it wrong way - its *extremely* uncomfortable to hold. Kind of preasure to palm or something. I had shoot on S1, that is much bulky and heavy - no any issues of discomfort. So, who wanna shot handheld (no top grip) - its better to try it before for 5-10 minutes. Image qualiry - do not expect GH5 or S1 level of sharpness in 4K... But not bad. Made in Malaysia, not China.
For handling its good to use some DYI handle mounted to the bottom.
I agree GH5 or even S1 by itself is not that heavy. But once you added a lens (or a few) which covers the same focal length range, and then with accessories like LED light, ND filter...etc then it adds up quite a bit.
How crop in 4k ?
Full sensor in 4k
@@TheRealRichardWong thank you Wong :)
I’m thinking to get this camera for wildlife
had th HC-X1000, hated it, bad blurry video and terrible low light noise, HC-X2000 seems to suffer the same fate, i wish panasonic just put a 1inch censor in and let it be.