Perfect little machine. Easy to handle, light enough for travel and gives absolute ly great professional image and sound quality. Perfect for travel and documentary work.
Yes, it is a great little camera although I'm not a fan of internal mics so we generally use and external mic of some sort with it. I much prfer using a dedicated video camera to using a DSLR style for video work.
The problem is, that to maintain a price level, to cater for the "new" features (4K in this case), other features get jettisoned. The Viewfinder is a must for me, and fewer camcorders have it. Filming with the LCD screen is fine with a tripod, but unless you are using a gimbal (which I don't), hand holding via screen is nowhere stable enough. I need to film using the viewfinder with a double handed grip, which allows me to hold the camera steady and follow the action more accurately. My two main cameras are a Sony CX550, which is 12 years old, is AVCHD, and the focus is a tad soft by today's standards, but has an amazing stabiliser, and captures to an onboard 64gb memory. It's now used as a car cam, and I have discovered that the sharpener in Resolve tightens the image. The Sony AX100 is also a 4K camera, which for the same reasons as yourself, I don't use. The stabiliser is not as good as it's smaller cousin. I have never had a problem with the SD card behind the LCD screen. The cold shoe on the Sonys are an odd size and need an adaptor. I like the one you have. Incidentally, both of my cameras cost $1800-2200 when purchased new. Like you, I prefer a dedicated camcorder. Thanks for this, it gives an interesting perspective as to how others do it. Cheers, Laurie
I thought about moving up another notch to a camera around $2k but for the money I spent I also picked up a Rode Wireless Go II with two transmitters that I hope will enable more options in the way in interviews (assuming I ever get to doing that) and I still had about $600 left in the account which is also a bonus :) I was quite surprised as how good the video stabilisation was on the old camera, especially when it came to filming hand held in a moving vehicle. Not sure yet how good the new one will be but hopefully no worse than the old one. Hope to do a video on the Rode mic system soon but I haven't been happy with what I have filmed on it so far. Have to keep trying till I get it right.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen The Rode system looks interesting. I have an Audio Technica System 10 with Lavalier Mic which I use in the car ... and finally I have it set up so it works ... until ... the Receiver internal battery goes flat, or the Transmitter batteries die, and I haven't noticed. The Receiver needs to be charged overnight, or run from an inverter, while the Transmitter uses rechargeable batteries than I can change on the fly. I've just finished another episode of my 2021 Road Trip series, where half of the video had no audio ... It's a challenge making THAT work, but somehow, I did it and it works ... I think LOL
Picture quality is good but the camera is not exactly perfect. You do need an external mic to get decent sound and you have to adjust it properly. Zoom is ok as long as you stick to optical zoom and don't move into the digital zoom area as that will pixelate when zoomed far enough in. Panasonic video cameras can have focus issues and the previous model we had started having focus problems from time to time which is why I moved to this model. If I was to do it again, I might save a bit more money and go for a Sony.
Does this stop filming after 30 min? I read it in the comments in other videos. They said this model vxf1 splits the video after 22 min and begins to record again
No, you can't enter the menu while it is recording. The best way to do that would be with an external mic that has volume control. We never use on board mics anyway and always use an external mic of some sort.
I say this because the purpose of the camera is to connect line sound during press conferences and raise or lower if someone speaks more quietly but not stop recording. @@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen
As everyone moved to hybrid and mirrorless cameras for video, and even phones, the manufacturers just aren’t putting any effort into their low and prosumer video cameras. I can’t see them even being around in a few years. Just the top end will survive.
Yeah, I think the next one will cost me around $2k as I have to move up a level each time. I still prefer them for shooting video to anything else though.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen I was filming with some pros this week, and they were using High end Sony gear, (FX 9 I think) and they said the same. They are just easier to use, all the buttons in the right place, in built ND filters. Proper professional audio.. they also had the RED cameras, but didnt like them as much as they are not as good with Audio.
1080, MP4, 28M recording mode, does that mean its recording in 25 FPS? Because when I record in that mode, and transfer the videofile over to the PC and clicking on properties and details, its says frame rate 50... ?
Hi, I never noticed it before because I always shoot in 50fps but the 1080 28 mode doesn’t produce 25 fps, as you correctly say, it produces 1080 50 fps. Why that is I have no idea. In 4k it records at 25 fps and the other mode (24p) gives 4k at 24 fps. They really haven’t paid enough attention to different recording modes.
Following are the official specs for recording modes: AVCHD 1080/50p (28Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50p)PH (24Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i)HA (17Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i)HG (13Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i)HE (5Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i) MP4 2160p/25p(72M) (72Mbps / VBR), (3840 x 2160)2160p/24p(72M) (72Mbps / VBR), (3840 x 2160)1080p/50p(50M) (50Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)1080p/50p(28M) (28Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)1080p/24p(50M) (50Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)720p/25p(9M) (9Mbps / VBR), (1280 x 720)
Thanks, these videos are a bit off topic for our channel but I like to share info on the gear we use to create our main content that is mostly about Western Australia :)
I just bought the VXF1 for recording my music gigs and I hope that the internal mic is good enough for live room recordings. I wanted that easy to setup all-in-one unit and I did not want to buy any Zoom cameras again as the video quality is crap! If the audio is not good enough I guess I will have to buy a Sennheiser MKE 440 as well
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen I will test it on the gig Friday and then decide if I need the Sennheiser MKE 440. I do prefer the simplest possible setup though
I'm having trouble with the Cam Link video capture card for the HC 785. Can you provide any help or suggest a card that works? Using it for OBS. Thanks
@@dannyaldham353 I think I discovered it wouldn't work with a capture card, but not positive. Anyway, I returned the V785 and got the V770 which works well for me.
Sorry but I have never used an iPhone so I can't compare the two. I prefer using a dedicated video camera simply because handling it is easier and attaching devices such as an external mic and light is very simple and effective. I have never been a fan of shooting video with phones or DSLR style cameras.
Mic gain volume on cam too high. Shame the manufacturer can't include some dead cats for covers on Mic. A bit annoying about the auto setting for mic volume
Panasonic AF is notorious. A lot of filmmakers don't care, they prefer MF anyway. I think almost nobody should be buying a DSLR for any purpose. A mirrorless camera from Olympus/OM Systems or Fujifilm would do everything you need. Or Panasonic. They're all (more than) decent stills cameras too. You should not be using auto for audio, when things get quiet the recorder ups the amplification to the point you get a humming sound. 4K gives you the ability to crop in in post, to reframe, for effect, or because you just didn't have enough reach.
I was happy enough with the AF on the old camera for most of its life but it started to lose focus when still and filming a still subject which is not a good look. I can't blame the camera completely as I have dropped it a number of times which wouldn't help :) A lot of people (myself included) went down the DSLR rabbit hole before the mirrorless cameras got to be really good so with a bunch of lenses and equipment already in the bag, I can't afford to go mirrorless now - as much as I would like to. Don't know why I didn't have a problem with auto volume on the old Panasonic but the new one is just useless. I used to get at least acceptable results with the old system so I don't know why the new one is so awful. Yeah, the cropping side of 4k is about the only reason I would ever think about using it but the extra storage space and slowing down of processing is going to keep me away from it for now at least.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen Panasonic invented DFD, Depth From Defocus. It measures the out of focus areas to determine accurate focus. Unfortunately, it's unreliable, even in its S5 and GH6 cameras. If you use manual focus and a sufficiently small aperture, lot control your movements, it shouldn't matter. Nikon DSLRs can't focus in live view or movie mode to save themselves. I think that you have said that you use Nikon DSLRs. A Z50 and adaptor for your F mount Lenses and you'd be fine. The Zeds have good AF. Olympus has good AF. Fujifilm has good AF. Everyone who uses phase detect AF has good AF. You should be able to get a used Lumix G9, GH5 or Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II on eBay for less than $800. There are cheaper options, but I'm less familiar with them. Those were/are too of their lines. A 12-35 (Lumix) or 12-40 (Olympus) and you'd be in business. They're a bit narrow for hand-held vlogging, but with a gimbal you should be fine.
@@oneeyedphotographer LOL yeah, Nikon are shocking in live view, that was why I moved to dedicated video cameras. I'm pretty much stuck with what I have got now. Just had to spend nearly $4k on getting the head of the Coaster re-done and now find the injectors might need doing as well plus bearings on yet another trailer need replacing so there isn't going to be any more money for camera gear for a long long time :)
I've got a low-end 10+ year old Panasonic HD camera(with a 42x optical zoom), and the AF seems good to me, though I don't tend to use it in very testing conditions.
Perfect little machine. Easy to handle, light enough for travel and gives absolute ly great professional image and sound quality. Perfect for travel and documentary work.
Yes, it is a great little camera although I'm not a fan of internal mics so we generally use and external mic of some sort with it. I much prfer using a dedicated video camera to using a DSLR style for video work.
Thanks for the reveiw.
Western Australia Now and Then
Great no nonsense video. I just purchased one of these, watching this vid as I wait for the battery to charge. I have high hopes :-)
It's a nice compact little camera and still one we use much of the time.
The problem is, that to maintain a price level, to cater for the "new" features (4K in this case), other features get jettisoned. The Viewfinder is a must for me, and fewer camcorders have it. Filming with the LCD screen is fine with a tripod, but unless you are using a gimbal (which I don't), hand holding via screen is nowhere stable enough. I need to film using the viewfinder with a double handed grip, which allows me to hold the camera steady and follow the action more accurately. My two main cameras are a Sony CX550, which is 12 years old, is AVCHD, and the focus is a tad soft by today's standards, but has an amazing stabiliser, and captures to an onboard 64gb memory. It's now used as a car cam, and I have discovered that the sharpener in Resolve tightens the image. The Sony AX100 is also a 4K camera, which for the same reasons as yourself, I don't use. The stabiliser is not as good as it's smaller cousin. I have never had a problem with the SD card behind the LCD screen. The cold shoe on the Sonys are an odd size and need an adaptor. I like the one you have. Incidentally, both of my cameras cost $1800-2200 when purchased new. Like you, I prefer a dedicated camcorder. Thanks for this, it gives an interesting perspective as to how others do it. Cheers, Laurie
I thought about moving up another notch to a camera around $2k but for the money I spent I also picked up a Rode Wireless Go II with two transmitters that I hope will enable more options in the way in interviews (assuming I ever get to doing that) and I still had about $600 left in the account which is also a bonus :) I was quite surprised as how good the video stabilisation was on the old camera, especially when it came to filming hand held in a moving vehicle. Not sure yet how good the new one will be but hopefully no worse than the old one. Hope to do a video on the Rode mic system soon but I haven't been happy with what I have filmed on it so far. Have to keep trying till I get it right.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen The Rode system looks interesting. I have an Audio Technica System 10 with Lavalier Mic which I use in the car ... and finally I have it set up so it works ... until ... the Receiver internal battery goes flat, or the Transmitter batteries die, and I haven't noticed. The Receiver needs to be charged overnight, or run from an inverter, while the Transmitter uses rechargeable batteries than I can change on the fly. I've just finished another episode of my 2021 Road Trip series, where half of the video had no audio ... It's a challenge making THAT work, but somehow, I did it and it works ... I think LOL
I am quite tempted by the Panasonic camera. Just wondering what the picture quality is like also the zoom! Thank you for your review. Murt
Picture quality is good but the camera is not exactly perfect. You do need an external mic to get decent sound and you have to adjust it properly. Zoom is ok as long as you stick to optical zoom and don't move into the digital zoom area as that will pixelate when zoomed far enough in. Panasonic video cameras can have focus issues and the previous model we had started having focus problems from time to time which is why I moved to this model. If I was to do it again, I might save a bit more money and go for a Sony.
Does this stop filming after 30 min? I read it in the comments in other videos. They said this model vxf1 splits the video after 22 min and begins to record again
To be honest I have never shot anything for that long so I don't know. We shoot for 6-10 seconds most of the time.
Is it possible to regulate the audio input during recording without stopping recording?
No, you can't enter the menu while it is recording. The best way to do that would be with an external mic that has volume control. We never use on board mics anyway and always use an external mic of some sort.
I say this because the purpose of the camera is to connect line sound during press conferences and raise or lower if someone speaks more quietly but not stop recording.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen
yes, is it possible
As everyone moved to hybrid and mirrorless cameras for video, and even phones, the manufacturers just aren’t putting any effort into their low and prosumer video cameras.
I can’t see them even being around in a few years. Just the top end will survive.
Yeah, I think the next one will cost me around $2k as I have to move up a level each time. I still prefer them for shooting video to anything else though.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen I was filming with some pros this week, and they were using High end Sony gear, (FX 9 I think) and they said the same. They are just easier to use, all the buttons in the right place, in built ND filters. Proper professional audio.. they also had the RED cameras, but didnt like them as much as they are not as good with Audio.
Please, how to remove upper hot shoe cover(?)
I didn't have to remove it, the cover just broke off as the attachment is very weak.
1080, MP4, 28M recording mode, does that mean its recording in 25 FPS? Because when I record in that mode, and transfer the videofile over to the PC and clicking on properties and details, its says frame rate 50... ?
Hi, I never noticed it before because I always shoot in 50fps but the 1080 28 mode doesn’t produce 25 fps, as you correctly say, it produces 1080 50 fps. Why that is I have no idea. In 4k it records at 25 fps and the other mode (24p) gives 4k at 24 fps. They really haven’t paid enough attention to different recording modes.
Following are the official specs for recording modes: AVCHD 1080/50p (28Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50p)PH (24Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i)HA (17Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i)HG (13Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i)HE (5Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/50i)
MP4 2160p/25p(72M) (72Mbps / VBR), (3840 x 2160)2160p/24p(72M) (72Mbps / VBR), (3840 x 2160)1080p/50p(50M) (50Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)1080p/50p(28M) (28Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)1080p/24p(50M) (50Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)720p/25p(9M) (9Mbps / VBR), (1280 x 720)
excellent points .thank you for talking like a normal person
Thanks, these videos are a bit off topic for our channel but I like to share info on the gear we use to create our main content that is mostly about Western Australia :)
When you zoom in does the lens extend like a regular camera?
No, with video cameras all the changes are internal so the camera lens does not extend the way a DSLR does.
I just bought the VXF1 for recording my music gigs and I hope that the internal mic is good enough for live room recordings. I wanted that easy to setup all-in-one unit and I did not want to buy any Zoom cameras again as the video quality is crap! If the audio is not good enough I guess I will have to buy a Sennheiser MKE 440 as well
I am not a fan of any internal mics and we always use external mics for the various jobs we do.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen I will test it on the gig Friday and then decide if I need the Sennheiser MKE 440. I do prefer the simplest possible setup though
Excuse me, I have the VXF1 but am considering the 785 too. Does the 785 have 24fps/25fps please? Or is it all 50p recording? Thanks in advance.
Hi, recording modes are 1080p 50fps, 1080p 25fps, 720p 25fps and 360p 25fps. Hope this helps.
thank you very much for getting back to me, cheers @@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen
I'm having trouble with the Cam Link video capture card for the HC 785. Can you provide any help or suggest a card that works? Using it for OBS. Thanks
Hi, Sorry but I don't think I can be much help. We have only transfered video to PC via an SD card.
Hi Todd, I'm also having a similar issue, did you find a solution?
@@dannyaldham353 I think I discovered it wouldn't work with a capture card, but not positive. Anyway, I returned the V785 and got the V770 which works well for me.
is a 512gb sd card compatible with this unit . im asking will it work . im not sure if i should buy one and try
Sorry I'm not sure as I have never had anything over 64gb in it.
Have you considered trying to Canon G 70? It’s the latest consumer camcorder to come out from any of the major manufacturers.
I haven't looked at upgrading again but when I do i will keep it in mind.
I enjoy it
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You are correct that VX's HD is worse then the 785. you should get a clear 62mm filter to cover from dust.
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It's ok but could be better :)
would the Panasonic HV V785 be better then any iphone camera ?
Sorry but I have never used an iPhone so I can't compare the two. I prefer using a dedicated video camera simply because handling it is easier and attaching devices such as an external mic and light is very simple and effective. I have never been a fan of shooting video with phones or DSLR style cameras.
By the way the canon G 70 is supposed to have excellent focusing ability
Mic gain volume on cam too high. Shame the manufacturer can't include some dead cats for covers on Mic. A bit annoying about the auto setting for mic volume
YEah, our older camera was good but this one is hopeless with auto gain turned on. Gradually getting used to it but it is a pain.
Panasonic AF is notorious. A lot of filmmakers don't care, they prefer MF anyway.
I think almost nobody should be buying a DSLR for any purpose.
A mirrorless camera from Olympus/OM Systems or Fujifilm would do everything you need. Or Panasonic. They're all (more than) decent stills cameras too.
You should not be using auto for audio, when things get quiet the recorder ups the amplification to the point you get a humming sound.
4K gives you the ability to crop in in post, to reframe, for effect, or because you just didn't have enough reach.
I was happy enough with the AF on the old camera for most of its life but it started to lose focus when still and filming a still subject which is not a good look. I can't blame the camera completely as I have dropped it a number of times which wouldn't help :) A lot of people (myself included) went down the DSLR rabbit hole before the mirrorless cameras got to be really good so with a bunch of lenses and equipment already in the bag, I can't afford to go mirrorless now - as much as I would like to. Don't know why I didn't have a problem with auto volume on the old Panasonic but the new one is just useless. I used to get at least acceptable results with the old system so I don't know why the new one is so awful. Yeah, the cropping side of 4k is about the only reason I would ever think about using it but the extra storage space and slowing down of processing is going to keep me away from it for now at least.
@@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen Panasonic invented DFD, Depth From Defocus. It measures the out of focus areas to determine accurate focus. Unfortunately, it's unreliable, even in its S5 and GH6 cameras. If you use manual focus and a sufficiently small aperture, lot control your movements, it shouldn't matter.
Nikon DSLRs can't focus in live view or movie mode to save themselves.
I think that you have said that you use Nikon DSLRs. A Z50 and adaptor for your F mount Lenses and you'd be fine. The Zeds have good AF.
Olympus has good AF. Fujifilm has good AF. Everyone who uses phase detect AF has good AF.
You should be able to get a used Lumix G9, GH5 or Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II on eBay for less than $800. There are cheaper options, but I'm less familiar with them. Those were/are too of their lines.
A 12-35 (Lumix) or 12-40 (Olympus) and you'd be in business. They're a bit narrow for hand-held vlogging, but with a gimbal you should be fine.
@@oneeyedphotographer LOL yeah, Nikon are shocking in live view, that was why I moved to dedicated video cameras. I'm pretty much stuck with what I have got now. Just had to spend nearly $4k on getting the head of the Coaster re-done and now find the injectors might need doing as well plus bearings on yet another trailer need replacing so there isn't going to be any more money for camera gear for a long long time :)
I've got a low-end 10+ year old Panasonic HD camera(with a 42x optical zoom), and the AF seems good to me, though I don't tend to use it in very testing conditions.
its not the cameras fault you dont want 4k, you must be the only person !!!
@@daviddrew7624 Not really, plenty of people still shoot in 1080.