Filming Birds with the Panasonic HC-X2000
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- Опубліковано 26 лют 2021
- Backyard Bird Photography and a short review of Panasonic's smallest and lightest 4K@60P camcorder and the Raynox 2.2x teleconverter.
This video should entertain viewers with the feeding habits and closeup slow motion footage of Scrub Jays, Humming Birds, House Sparrows and House Finches. See how I attract birds to my backyard video studio and use a chair blind to conceal myself from them or how I shoot through an open window from the comfort of my living room.
Get a close look at the camera and telephoto lens and see firsthand the impressive zooming reach when this combination is paired.
Panasonic HC-X 2000
Raynox DCR-2025PRO 2.2x Telephoto Lens
That shot of the finch eating between the trees was so awesome!
but the one with the eagle feasting on the black bird as it was watching was heartbreaking
That hummingbird footage totally sold me
One day I'd like to set up for some slo-mo hummingbird closeups (bird fills the frame). My Sony AX700 will do a few seconds of 960 fps where you would actually see the wing beats. Requires luck, tons of patience, a lot of trial and error and a big dose of "F8 and Be There".
thanks so much for explanation and beautiful footage!
Thanks so much and beautiful Shots! I have this camera and really appreciate seeing what others are doing with it.
You're welcome Dave and thanks for the nice comment. I'll have a look at your channel.
Very nice Dan. Thanks for sharing.
Love the green hummingbird
Perfect quality👍💯
Wow, beautiful footage! Thank you for sharing. 🇺🇸
Thanks and really nice graphics on your channel too.
Thanks for sharing! Great video.
Fabulous video!
Thanks for taking the time to get this footage to us. I learned a little more about the camera. Mine is going to be here in three more days. I am just a little anxious to get it. :)
I had a lot of anticipation waiting for mine too. I'm still happy with it overall.
Incredible footage! You just made me buy this camera.
Well done
Great video.
It is probably the teleconverter that makes the footage look blurry.
thanks so much for this video, I have this camera, had no clue about its functions
Brilliant review- thanks Dan!
You're welcome Shelton and appreciate your comment.
@@DanChanPiano Hi Dan - One question I had is Can you set it up to show horizontal and vertical lines in the LCD to shoot at level?
@@SheltonDCruz It does have a leveling feature that can be toggled off and on. When on, and out of level, there are two short orange lines on either side of the frame. As you rotate the camera along the lens axis, when the camera is level the lines turn green. The is acceptable but my attention is diverted off my composition and on to these lines when I'm leveling. My Sony AX700 can toggle on a grid like you mentioned. I can place one of the two horizontal lines right on or above the horizon or water line much easier. Along with the two vertical lines, I use the grid as a composition aid to place important subjects right at the intersections following the rule of thirds. It is more stuff on the screen that might distract from a clean view of your frame but I prefer the grid to the Panasonic method. I can see that a leveling feature would be useful for your train videos.
What a concise, professionally produced video with vivid detail and excellent narration! Thank you. I'm getting ready to take the plunge from old-school NTSC camcorder (a 20 year old Sony TRV950 MiniDV) to 4K and looking at various cameras. Thanks so much for your valuable information.
Thanks Larry. I do appreciate your feedback and compliments. There is much to like about this particular camera, but a few cons as well. You can read about those here in my reply to Zachary Crowe.
@@DanChanPiano, you are welcome. Thank you for your quick response. I read through your comments to Zachary on the cons of the Panasonic. I don't use a video camera for fast motion and probably don't need any more than a 12X zoom so I might go with the Sony FDR-AX700 that you mentioned. I appreciate vivid detail - and low light capabilities are important for what I will be doing with it on my wife's UA-cam channel (Under the Median). How is the overall quality of the Sony in terms of durability? Their older cameras were very well made. I have 4 of them in Hi8 and MiniDV formats that are still going strong after 20 years of use. Thanks again.
@@larryware1 Sony - FDR-AX700 has been out for a few years now. It succeeded the AX-100 and has no successor to date. I bought mine when it was first released and the operation time says 15 x 10H, so I assume that means I have over 150 hours of operation time. Durability- It's well built, better than the Panasonic and has been taken along on extremely jarring ATV rides with no damage. The LCD screen has been opened/closed many hundreds of times and the OLED viewfinder is extremely sharp. Phase detection Auto focus is great with many focus refinements settable to the types of moving subjects you're filming. I think it would suit your needs well, just don't do fast pans in 4K/30. Nothing bad to say about it except for the reason for adding the Panasonic as a second camera. The Sony lacked the 60fps and has a shorter zoom range in 4K. Perfectly satisfied with both of those issues when shooting in 1080p with the Sony because in 1080p it will do 60fps and the zoom range is extended to 24x. When I first got it I posted this video. ua-cam.com/video/BYwUtqJXupA/v-deo.html
@@DanChanPiano - I so appreciate your valuable information and experience with both the Sony and the Panasonic cameras. I'm leaning toward the Sony. This is helping me to narrow down the possibilities. Did you look into Canon's offerings when choosing your cameras?
@@larryware1 I did look at the Canon's back then, but the Sony stood out and at that point in time Canon cameras less so. I haven't looked at their current lineup.
Super !
X1500/X2000 (the difference only in handle and SDI) are absolutely wonderful cameras! Love it. Enjoying to use camcoder over dslr.
Slightly cheaper to go with the X1500 and accessory handle but for me, better to go with the X2000 and be one and done and get the SDI to boot. I’m working on an upcoming video titled “Camcorders vs. Digital Cameras”.
@@DanChanPiano $1700 and $2200 (500 difference) is not "slightly". I think most people even didn't hear about SDI and don't need it, and handle could be buy later if needed. I still thinking, 300 for that handle is not cheap. Anyway for x1500 99% will get the same functuonality and picture quality. “Camcorders vs. Digital Cameras” that nice, I'm for camcoder, even if have both. Camcoder is just fun to use. Or where you can get native infrared convertion switch, or 600mm zoom in a pocket and superb stabilization....
This Raynox adapter performs better than I thought. I have a few Sony camcorders that paired with either a Sony or Olympus tele adapter that yields similar minimal quality loss from the native lenses but the magnification is only 1.7x.
I loved your video. I have been wanting to make the jump into 4k for a while now, and my x1500 is on the way - I will eventually buy the handle and an external microphone. I have enjoyed videography since the time of VHS / Beta, and the features, form, and price sold me on the Panasonic. I film birds, travel, and abandoned places (urbex). Thank you for this, it's the best video out there I have seen for these camcorders!
Thanks Zachary. I can appreciate your affinity for things old and mechanical. The amazing engineering that went into devices of our pre-digital world is awe inspiring.
I extolled the virtues of the camera, but like most things there are some cons, at least for me. For manual exposure it has waveform and zebras. I wish it had a histogram like my Sony AX-700. It has a tally light but no beep. I personally like the beep as it confirms recording has begun and ended and have made recording errors with its absence. It would have been easy for Panasonic to include as an on/off setting. The camera in auto tends to overexpose a bit but is easily compensated for with "AE Level". I usually leave it at -0.7 stop. I wish it had more user buttons and the buttons along the bottom are small and fiddly and too close to most tripod plates. Recording formats are MP4 and MOV, with many of its best functions in the MOV format. I edit on a PC with all the related problems using the QuickTime MOV format. Those are my main gripes. I love the reach of the lens and the 4K 60fps. I can pan as well as shoot fast moving subjects without the image blurring as it does with my Sony, but the Sony's 1" sensor is superior in both resolution and low light capabilities. All in all I think you'll like your x1500 especially set to auto where it's handling everything well and you can concentrate on the art.
@@DanChanPiano Fantastic, sounds awesome. Thanks for the reply!
Hey Dan, received my 1500 the other day and I have been loving it so far! Have you found a carrying bag you like for this camera yet? Thanks!
@@ZacharyCrowe Congratulations on the new camera. Some accessories that I've bought for this camera are a LCD screen protector as you will be touching this a lot. A Hoodman 350 velcro-on sun shade to better see the LCD in bright sunlight. A second OEM second battery. Not cheap but my practice for all of my cameras is to have two batteries. I skipped the charger because the cost of spare OEM battery was painful enough. Also skipped my usual practice of mounting a UV filter because the lens hood and built in lens cap protects the lens well enough.
Camera bags are very subjective according to your shooting style, subject matter, trip requirements, hiking with your equipment? etc. I have a variety of them. Most are Case Logic and discontinued, so I won't give you model numbers. I used to be a pro still photog so I've been through my share of camera bags. I have a variety of them in different sizes to carry whatever I plan to take along on a given shoot. I always wear my equipment and never set it down for all the obvious reasons, so I don't use conventional bags where that might be a temptation. For video, I always carry a tripod as well because I'm old school and dislike the active camera, make you puke, shaky camera shots that are popular now.
For a minimal equipment outing I like the holster style (SLR with telephoto) top loading cases that will hold only the camcorder and a few accessories slung across body. I carry a Benro travel angel tripod in its bag slung across from the other shoulder. I can hike for miles with out complaint with this setup.
If I'm not going far and taking more gear like a second camera, or x2000 handle/mic, drone or GoPros and gimbal, bigger better tripod, I like the sling style backpack bags. One strap across body that you can slide around front and easily get the camera out without taking off the pack. Since the bag is on my back at a diagonal it also allows the space for the cross slung tripod bag to fit. Whatever you get, if you go a little bigger than you think you'll need you won't have any regrets (think water bottle and a light jacket). For online purchase, know the dimensions of your equipment to compare against the specs of the bag. If at all possible take your gear into a camera store and see how it fits in a given bag.
Excellent video Dan. I’m research wildlife videography and this was a big help! 👏👍
Thanks Joseph! I'm sure you'll enjoy and do well filming wildlife. Maybe the horses can take you and your equipment far off the beaten path to film elusive subjects. Patience is a virtue and boy do you need a lot of it to capture wildlife on video. Then again, if you're all set up (being all set up is the paramount phrase here), circumstance and pure luck can yield you an unexpected prize. I got my all time best ever footage five minutes after setting up in the morning and then a lot of nothing thereafter. I packed up in the dark. Knowing when to change location is also important, because I've gotten good stuff following the prey. But then again I could have missed epic footage five minutes after I left the old location.
@@DanChanPiano I definitely agree it helps to know how to track animals for photography. I’m an avid hiker and outdoorsman and can’t count the number of times I missed having a good zoom lens. I want a light video camera with a powerful zoom. This model plus that zoom lens looks like a good fit.
wowo this is amazing
This is an excellent video and an excellent review. It was well planned and well thought. The presentation was far above standard as far as I'm concerned. It pleases me to no end to see and hear someone who took the time to prepare his materials, practice and rehearse his presentation, and was able to talk and discuss his topic, namely the video camcorder, with ease and intelligence.
It's a refreshing and a very enjoyable video. Best of all, it isn't one of the half-baked, half-ass videos with the obnoxiously and over redundant uses of those cheap and easy introductions that most people thinks is cool. You know the ones I mean... "Hey everybody, or, hi guy's what's up, or what is up everybody, or heyyyy what's goin on everybody" and every variation and connotation of cheap, lazy and crappy sounding introductions that everybody thinks is so cool. It isn't cool, and is definitely NOT professional.
This is what a demo and review reel is supposed to be. It is both informational and interesting. I understood everything this young man had to say clearly, no guessing and no waiting for him to make up his mind about what he wanted to say next. THANK YOU. If people just took the time to prepare what they are anxious to present and to represent, videos like this one should NOT be so difficult.
Now I know you want to come off sounding like an everyday Joe and like you're the next door neighbor. But that doesn't tell a good story and isn't very interesting nor is it professional. And shooting or filming handheld is the worst atrocity of all. This gentleman had the fortitude, knowledge and willingness to take the added steps of using a sturdy and good quality tripod to shoot most of the footage in this video. The result is a very professional looking and sounding end product. Something that I truly appreciate very much. And again, THANK YOU...!!!
Thank you JW. Your comment is the nicest and by far, most enthusiastic compliment I’ve ever received on a video. I appreciate the time you took to write it and it made my day. It’s been said that constructive criticism is more valuable than praise but it does feel great to be acknowledged for hard work. As far as the trend goes in today's style of UA-cam video, I’d have to agree with you, but there are still many good ones out there. I think it’s a matter of perspective and dare I say, old school versus new. I’ve actually given the now accepted style a shot and concluded that for me it was false. Quirky intros, crude dialog, shaky POV video, jump cuts are all things I was taught to avoid and are just not me. “To thine own self be true”, to quote Shakespeare. I’ve had a look at your beautiful videos of Alaska landscapes and I think we’re of like mind.
Great video! The birds are beautiful! So glad I saw this before I order my X1500 next week! The teleconverter is really interesting and I would have never known it was possible on the X1500 without watching your video. Curious to know if it is a better tool for the closer in shots or if it is just as effective at longer range shots. Your HDR is amazing... any tips on how to maximize HDR will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Dan!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I think you'll like the camera as well as there are many features packed into it. As mentioned in other comments on this video, it does have some limitations though.
I've noticed a degree of image quality loss with the teleconverter on. Law of optical resolution rules that the more elements you add in front of other lens elements is going to add some degree of distortion. It works best magnifying closer objects say 20' away than it does longer range shots. This because of heat shimmer. Even with the converter off as you shoot through so much air, even on relatively cool days, heat haze can distort the shot. If you think about it, you're shooting through many yards, perhaps miles of a greatly magnified rectangle of air, full of convection temp differences between the camera and subject.
As for HDR, the Panasonic has something called Dynamic Range Stretch which I've yet to use. I've been shooting with the scene file "STILL". Color grading is a special talent that I've not mastered, and all I do in post is add contrast and saturation.
@@DanChanPiano Thanks for all of the helpful info Dan! I do indeed struggle with distortion caused by the heat shimmer when filming aircraft on the ground and appreciate your explanation of that effect. I also appreciate your comments on your post applications. Cheers!
I absolutely love your video, your relaxed presentation is a joy to listen, and your content is awesome. Watching your rig 8:29 I think you are getting to the bulk as full-frame system: just go for an A7SIII or A7RIV exactly 10 times bigger sensor as this X2000 and a 200-600 with a 2x teleconverter would give you far superior image quality. If you used the APS-C 4K crop from the A7RIV that would be still 8 times bigger sensor area with an additional 1.5x zoom range. Definitely, it would be more expensive gear-combo. Thank you for your videos.
Thanks Miklos for your compliments on the video and your observations of the equipment. I would love to own a wide variety of different formats and better cameras but there comes a point as a hobbyist who does not have unlimited photography funds, that what I own serves my purpose. I appreciate your suggestions of the Sony mirrorless cameras and lens combinations. They are great and mirrorless systems are the future of video in many ways.
@@DanChanPiano Forgive me if my comment looked educational. What I wrote was just my first impressions without any specific purpose other than sharing random thoughts. I am on the market again to buy a camcorder, my old wish is to have a decent video camera. I have an A7III with the PZ28135f4OSS and a number of other lenses, but I want something that is a lot smaller and far less attention-grabbing. I have been eyeing with Sony AX53 for a long time, but before buying I wanted to have a look the other options like your X2000, X1500, VXF1 or AX700, G60, XA50.
@@miklosnemeth8566No worries Miklos, I appreciate your comments as it gave me information with value. Your wording was fine. I have always enjoyed learning new things and also sharing things that I know, just as a contribution of information, not ego. I think we have the same motives.
Regarding the Sony AX53, this camera is my latest acquisition and I'm in the process of making a video about its strengths and weaknesses. It's a great handheld camera. The BOSS stabilization is wonderful which I had some experience with in my Sony PJ 790. I'm pleased with the AX53's 4k image quality and there are work arounds to get more manual control from its "only one manual control function at a time" nature. My main gripe is the contrast based auto focus. If your background is brighter than your subject it will focus on the background. I have the control ring assigned to manual focus to quickly override the autofocus when it's misbehaving.
Very well done and informative.
I am considering this model to replace my beloved FZ2500 for surfing filming.
Taking advantage of the 10bit 4:2:2 workflow.
Is the Raynox converter of sufficient quality from your experience?
Thanks Sergei. Yes, the Raynox converter is of sufficient quality and only slightly diminishes the sharpness. For $289, one cannot expect the quality of a lens costing that of a small car. It should do well from the shoreline shooting over cool water. With distant subjects over land, you are shooting through so much air that heat shimmer often spoils the image.
I have the Panasonic HC-X2000 and was thinking of getting the Raynox 2.2 teleconverter but after reading the reviews some are complaining that the Teleconverter tends to have focusing issues, have you noticed the Raynox causing the HC-X2000 to focus on objects in the fore ground ( focusing closer)?
I've not experienced the focusing issue Tracy. Thus far the camera's auto focusing has functioned normally. For me, the only down side of the Raynox to speak of, is a small amount of image sharpness loss. This isn't real noticeable on most subjects like shooting birds, but when shooting the full moon, a side by side comparison revealed that the moon craters were less sharp on the magnified clip than they were without the added glass.
I'd also love to know what hide, tripod, and microphone you're using. This looks like a great setup! Thanks for the video 🤙
Hi Kale. The hide is the Ameristep tent chair blind. Tripod and mic have been discontinued but they are Benro Areo 7 and Senal MC5 MS Dual Channel Stereo Condenser Mic.
Which one should I buy for 4x, 8x ... ?
I have 2.2x Raynox and Panasonic x1500
I only have experience with the 2.2x. I had no idea that tele conversion lenses at the x powers you ask about even exist.
Great video! :) I didn't know that a standard camera lens can be removed, to put another lens. Well that's really good to know. It would not be bad to make a video about how other lenses are placed on that camera. I plan to buy a Panasonic HC-X2000 soon, so such a video would be useful ... Clearly not to break something! :D Greetings from Croatia.
The added lens just screws onto the filter thread.
The camera's lens is non-removable. What he was showing was a telephoto extender which is basically a telescope for a camera.
Would this Camcorder be suitable for shooting fast moving Aircraft ( Handheld ) ?
I think it would work pretty well. 60fps in 4K reduces motion blur. Shutter at 1/120 to follow the 180 degree rule for natural prop and rotor blur. OIS in “stable” mode and hybrid on to maximize handheld stabilization. Small sensor does well in outdoor light. Tracking focus feature would be a plus. I rented this camera for a week before purchase and it was money well spent. No surprises or regrets that way.
Hello Dan, That converter looks like a pretty cool piece of kit. Since you posted this back in Feb. can you tell me if you are still happy with the converter?
Yes Michael, I still like the teleconverter. I do notice a bit of sharpness loss as one might expect from adding more glass in front of a lens. I think it's worth the money as there are much more costly alternatives which may or may not deliver better results. It works the best at greatly magnifying relatively close subjects that are say 20 or 30 feet away. I find that when shooting distant subjects (the moon) resolution suffers from shooting through so much atmosphere. Heat shimmer can be a problem even without the converter on when my camera lens is really zoomed in. The Raynox is supplied with plastic step rings that will accommodate its use on my other cameras which is a big plus in extending the range of my Sony AX-700's limited 12x zoom.
@@DanChanPiano Thank you for taking the time to reply.
👍👍👍
Hi Dan, great video! Very interesting to know you can put on a bigger telescopic lens!
I hope you can help - I bought the camera two weeks ago but I'm experiencing difficulty with the playback on both Quick Time and Premiere Pro. I use a Mac, but when I look at the footage it's almost if it's sped up slightly. It's smooth but looks too fast. I wondered if it was the frame rate but I'm not sure... very keen to get help on this. I don't think I should have to reduce the speed of my clips to look normal! Any ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
My common setting is UHD (3840 x 2160) 50fps and the frequency set to 50,000 as I'm in the UK. I've looked at proxies so I'm clued up, but it's still not playing back normally. If I reduce the speed by 2%, that's when it looks more normal and flowy.
Thanks!!
This is the first I've heard of this type of problem, so I don't have an answer. I'm assuming the files play back normally on the camera itself or when connected to a TV monitor. I have problems with MOV files on my PC, so I shoot the camera in MP4. The camera's only MP4 setting is in the newer H265 HEVC format which can be a problem with some editors, so I re-encode some files to get them to play. You might give that a try. If I were more knowledgeable about video codecs and containers I'd have this problem solved, but I'm still learning everyday. You confirmed that your camera setting is PAL and not NTSC. That would have been an easy fix. Do you notice the audio seems sped up too? Have you tried importing both MOV and MP4 files to your computer? I tried googling "Panasonic HC-X2000 files play back too fast on MAC" without much success. I'm sure you've already made attempts to research the problem. Perhaps load a file to a flash drive and try playing on another computer to see if the problem matches. I try to problem solve with the process of elimination and the scientific method but still come up short sometimes. If I learn more, I'll post to this comment. Best of luck.
Very nice video, I'd like to try filming aircraft with this camcorder.
Thanks. I’ve filmed planes in the air with no trouble. Regular AF worked fine, but I’ve also tried out the tracking AF which kept them in focus as well. I think you'll like the 60fps in 4K for fast moving subjects and camera movements. I’ve had a look at your videos so I’m sure you already know this, but for those new to shooting flying subjects, start off wide to locate them and then zoom and compose. Starting off zoomed in you’ll be lucky to get them in the frame before they’re gone.
3:13 Battery says 5,900 MAH wow amazing!!!!
The battery does last a long time and doesn't seem to drain when left in the camera. Camera's battery indicator is 3 or 4 bar style and not a percentage read out, so only gives a pretty good idea of remaining battery. I just can't change my habit of always carrying along a spare battery so I bought a second OEM (also my practice of not using aftermarket battery brands). The price was painful. I just couldn't bring myself to buying Panasonic's charger which is also overpriced, so I charge the batteries in camera.
Hi you guys I'm a photographer who's interested in videography. Does this camera support 24p recording in hd and 4k? Thanks in advance 🙂
3:41 Actually this is not a small package, the 4K/30 VXF1 and VX1 have exactly the same 1/2.5" sensor and 25-600 lens and these two models are half the size and their prices are (a lot) less than the price of X1500 or X2000. When watching your sample videos, they look awesome, still I think the Raynox extender softens your image.
Yes, the Raynox extender does soften the image some. It's more noticeable on some subjects more than others, for example the detail in the craters of the moon as opposed to moving subject matter. Life is a compromise. Thanks for the suggestions of the smaller and lesser Panasonic camcorders. A friend asked my help choosing a camcorder in that range and I'll add these to the list of possibles I give him.
These images look excellent. Are you using auto focus or are you focusing by eye? Is there an auto focus?
Thanks PtD. I used auto focus. There are several types of AF on this camera that can be used. Regular AF, area AF, tracking AF and face detect. If I see that regular AF is struggling on a given subject (rare), I'll switch to a method that better suits the situation. I believe the camera is using hybrid auto focusing, which is a combination of contrast detection and phase detection. Regular AF usually works fine. Sometimes I'll turn on focus peaking just to confirm which element in the composition it's targeting and in best focus.
@@DanChanPiano Thank you, Dan. :-)
Just got the same camcorder...learning how to use it.
I think you'll enjoy using it. One thing I do when learning new electronics with complex menus and features is to download and print the user manual and put it in a binder. I highlight the features I use or want to learn in the index so I can easily find the page. Hard copy still has great merits.
Bonjour Dan Chan, pourriez-vous me dire quel micro vous utilisez avec votre HCX2000? Merci
Salut Francis,
Voir ma réponse à Roger Brown. Je craque pour le microphone.
Thank you for the tip of halfing the speed: birds at human scale speed...
1:32 poor old Starling getting eaten alive.
thats awesome,i love my 1500,may i ask what is the mic you are useing ? i might upgrade and buy a handle,cheers from australia
Hi Roger. I've enjoyed watching your fishing videos. The mic is the Senal MC5-MS, a $200 stereo shotgun mic that's been discontinued. Might be a little hard to find. I just saw it on E-bay for $70. There's a UA-cam video on it. It comes with a furry wind muff but I swapped it out with a better inexpensive $18 Youshares NTG Furry Microphone Wind Shield. Most shotgun mics are mono and forward directional, rejecting sound from the sides which is what you might want when recording speech from talent in front of the camera. I wanted more of an immersive omnidirectional pattern for nature footage and dialog back and forth between operator and talent. I also added a Rycote shock mount as the one that comes with the handle transmits lots of handling noise.
@@DanChanPiano Thankyou dan I'll check it out,i been useing a nikon me1
I bought the handle. It is fantastic, paired with Audio Tech 875. The XLR External mic makes a great addition.
@@bitwise2832 Plug some headphones in and listen while you do some hand held shooting. I found that the handle's stock shock mount was transmitting lots of handling noise, especially my hand gripping and rotating on the handle. So I detached the mount and ordered a Rycote shock mount that attaches via the handle's cold shoe. It increases the height of the whole package but It isolated the mic better. I still try to be careful to minimize any rough handling of the camera while recording because just the very nature of a condenser mic atop a camera is going to give more handling noise than the built in. I see the AT 875 is light and fairly short. It should be prefect for keeping down the weight and size of the outfitted camera.
Nice video. Which mike and cables are you using?
Thanks Robin. Interesting content on your channel as well and I like seeing your view from Germany. The mic is the Senal MC5-MS, a $200 stereo shotgun mic with built in XLR cables (discontinued). Might be a little hard to find. I just saw it on E-bay for $70. There's a UA-cam video on it. It comes with a furry wind muff but I swapped it out with a better inexpensive $18 Youshares NTG Furry Microphone Wind Shield. Most shotgun mics are mono and forward directional, rejecting sound from the sides which is what you might want when recording speech from talent in front of the camera. I wanted more of an immersive omnidirectional pattern for nature footage and dialog back and forth between operator and talent. I also added a Rycote shock mount as the one that comes with the handle transmits lots of handling noise.
@@DanChanPiano Hi Dan, thanks for the info, I have a X1000 that I bought 6 years ago and am happy with. However 73 year old hands can't hold it steady when hand held. So I ordered the X2000 and hope for somewhat better results. Thanks for the Mike info, I will keep my eyes open. Keep shooting and have fun.
@@RobinCrofoot I think you'll find the O.I.S of the X2000 good at stabilizing your handheld shots. You can even pair that with additional electronic stabilization called "hybrid" to add additional steadiness. You've captured some unique footage of wildlife (frog eats wasp) and I think the long reach of the new camera's lens will help get you even more good stuff. I also think you'll like the 60fps for giving you smooth SloMo. Best wishes.
Nice! What file format does it save the video as .mov? .mp4?
The camera has options to record in either .mov or .mp4. However in .mov it gives more choices of frame rates, bit rates and HEVC or not. My windows system has problems playing .mov, so I shoot in .Mp4.
Again there's another caveat to that. The only 4k 60p choice in Mp4 is HEVC which some editors have problems with. I had to go back a version of my NLE to make things work for me.
@@DanChanPiano cool, thank you so much :)
Hi, thanks for the review! How good is the autofocus tracking / follow focus of the HC-X2000 for fast moving sports or animals like a closeup of a galloping horse at the beach (with the cameraguy close by)?
You're welcome. Check out my Fisherman's Wharf video here. ua-cam.com/video/1PBTWpcCXj4/v-deo.html
At 5:05 there is an example of the camera's tracking follow focus and you can judge for yourself.
@@DanChanPiano after watching this short sequence, I believe the follow focus seems working pretty well, but I'm sceptical if it is as good as with my beloved but recently water damaged AG-DVX200.
@@ridingboy The X2000 would have the zoom range and size and weight going for it over your
AG-DVX200, but I think the advantages would end there. Your old camera was a true pro model where I would say the X2000 would be entry level pro. But if you're carrying the X2000 around it's half the weight and a lot less bulk than your old drowned camera (condolences) . There's something to be said about that. But you also might be disappointed with the teeny little fiddly buttons on the x2000 after coming from your spacious old camera, but twice the zoom range of your old 12x camera would make you happy. Life is full of tradeoffs.
@@ridingboy I have used the X2000 for some time now and for my application ( wildlife) the X2000 is hard to beat due to size , weight and cost. The auto focus works well and the tiny sensor image will surprise you.
hey Dan! Do you notice a low back background noise (noisy preamp) when you plug in your mic into the 3.5 socket? It sounds more like cars on a highway from a distance. Even if just the cable is plugged into the socket (without the mic), i can hear this noise. Do you have the same problem?
I've never plugged a mic into the 3.5 jack because I use the handle that interfaces with the camera to connect my external mic. I'm traveling at the moment so I won't be able to test my jack to see if I experience what you're getting. I'll see if I can do the test when I get back and reply again.
@@DanChanPiano Thanks so much! no problem at all. I also made a test video here to see if you have the same background/ambient noise (sounds like static or small fan) when filming in quiet environments. This is my first camcorder, so Im not sure if this is normal: ua-cam.com/video/mlvLEXclP4c/v-deo.html
Here is a test video with an external microphone (Deity D3 Pro) connected via the 3.5mm input. As you can hear, the ambient/background (preamp) noise is slightly louder compared to the built-in mic: ua-cam.com/video/HQ7cqMY3z7g/v-deo.html
I have ben desperately searching for a camera that will not go out of focus when you move it around. This looks like it!
Yes, besides its good normal auto focus, the camera has several other modes of focus like face detect, area focus and lock-on auto focus that can be used under different circumstances.
Please help. G-UX90 or X2000 do better in low light? Which is better?
I have no experience with the G-UX90, but on paper it has a 1"sensor and the X2000 has a 1/2". So the XG-UX90 is probably better in low light. But the X2000 has a faster lens which might make up some for it. The X2000 is better in all other categories (zoom range, 4K@60p, size/weight, stabilization, auto focus) including 5 years newer in technology. I rented an x2000 for a week (around $100) before buying and trying out a camera before committing is now a practice that I will continue doing. Really helps to avoid buyer's remorse.
Hi there what sd cards are you using, I keep getting system Error?
Lexar Professional 1667x 128GB (2-Pack) SDXC UHS-II Cards,
No issues to date and good value.
Hi Dan, Does the Raynox come with 62mm thread? I can only see up to 58mm on their website.
Yes, 62mm threads on the Raynox which conveniently matches the front threads of both my Sony ax700 and Panasonic x2000 without any type of step ring. Know that the lens body and therefore threads are plastic so thread carefully. PS- I’m enjoying your channel.
Thanks so much Dan. I have the x1500 and the more I get to know it the more I am impressed with it. Just thinking of getting that little extra power to the optical zoom. All the very best. John
@@JohnChapple1 I think my favorite features of this Panasonic line are the 4K@60p and the lens' long reach. I can make quicker camera movements and better record moving subjects without the rolling shutter effect of 30fps. Regarding the lens and especially with the Raynox on, I find It shines at getting extreme closeups of relatively near subjects (ie. your butterflies). When zooming into far away subjects, even on cool days, you're shooting through so much atmosphere that heat shimmer will sully your shot.
Your photography is wonderful and I also envy your local and accessibility to the greater number of wildlife species found in the UK and Europe. I can also appreciate the work it takes to capture these creatures on video. I think when watching wildlife footage the average viewer has no idea what it took to get that few seconds of footage.
what format did you save files as? MOV? Mp4? My computer won't read MOV files, strange. Is there software from panasonic for uploading to a computer?
I've been shooting in Mp4 as MOV is not windows friendly. There is no supporting Panasonic software that I know of. To my dismay, Panasonic has put all their highest quality 4K settings, 1080 slo-mo and hyper lapse settings for this camera in the MOV container. To get my PC's windows media player to play MOV, I've installed the now defunct and unsupported Quick Time. Also try loading the VLC player to play your MOV files. Now I've hit a snag with Mp4. The camera's only 4K@60 Mp4 is in the HEVC codec. My NLE is Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 16 which supports both Mp4 HEVC and MOV. Upon upgrading to 17, I can't load HEVC Mp4s. I tried loading the HEVC component from Microsoft, but it made no difference. I'm currently hunting for solutions, but I really don't want to use a converter for every file I shoot. I've reverted back to Movie Studio 16 for the time being but like you I'm frustrated by incompatible codecs and containers.
@@DanChanPiano good to hear, I think i'll be returning it, it's useless, or sell it
@@DanChanPiano Hi Dan Great video. I have just bought a x1500 and am having the same problem, windows wont play Mov for me. Have you had any success in finding a solution since, and if so could you please share it. Will it play on Apple or Mac.
@@kenkeane3882 Thanks Ken! MOV was created for Macs so they should have no problem playing on an Apple computer. On a PC. it's recommended to install the VLC player which should play MOV files in windows.
@@DanChanPiano Dan many thanks for your speedy help. Ken
Скажите пожалуйста как записи с камеры загрузить на планшет самсунг или планшет айпад
Вы должны скопировать файлы с SD-карты камеры на планшет, подключив устройство чтения SD-карт к планшету. Большинство SD-ридеров подключаются с помощью кабеля USB-C, который подходит для Samsung. Для фирменного разъема Ipad потребуется кабель-адаптер или устройство чтения карт специально для устройств Apple.
Vy dolzhny skopirovat' fayly s SD-karty kamery na planshet, podklyuchiv ustroystvo chteniya SD-kart k planshetu. Bol'shinstvo SD-riderov podklyuchayutsya s pomoshch'yu kabelya USB-C, kotoryy podkhodit dlya Samsung. Dlya firmennogo raz"yema Ipad potrebuyetsya kabel'-adapter ili ustroystvo chteniya kart spetsial'no dlya ustroystv Apple.
Btw, which tripod where you using at 8:23 ?
Benro S7 head with carbon fiber legs. I like Benro tripods because of the leveling cups. Benro quality is good and less expensive Manfrotto and Ifootage. Sirui tripods are also good.
Intelgent zoom isn’t as such digital zoom, it shuts down an outer row of your chip, effectively making it a smaller chip and as a result giving you more zoom. Down side is slightly reduce surface area of the chip for capturing light, so this is where I gather in poor light it may struggle more. As you say you can usually get away with it.
Thanks for your info. I think the bigger the sensor the more you have to work with and lessens the downside of light capture and resolution loss of intelligent zoom. But, I think the processing really helps with the X2000's small sensor. I'm certainly not the final word on this. Here's what was written on one of the forums:
My understanding of that is that it's basically an edited form of digital zoom, where the image not only is cropped and upsampled, but also sharpened with an algorithm that seems similar to what ACR calls "clarity". Some type of edge enhancement to give a sharper appearence. This is all based on samples from the Panasonic website and laws of physics of course. So I will stand corrected if anyone can show me it does other things (too).
Is the handle sold with the camera or separate?
The X2000 comes with handle and SDI out. The X1500 does not. Handle can be bought as an accessory for the X1500 for $300.
Great review. Did you mention ND filter?
Thanks Miguel. I didn't hit every feature such as the three built in ND filters, the two card slots, the manual focus and zoom rings and the streaming capabilities of the camera. There are more comprehensive reviews already out there. I'm glad you liked mine.
Nice video. Which camera were you wearing here? 1:00
Thanks! GoPro Hero 9 on a chest mount. I wish I would have shot at 60fps instead of 30.
@@DanChanPiano it has great quality considering how small it is.
Where do you buy that teleconverter??
B&H $289. Reynox also makes a 1.8x which I assume is higher quality but also heavier and 4 times the price.
@@DanChanPiano Bonjour Dan, pourriez-vous me dire quel micro vous utilisez avec X2000? Merci!
Sony AX700 and X2000 how to choice？
It's not an easy choice and I'm fortunate to have both. Decide by what type of filming you do the most of. AX700 has a sharper image and does well indoors or in low light, better slo-mo, but the limits of the 12x lens and the fast moving subject or camera motion blur of 4K@30fps disappoints me. It's great for everything else. The X2000 has the long lens, 60fps and better hand held image stabilization, but not as sharp, not great in low light.
I have both , AX700 is an excellent Camera but no XLR input , the X 2000 has got inbuild video light which is very handy in low light situations and have 2 XLR audio input very important for me picture quality is very simular , but AX700 is better in low light as the sensor is bigger .
A guy at b&h told me this wouldn’t fit on the hc x2000
The video proves him wrong. The Raynox has 62mm male threads and the x2000's filter mount has 62mm female threads. Nothing proprietary here.
@@DanChanPianothanks for the reply. I told the tech I saw your video and you were using the extender. Thanks again!!!
Hello Dan ,
Namaste from India 🇮🇳..thnx for uploading
I'm thinking about purchasing this camcorder & this video helped me a lot for finalizing !
You’re welcome Namaste. The only detraction for me is indoors in low light. Recording is possible, but the you will see noise in the dark areas of the image. I try to shoot in wide angle in these situations to take advantage of the widest, fastest lens aperture. If you’re willing to accept some degree of noise, all the good features of the camera outweigh the bad.
Of course the on camera light can be used to help out too.
@@DanChanPiano Do visit India someday soon , especially jim corbett tiger reserve & the Himalayan mountains, lots of birding Lodges around .
Check out jungle lore Birding lodge pangot in Uttrakhand india on you tube 😀
@@Travelleramit Thanks for this information. I may not be able to visit India anytime soon but I can sure look up these places on UA-cam. Thanks
I'm really worried about the differences with the HC-X1.
Do you know what's the best?
The HC-X1 is a great professional camcorder superior to the X-2000 in many ways. The considerations against it over X-2000 are older technology, shorter zoom and the most significant one….size and weight. A good way to know for sure is to rent one first and carry it around. Money well spent before committing.
They want to sell me a vx870k for $400 or a hc-x1500 for $500 both like new. I want to record youtube videos for my new channel. Im a basic kind of guy wich one is better for my purpose.
I see a lot of digital noise and fuzziness. It doesnt even look 4k.
Hi,
I see you use what I thin is the mid-range level of the camcorders but found a way to change to an amazing lens...
I been looking at some camcorders and some cinema cameras, but feel I know too little about tech comparisons
so if you got some time, I like to ask you
now in 2023...
How shall lone best compare the Panasonic AG-CX10 to the newer HC-x2?
Please advice what the main things rp consider would be= is a huge price difference but many things happens in 2023...
I want to live send from protest and make small doucmentreis as well... I am not could at all the tech but I am good at directing and working
with people... Want a camera that I can go out with and make money by as well as do vlogs at home or make shortfalls with actors as well...
Most people tell me to stay away from camcorder and get a Bacl magic 4k or the newer Sigma FP...
The Sigma FP looks really cool, and seem to listen to their users which I totally like!
I love cinema look but I also love to catchi things quickly that happens around town....
I of course understand setting up light and mics at home with actors and follow a scene sceudcel is totally different thing than
following a protest or making a vlog when out with my bike in the country side...
But, I cannot afford right now to buy all kinds of different cameras, but I still want to make actors look great in short films as well as have a fairly easy access
to a camera when interesting events happens around town..
so, what do you that worked professionally for a long time, camcorder or more of a small cinema type of camera?
and Panasonic AG-CX10 vs HC-x2, what are the pros and cons except for the big price difference between them?
do I need HC-x2 in 2023 and forward on, and if so why?
thans for a great channel and hope to here your thoughts on the topic°
Kind regards from Sweden :)
4k@60 is important to me for the lessened blur in subject and camera movement reasons. I don't have a specific model that I can recommend for you. I'll just make some general statements that I think are true. Camera's are competitively priced and I believe the saying " you get what you pay for " applies to cameras. Bigger, newer more expensive cameras like the HC-X2 are better in almost every category. 1" sensor, more external buttons for quick access, better audio interfaces and on and on. Weight, size and cost are also bigger. Do you want a professional looking camera that impresses and gives you more credibility to the average person? Are you willing carry around a larger and heavier camera that has more features and better low light and costs more? Or is a more compact camera's size, weight and lower cost more important to you than the aforementioned? The small camera will have a smaller sensor, fewer external buttons along with the lower cost but is comfortable to take anywhere. The CX10 also has a longer zoom and faster lens than the HC-x2 but isn't a true ENG camera. Black Magic and mirrorless have great features too, many lenses, codecs, big sensors and many good things etc, but now you're carrying around a kit of camera lenses and don't have the spontaneity and all-in- one aspect of a camcorder. So you see, it all depends on what you're willing to accept and not accept. If you can get your hands on a prospective camera before you commit to buying, do that. Even though it's a little hard to spend the rental money, renting a bigger camera will tell you if the added features are worth the weight and expense and if it will be a good match for your style of work.
@@DanChanPiano ah, I see. Yes, that was a really great reply! It made me think... Impress I had not considered, I do not think people here are impressed by cameras but rather they attack your camera if you come to close in Sweden. we have many protests now... But my goal is not to disturb them, but rather on a distance take video of them and make them more poetic and telling by showing, maybe some slowmotion of mass hysteria, or how people trigger each other on both sides, all sides, and then perhaps using graphics, animations, maps, charts, or diagrams to explain complex or abstract concepts, show data or statistics, or create transitions.
I foremost like the Poetic the of documenters... where I like to add in the use of music, sound effects, or ambient noise to create atmosphere, emotion, or contrast.
I started a master in Documentary film production and I am also an actor so I like to also use voice-over narration to provide additional information, context, or commentary.
but I find it hard to know what camera and tech stuff for audio I really need. I want to make professional work, so not just for fun, but work you can apply to festivals and such.
I think weight is ok as long as I can catch the details on a distance when needed or make nice close-ups of people's emotions in slowmotion when they perhaps argue or seeing people in neglect to others feelings and such things that can explain by showing and not telling the audience what is.
is why I want a camera that is clearly catching the moment. For now I cannot afford two cameras, but need one that can both catch things clearly but also could make for example long exposures, similar to this photographer but I want to do it in video ua-cam.com/video/ALwahKTuJfY/v-deo.html
Alexey Titarenko way...
what camera and lens do you believe could make this on video?
thanks for getting back, I do not want to show off to people but work hard in silence with the best camera for my ideas, I do nto think weight is an issue as I use a backpack and a bike to get around...
@@SimplicityForGood I think for your intended videography, smaller, lighter and less noticeable will be assets. I think you are looking for candid photography with the subject not aware of you filming them. With a larger more professional looking camera, people associate you with the press. They will react differently than if they consider you an amateur. I assume you take a neutral position when filming protests because even if your personal opinion is opposite of that of the protest you are filming, you want to at least give the impression that you are on their side. This to avoid conflict and possible violence and crime against you and your equipment. Protests can turn into riots where all social norms are forgotten in the mob mentality. Also if you film people who want to remain anonymous you risk being a target.
So I think the smaller Panasonic x2000 or CX-10 would be a good match. They have a nice wide angle and really long reach telephoto and the camera can be deployed in seconds for fast moving ENG situations. 4K@60 or (50PAL) will allow for 4K slo-mo with audio in a 30fps or 24fps timeline. If you choose to shoot at 120fps in 1080p you can get really slowed down video in 24 or 30fps timelines.
they are all predators! if they could they would eat you!
Don’t speak English,film birds with music ,no conclusion or review! Ridiculous!
Great Video! Thanks for sharing.