AGENDA CAMCORDER TRIO
sees the light Panasonic
A built-in LED light is just one of the technical innovations on a range of featherweight 4K 60p professional cameras WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH T he first lightweight pro camcorders with built-in illumination have been revealed by Panasonic, aimed at broadcast
rates (although autofocus still works). Recording at 10-bit is supported, and full-frame images with the image area uncropped is recorded, even at high frame rates. In terms of autofocus, it is contrast- detect only – but there is Face Detection AF and AE. Subject tracking with colour recognition can be activated by just touching the LCD panel. For manual focusing there are various Focus Assist functions, including Expand, Peaking and One-push AF. In both UHD and FHD, the camera combines the len’s Optical Image Stabilisation systemwith Electronic Image Stabilisation in five axes, including rotational blurring. Taking a leaf from the just-launched Panasonic S1Hmirrorless camera, the camcorders have a newly developed fan that pulls in air from the rear panel of the camera and disperses it from the front panel, to allow 4K 60p recording with no time limits. There is a bright, new 3.5-inch touchscreen monitor
audio recording. They record video in 4:2:2 10-bit to an SD card in 4k/30p and 60p in FHD using the high-efficiency HEVC codec. Built-in Wi-Fi supports HD livestreaming using just the camcorder. The flagship £2299/ $TBA CX10 supports the broadcast-ready P2 MXF file format, including AVC-Intra100 and AVC- Intra50, which are due via a future update in summer 2020. It is also equipped with Ethernet HD Live Streaming and an NDI- HX compatible IP connection function, with connectivity for use as a live camera. The £1849/$TBA X2000 and £1449/$TBA X1500 don’t have the MXF file option. When set to 10-bit, the camcorders deliver 4K 60p 4:2:2 via HDMI output for external recording. HEVC recording – LongGOP, 10-bit 4:2:0 in MOV – is also supported for recording 59.97p at a high bit rate of 200 Mbps. File formats are MOV, MP4 and AVCHD, plus MXF for the CX10. In FHD, slow-motion recording at up to 120fps is possible, but no audio is recorded at 100fps or 120fps frame
professionals, news gatherers and live streamers. A family of three of the smallest and lightest 4K 60p camcorders – the X1500, X2000 and CX10 – use a 8.29-megapixel ½.5-type CMOS sensor and a bright Leica f/1.8-5 24x zoom, which ranges from the equivalent of 25mm at the wide end to 600mm at telephoto. The two higher-spec models come with a built-in video light as part of the handle grip (the light can be bought as an accessory for the lower-spec X1500 model). The handle unit also has two-channel XLR audio input, as well as audio controls. The newmodels might be among the smallest and lightest cameras on the market, but are designed for professional use. They have two manual rings to control the lens, built-in ND filters and 24-bit high resolution Linear PCM
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SPRING 2020
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