Panasonic HC-X1 Announced: 4K DCI, 1″ Sensor Video Camera

NewsCameras

by Adam PlowdenSeptember 2^nd, 2016

The announcement of the Panasonic HC-X1 comes amidst a storm of camera releases. With a 1 inch sensor, 4K DCI and up to 60p in UHD mode, this run&gun handheld camera is surly aiming to suit the needs of modern news and documentary shooters, allowing greater creativity with its relatively large sensor.

Once again we are seeing evidence that what in the old days used to be a rather boring, 1/3 inch segment is growing up to be an interesting sector by combining enhanced specifications and sensor size. At times, indie filmmakers might dismiss this type of handy cameras, but we shouldn’t forget that there is a very large community of news shooters out there that will be very happy to adopt this kind of working tool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4wPNbej8A8

In a nutshell, here is what the new Panasonic HC-X1 has to offer (in no particular order):

• World camera with a wide variety of resolutions and frame rates.
• Optical image stabilizer in 4K 24p / UHD
• 5-Axis Hybrid Image Stabilizer in HD and lower resolutions
• Synchro Scan to help when shooting computer screens
• 4K DCI (4096×2160) at 24p, 100Mbps
• 4K (UHD) in 23.98/25/29.97/50/60p at 150Mbps.
• HD in 23.98/25/29.97/50/60p at up to 200Mbps.
• Up to 120fps in FHD
• FHD Variable Frame rate Recording: 2-60fps
• Wireless remote control via the AG-ROP iPad App
• Triple manual rings (Zoom/Focus/Iris)
• 25-480mm (20x) optical zoom
• F/2.8 – F/4.5 aperture
• 1/4, 1/16, 1/64 ND filter
• IR Filter (ON/OFF)
• Recording in MOV, MP4 and AVCHD formats.
• 4K (UHD) output via HDMI
• 2 x XLR inputs.
• 8 Gamma Curves including Cinelike V and D

If you are a professional using a 1-inch sensor sized camera like the Panasonic HC-X1 for your creative work, share with us your working experience. Did you ever try working with an even larger sensor camera or do you find this type of working tool good enough for you at the end of the day?