Next month will see the release of the Panasonic HC-X1000, the first camcorder able to record 4K 60p/50p movies onto an SDXC card.
The new Panasonic HC-X1000 4K Ultra HD camcorder. (Source: Panasonic.)
Supporting both 4K (3840 x 2160) and Cinema 4K (4096 x 2160) formats, the new camcorder can shoot and record movies in Cinema 4k mode at 24p and UHD, which is broadcast-compatible and integrates with a professional broadcast workflow. The HC-X1000 features a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) MOS sensor that captures at 4K resolution. Two built-in Venus processing engines are used to scale the 4K image for Full HD delivery.
The camera is equipped with a Leica Dicomar 20x optical zoom lens that has four lens groups and includes electronically linked geared iris rings to provide precise manual control. Two optical image stabilisation modes are available, one for 4K and the other for HD recording. Two viewfinders are available, a traditional tilt up colour EVF and a pull out LCD high-resolution touch-screen that is positioned above the lens for a more natural viewing experience when shooting handheld.
The camera records in .mp4, .mov, or AVCHD codecs, but requires the mp4 codec for 4K/UHD movies. All codecs support recording in full HD. MP4 & MOV recording support a 200 Mb/s all intra frame codec, which requires less computing power to playback. Dual SD media card slots are provided and use of UHS-1 U3 rated SDXC cards is recommended for recording at the highest bit rates. Built-in neutral density (ND) filters allow exposure control at 1/4, 1/16, and 1/64 densities.
Interface connectors include a built in microphone, and two 3-pin XLR audio inputs for line or mic level input. Manual adjustments are via dials set into the side of the camera so you can adjust the levels during the shot without having to pull up a menu function. Users can control and monitor the HC-X1000 in real time from a distance by using the Panasonic Image App on a smart-phone or tablet device. The camera is also NFC enabled.
The HC-X1000 is listed on US websites at around US$3500. Local pricing will be released closer to the time it goes on sale.
