MY REVIEW: Panasonic UX180 1" sensor, 4K Camcorder, 20x Zoom - Overview and Features Walkaround

[@michelrigaux7707]

Great and pleasant review of the camcorder.It's clear and exhaustive . Thank you Michel

[@mjsstujo1]

Thank very much for this review, very helpful with my purchasing decision

[@IEBATechThoughts]

I'm glad it helped you!

[@jamesdavis7970]

Hi! Awesome review! Panasonic Site says the Video signal for External output for this camera is 8 bit 4:2:2, I would like to know if this outputs UHD 4K 8 bit 4:2:2 in 60P. I would like to use an Atomos External Recorder like the Ninja Inferno.

[@gabaktech]

can you live stream 4k in SDI?

[@IEBATechThoughts]

SDI is a wired connection, not a streaming connection.

[@SDPickups]

I looked at the UX90 and the 180 four years ago. I wanted a pro level video camera to do electric guitar pickup demos on KZbin. I faced many challenges in looking for exactly what I wanted, which was that I am recording from two professional microphones on a speaker cabinet, that go into a Yamaha mixer, that I wanted to take that signal OUT to stereo cables into a video camera, where I could control that signal and record it on an internal SD card IN the video camera. Seems like a simple problem, right? NO. There are some great cameras that Panasonic and others made back then, but NONE of them, would take a stereo signal INTO the camera from the mixer and have pro control over the incoming signal in levels control or pro level audio input. You just couldn't do it, very frustrating and I tried a couple video cameras that just failed to deliver. I looked hard at the UX90 and it didn't really have good 4K video. the UX180 had everything I wanted. It has two XLR inputs, though awkwardly they are at two different and distant spots on the camera. But I got a Y cable and solved that problem. This camera will take a professional audio source and dump it onto one or TWO internal plugged in SD cards. Now, there are two things I HATE about this camera. One, is the power button. Its really awkward to turn on and shut off, never got used to it. Two, is the LCD screen. Its like from 1980, DIM. Even jacked up with its controls, its hard to read in any kind of bright light, but yeah, you can look thru the view finder and read it, but it still sucks. So, I am only using this in a room setting, sitting on a tripod, I'm not running around as a news photographer, so those annoyances are a big deal. BUT, what I did, was I bought a very affordable monitor and use the HDMI port, so now I can really SEE what the camera sees, with bright vivid colors that their LCD monitor really fails to deliver. This camera has so MANY controls and features, it never ceases to amaze me, and the video quality I get at 4K is just super great, here four years later. It has stood the test of time, it still has features I've not begin to exploit, but it does what I want to and will probably last me another 5 years I'm sure. If you just want a video camera to chase your dog around the yard, this isn't it. As a studio camera, for the money, I doubt there is anything yet that exceeds the many things it can do. In the real world, I'm not sure it could stand up to being a news photographer's needs here in 2021, but as a studio camera on a tripod, its probably still a winner for those uses. the fact that you can feed it professional audio thru XLR or stereo audio cables, you still cannot find a lower priced video cam that can do that.

[@JAmediaUK]

A lower priced camera to the UX180 is (was) the Panasonic HC-X1 that is (was) about $1K less. It is an identical camera, except no SDI or time code. I run a couple of them for run and gun news work.

[@thewellvideoproductions8244]

Great review thanks!

[@BadBonsai1]

Thank you.

[@ericvideo]

I think you should point out that the one inch sensor in this camera is not one inch. Calling it one inch is a lie. It is smaller then 4/3 sensor in the DVX200. Even though the UX180 claims 20 to 1 zoom. The DVX200 can zoom just as far using the digital zoom magnifier.

[@daltonrandall4348]

Very thorough review! Would have been nice to see some footage from the camera, however.

[@IEBATechThoughts]

They are in other videos on my channel.

[@apntv]

Hi Anthony, I have watched both your UX180 and DVX200 reviews and I would be really interested in your thoughts having used both as I am currently trying to decide between the two. Now I pretty much know all the specs and some of the pros and cons but it is still a tough choice. As I see it the benefits of the DVX include the larger sensor, a closer match for my GH5, 4:2:2 10 bit output, vlog L and, with release of the EVA1 there are certainly a few good used ones coming onto the market. With the UX180 the 20X zoom and better wide end is probably more useful to me. I question whether I would ever record to an external recorder to get the higher spec output if I was shooting for broadcast, and of course I can always shoot that on the GH5. The cropping in 4K, especially at the wide end, is not so good plus the 180 is generally newer and similar price. So I welcome your thoughts, did you swap the DVX for the UX? Which do you prefer? I am coming from a PX270 which I'd like to upgrade to get a complete 4K workflow capability so I am very familiar with the style of these cameras. Thanks, Andy :-)

[@IEBATechThoughts]

A camcorder with a built in lens is a different beast than something like a DSLR with a prime lens. That's when you get the absolute most out of your camera and when an external recorder really pays off. The key differences are, as you outlined, bigger sensor, shorter zoom, versus smaller sensor, longer zoom. As they're both Panasonics, I think the color science would be pretty close with each. Both my cameras were review units so I only had a couple weeks with each and had to return them to Panasonic.

[@apntv]

IEBAcom yeah thanks, I think I am erring towards the UX180 at the moment. :-)

[@CL-Filmz]

Also UX-180 is wider..... I just ordered them both :-)

[@beearrowproductions9223]

Great video! I just have one question about the camera. Does it shoot in 1080i? I'm assuming it does, since you said you can use it in a broadcast studio environment.

[@IEBATechThoughts]

1080i is one of the standard HD formats. You can see the full range on the product specifications page on Panasonic's web site.

[@ifn_media]

Disappointing that the internal recording is 4:2:0 8-bit given that 9 years ago Canons XF series natively recorded at 4:2:2 8 bit for HD It would have been good to have a video on 'standards' and where cameras sit in the eyes of broadcasters. Hopefully you will cover the topic sometime. BUT a very informative video. Thanks.

[@mailmanx69]

Did you find the viewfinder on the AG-UX180 large enough to use easily? My Sony FDR-AX53 consumer camera has an EVF, but it is so small that I find it unusable. I'm looking for a camera to replace it, but there aren't any camera stores around here anymore for me to look in person.

[@paulallenMacca]

Yes i also have the FDR-AX53 and find it difficult to film towards the Sun and im even angled away from the sun and i cant see a Damn thing im always filming Common Buzzards in the Sky also when using Manual Focusing Ring i must have turned it no less than 15 times to Focus on Something.Im now thinking of the Panasonic HC-X1 or Cannon XF400.

[@mailmanx69]

Man! I'm sure glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. I hate the T-I-N-Y viewfinder on the FDR-AX53! Since I cannot see an AG-UX180 or HC-X1 in person, I did some research on specs relating to the viewfinder. On the FDR-AX53, it is a pitifully small .24". Sheesh! On the AG-UX180 or HC-X1, it is twice that at .47" AND it is an OLED which is the clearest possible screen. I have been in touch with another KZbinr who does what I do - he takes video of fast-moving RC airplanes. He uses the AG-UX180 for that and loves it. Check out his 4K videos of airplanes... The channel is called RC Essentials: kzbin.infovideos

[@anthonypeirce5875]

hi micheal i want to upgrade to the panasonic ag ux180 to more of a semi pro level filming aircaft at airshows with a great manfrotto videohead with tripod one problem ive heard some people say the 3.5 screen is poor to look into bad reflections plus the EVF is poor to but the goods are ultra hd 60 fps and FHD 60fps with high bit rate to on these frame rates 24mm wide angle plus 20x optical zoom great features for aircrat filming your thoughts

[@OzzieTech]

Does this camera have picture profiles and any kind of flat image?

[@IEBATechThoughts]

Yes. THis is described in detail on Panasonic's web site: pro-av.panasonic.net/en/4k_camcorder/ag-ux180/functions.html

[@wildlifesnapper1]

Nice review, just got one.

[@chrisw443]

So where are those tests you mention at the end?

[@IEBATechThoughts]

They are in other videos on my channel.

[@chrisw443]

@@IEBATechThoughts I am selling my DVX for a different camera despite the larger sensor it gives the same images as this but nosier.

[@TheSoundfidelity]

Why add the waveform function to a user button? It has a fixed added button function button 4!

[@IEBATechThoughts]

Because they are customizable and I can put it where I want it. And put something else on Fn 4

[@paulallenMacca]

Thanks for sharing this video,id like to know what its like when filming a Bird in the sky whats the focusing like,i film Mainly Common Buzzards in the sky with my Sony FDR-AX53 and hate when using Auto Focus it jumps in and out of Focus.

[@IEBATechThoughts]

I haven't tried filming a bird in flight.

[@paulallenMacca]

Any chance of trying it out i find with my FDR-AX53 That its very difficult to film when Pointed towards the Sun and even angled away from the Sun .

[@IEBATechThoughts]

The camera I had for review was returned to Panasonic in September 2017.

[@gabaktech]

I guess is better than Sony ax100 ;-) in image quality

[@IEBATechThoughts]

Depends on the eye of the user. And each can be adjusted to suit that eye even better.

[@glenngulia5409]

Okay, here is my problem with either reviewers or camera manufacturers: $2000 camera. $3000 camera. $4000 camera. Every review ends with some version of, "Who is this for? Run-n-Gun, ENG and Documentary filmmakers." The only conclusion I can arrive at is that no camera under $5000 is good enough for narrative filmmaking. And please, annoying guy that no one likes, please do not come on here with "It's not about the camera, it is about the story." I AGREE, but for some reason we are all trying to produce the best possible footage.

[@petrub27]

doh!