Panasonic HC-VX3: A Modern Spin on the Classic Camcorder

[@motorcycle-man]

Was recently looking into getting a X1500 for my interns to get some BTS B-Roll stuff. I started out on camcorders(DVX200) and they therefore have a special place in my heart.

[@PavSZ]

this is super simple, fool proof camera. HC-X1500 is in a different league though

[@NetvoTV]

It's nice yiu take tine t cover its features! Question, why an 8mp sensor can produce 20mp photo? I want to get the more festured WXF1 model with dual cnaeras and night vision just wish there is a new model like this VX3 with new USB C which is basically VX1 but with the DC port and micro USB

[@POVwithRC]

Cleetus McFarland, a very large automotive KZbinr, runs his channel on some old AX53 camcorders. Ease of use. Durability. Nobody knows the difference when they tune in for the story. Camcorders will always have a place

[@juhaaavalaakso455]

It is funny that we find team Sensor Size, team ND filters, team 10 bit 422 and etc. other teams complining this and that. Consumer camcorders are made for people who does not give a single f*** for those things. They only want it super simple, records hours and Zoom is one to love. Camcorders still have their place.

[@xjet]

Not always true. I care and I use camcorders. My favourite right now is my Panasonic HC-X1500 which does 10-bit 422 at 4K and will also do 4K at 50 or 60FPS plus 1080p at 100/120FPS. It has inbuilt ND filters, dual SD card slots and a 4-hour battery plus 35mm equivalent zoom from 25mm to 600mm. A very capable camcorder that (for me and my run/gun style) beats a mirrorless with a bag of lenses, external NDs and a stack of batteries any day.

[@PavSZ]

@@xjet you are talking about a seni-pro camcorder. This is exactly for someone who would read your comment and say: "what?" This is camcorder for someone who doesn't need or care about all of it

[@xjet]

@@PavSZ _"This is camcorder for someone who doesn't need or care about all of it"_ In which case it's massively overpriced. Just buy the HC-V380K (if you can find one) for $330 and get all you need for such an application without blowing so much cash. You'll get 5-axis stabilization, full HD recording, 50x optical zoom and high framerates (50 or 60FPS)

[@livonian]

Love camcorders ☺

[@gennaroapicella7430]

Thanks for this video. Which one do you recommend between this panasonic and the sony AX?

[@PavSZ]

@@gennaroapicella7430 I never used a Sony camcorder to recommend a specific one and it would hugely dependent on what you need it for too

[@kuunami]

The good old days of 3 CCD cameras

[@PavSZ]

Good old days 😂

[@xjet]

Agreed... no rolling shutter but to be honest, SD is pretty awful with most cameras over-sharpening and using such small CCDs that the low-light performance is attrocious.

[@borlach321]

Are the files easy to edit? What do you use?

[@PavSZ]

same as any other camera files. Standard mp4

[@davidealberti3784]

I am still confidently waiting for a handycam with at least a 1'' sensor that can deliver image quality comparable to that of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (which, in terms of quality, is closer to a mirrorless camera than an action cam). It would be fantastic!

[@DenysZharkov]

Date First Available October 15, 2021 ))))))))))))))

[@harryvlogs7833]

Not sure night vlogging will be better than my phone as my phone has a 1 inch sensor

[@PavSZ]

But has your phone got 24 X optical zoom for filming extra b-roll? 😉

[@harryvlogs7833]

@PavSZ that unfortunately not

[@CristoFelisha]

Thanks for the forecast! I need some advice: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?

[@PavSZ]

wow! copy and paste your comment into Google for instant answers

[@DroneStories]

Another stock clearance, what happened to Panasonic, they're closing the store?😂

[@PavSZ]

what stock clearance?

[@WassimJelassi]

and still no one managed to film a UFO and all we get is blurry blurbs of light

[@HungTran-wf3gu]

i first look and interested at it, but after searching for review and the spec, it basically the same camcoder for 6, 7 year ago, maybe better screen. so no innovation in almost 10 year

[@PavSZ]

I don't know, I never used the previous model but this is really good for what it is, a simple, easy to use camcorder.

[@xjet]

The *big* problem with 25p/30 FPS cameras is that without ND filters the shutter time tends/needs to be very short (far less than 180 degrees) in well-lit conditions and that produces *horrible* jerkiness when panning or for subject movement. The lack of motion-blur really makes the footage look bad and *far* from cinematic. I wish they'd up the frame-rates to 50/60FPS where the jerkiness is far less noticeable. Camcorders are great for content creators. I've accumulated over 140 million views over my two channels using nothing but camcorders for creating my vids.

[@PavSZ]

this camera records in 50/60p in slow motion mode and in manual the shutter angle can be set to 180º. This with ND filter can solve this problem but this camera is made simple for someone who doesn't care about all that.

[@xjet]

@@PavSZ Yeah but my point is that if you set the shutter to 180 degrees *without* adding an ND filter the exposure will be blown out. I'd much rather watch 1080/50FPS than 4K/30FPS if there's no ND filter used in normal day-lighting. The staccato effect of that high shutter speed is *awful* on these cheap camcorders. Having said that, this isn't exactly "cheap" and if you want great value then a good HD (1080p) camcorder is likely far more bang for your buck. There's honestly not a huge amount of difference between HD and 4K in most instances so why pay for 4K footage that looks awful when motion is involved?

[@NetvoTV]

I'm a freelance designer, can I help you do something to help me afford one?

[@LeeAxonisDigifin]

I've got some left hand pencils that need sharpening. What's your rate?

[@NetvoTV]

Hi ​@@LeeAxonisDigifin, nice to meet you, left hand pencil need to sharpening? You mean your physical pencil?

[@LeeAxonisDigifin]

@ 🤣🤝🏼

[@NetvoTV]

@@LeeAxonisDigifin i do need the money to help me get back in track in life, it's not a joke

[@zyxyuv1650]

Is this an old product? I'd buy this if it had 10-bit and Log and higher framerates. It seems like a pretty cool idea and I'd be very interested in a GoPro competitor with super zoom. But this is not a competent alternative to GoPro. The 8-bit 4K30 reminds me of my GoPro from 10 years ago...the Hero4 Black lol

[@PavSZ]

this a new product and it is not camera to compete with GoPro. This is as simple as it gets, easy to use camera for capturing moments quickly and easily. This is a camera for someone who will play the files straight from the camera onto the TV. It does not need 10 bit or log

[@g1981c]

30p / 25p going into 2025 - no thanks.

[@PavSZ]

it does 50/60p in slow motion mode

[@michaelbell75]

Thanks. I had the model before this one and ended up getting rid of it. IBIS was terrible. Micro jitters all over the place, even at short focal lengths. Certainly not worth $900, maybe half that. If you have $900 and already own a camera, you can easily find a long zoom for that kind of money or even cheaper and get MUCH better quality. Like I could get a used Canon EF 100-400L around $700, put it on my R7 and get out to 640mm. I won't have the wider end but I'll have way better video quality and at 60p and a much higher quality bitrate. Panasonic needs to bring the price down on these or make a $500 model.

[@PavSZ]

I have demonstrated that IBIS in this camera is exceptionally good. You can't compare this camera to a mirrorless with a very big zoom on it. This is a camera made simple for someone who doesn't care about all that and who just wants to press rec button to capture a moment

[@pringleboat]

I love camcorders but at this price point I would definitely get a bridge cam or something else over this. I'd pay $300 max. My $100 JVC camcorder from 2008 does 90% of what this does.

[@PavSZ]

I'd like to see 2008 camcorder deliver quality and stabilisation like this. It is a different tool than a bridge camera (and the recent Panasonic one I reviewed was delivering far worse quality than this). This is a camera for someone who will play the files straight from the camera onto the TV. Very simple to use

[@louielondonmedia4819]

The Sony AX53 does all this, and can do different frame rates. It is also about 5 years old. Why would anyone want this in 2024/25, where you can only have 25FPS or 30?

[@PavSZ]

I answer your question in my video. This is a camera for someone who will play the files straight from the camera onto the TV. As simple as simple can be. It does 50/60p too in slow motion mode

[@xjet]

@@PavSZ Does anyone actually just play files straight from the camera to their TV though? Those people would probably be more likely to use their phone and watch their footage on the phone itself wouldn't they? You say it does 50/60p in slow motion mode -- which isn't really much use to anyone for getting holiday clips. Does it have audio at those speeds?

[@PavSZ]

@@xjet I wouldn't play from the camera on a TV but the easiest way to play the files without going through 10s of folders is from the camera. In slow motion mode it gives you an option to slow down a part of the footage (x3) while recording. If you do nothing, you get 50/60p file with sound on SD card

[@gennaroapicella7430]

Do you recommend getting Sony?

[@xjet]

@@gennaroapicella7430 I have a couple of Sony camcorders and they've served me well. In my honest opinion, the stabilization is slightly better with the Sony cameras (especially those with the BOSS gimballed lens system). A good place to go for info on camcorders is the MarcusPix KZbin channel... he's reviewed and compared quite a few of them.