Panasonic HC-X1500 - first impressions

[@MichaelNobleMusic]

What a hidden gem of a review, thank you so much for this!

[@ArranEye]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lanceg6828]

Excellent impressions. Definitely picking up the 1500 soon. I’m a camcorder guy!

[@krupert8355]

Thank you for the wonderful review and example of different situations and conditions. It was very useful and also refreshing all while your narration was pleasant. Thank you :)

[@allcingeye5881]

Cheers just the up grade I Need I must say I do like Panasonic have taken my old panasonic all over the world never let me down nice to know they seem to have come up with an all-round winner with this one cheers for the video

[@GlitzGlamTVProductions]

Thanks for sharing this video! I'm very much interested in the X1500! :)

[@KiaTaatje]

Good review , I had a HCX1 before ( really good Camera but sold it after 3 years ) have now 2 Sony's Ax 700 and a HXR MC 88 both very good cam's ... but thinking investing in a X 2000 to as I do like the good stabilizer part .

[@TheCoomer]

Thank you for the great review

[@NickFlightX]

Have you experienced any hissing issues with the external mic input? I have just received the camera and I noticed when I plugged any mic or any 3.5 cable into the external audio input, there is a constant hissing sound that isn't coming from the mic or cable. It looks like a camera issue and isn't fixable with gain settings.

[@ArranEye]

I've not used the 3.5mm input, but doubt this is a camera issue. Everything about this camcorder works perfectly.

[@soundhobo]

I have the X2000, bought as an upgrade from my Panasonic VXF1. The X2000 is a brilliant in design and I’m really pleased with it. Thanks for the information, it’s all a bit thin on the ground what with no on line user manual as yet. Cheers 👍

[@ArranEye]

Thanks to Holdan, here is the online operator manual - much more comprehensive than the wee booklet supplied with the camera. resource.holdan.co.uk/Panasonic/manuals/Panasonic_HC-X2000.pdf

[@rendermanpro]

Nice! Interesting, especially while you have 2 cameras. If you put both cameras together what is a distance between center of lenses (kind of stereo rig)? Autofocus are working very well. Did you figure out how to set slow motions mode? I find that in the menu it is locked, even in 1080 as suppose to be.....

[@ArranEye]

I've not tried to use two cameras to shoot stereoscopic images, but guess these would need to be no more than 20cms apart. Slow motion can only be invoked with high spec memory cards and using the right encoder setting.

[@Thoroughmas]

Love your style.

[@rendermanpro]

1) Anybody know what type of remote control required? For example if I want to zoom on two cameras in sync... 2) Very interesting point about slow-mo and memory card. I have regular Samsung 100MB/s (U3) MicroSDXC EVO card, and slow-mo is unlocked only at 50Mbps bitrate (other 4K modes working very well, np). Do you have USH-II new format card? I think that it camera limitation, while 50Mbps is suppose to be per second (after slow-mo my guess). But who knows. Would be interesting to try if someone have faster cards.

[@ArranEye]

1) Most LANC controllers appear to be compatible. However, I'm unaware of any controller that will zoom two cameras at once.

[@paulallenMacca]

Whats it like at locking onto Focus,i film mainly Common Buzzards in the Sky and want a Camcorder thats really fast as locking onto focus's currently use the Sony FDR-AX53 but when the sun is out its terrible when filming something in the sky especially when there is a sun out even if im angled away from the Sun.

[@ArranEye]

All I can tell you is that this camcorder's autofocus is the best I've ever encountered. I am not a wildlife specialist, but when shooting birds in flight, the camera was able to maintain focus on them better than I could keep them in the frame!

[@ilkbaharkunduzu1]

Do you use proxy in Final Cut Pro? Is there any different export option for this camera footage?

[@ArranEye]

I use proxy on more complex projects to speed editing. Camera can record .MP4, .MOV and AVCHD.

[@grahamfjlaws6108]

Thanks for this. I was wondering what the onboard microphone was like. It's often an afterthought in camcorder design, but fitting an external microphone often makes the camcorder more difficult to handle especially in a run and gun or family holiday scenario. Is it particularly susceptible to wind noise, as many are ?

[@ArranEye]

I have been pleasantly surprised by the onboard microphones. Less susceptible to wind than other camcorders.

[@philiphatfield2833]

Thanks for the excellent vid. I have the HC-X1000. When switching from manual to auto it stays effectively in auto (iris, gain, shutter speed remain in auto) . To then get full manual control one has to lock each setting individually with each appropriate button - a bit of a pain. Does the HC-X1500 behave the same way please?

[@ArranEye]

Yes, it's the same, but readily done.

[@TheByonur]

Hello All, I am thinking of purchasing Panasonic HC-X1500 Model camera. After charging the device's own battery to 100%, how many minutes can I record if I start 4k recording? Is it possible to record for 1 hour without changing the battery? For everyone who tried to answer my question, I would like to express my gratitude and thank you in advance. stay healthy and take care of yourself and your loved ones. Greetings from Istanbul, Turkey.

[@ArranEye]

The supplied battery is phenomenal. The manual states that it will power the camcorder for over four hours. We regularly record continuously for well over an hour and have three quarters charge remaining, A typical day's shoot, switching on and off, barely dents the charge any more.

[@SuggestopediaForAll]

Thank you for the review. Just a couple of questions come to my mind. 1. How long does the battery last when streaming? It says up to 4 h of recording, but then probably the wifi streaming will cut the recording time to about 2 h, probably? 2. Can you record with external microphone while connected to the wall plug? I cannot do this on my Panasonic V770, because of the noise that comes into the audio from the electric circuit.

[@ArranEye]

1. I've not yet tested the streaming ability of the camera (it's complicated to set up!). I doubt that streaming will drastically reduce battery life; in any case, when would you want to live stream for longer than two hours? 2. I just tested this for you. There is no interference or degradation to external audio when plugging in the power supply.

[@SuggestopediaForAll]

@@ArranEye Thank you for your great response!

[@petrub27]

why would you stream on battery?

[@ArranEye]

On location, without a mains supply!

[@azzamur]

Good review.

[@dodgierogie68]

Awesome

[@rendermanpro]

It have one lack of design - not every filter fit with lenshood, just no much space. I think if they put 1mm extra space between lenshood and filter it would be much more convinient (to put polarizer or IR)

[@davidholman7340]

This "first impressions" prompted me to buy the HC-X1500, but the best quality I can upload via Video Editor is MP4 2160 at 25p. I have Windows 10 64bit. Can you recommend any software that will enable me to upload 2160 at 50p?

[@ArranEye]

I'm a Mac user, so use FCPX for all our post production. There must be several PC editing apps that can handle 4k 50p.

[@davidholman7340]

@@ArranEye Thanks for replying. My dilemma is that I've been using Corel VideoStudio Pro X8. which supports MP4 but not MOV, for some years now so I was thinking of buying VS Pro 2020 but apparently while it supports MOV I don't see MP4 listed, and I don't want two similar programs on my computer.

[@ArranEye]

Video frame rates are independent of their formats, so you don't need to work in .mov to achieve 50p. You just need to use an editing package that can handle 50p. There is no quality difference between MP4 and MOV.

[@davidholman7340]

@@ArranEye Ah, thank you. For me this not so much a learning curve as a mountain to climb, but I'm getting there slowly.

[@neilhenderson1766]

Great review - does stable mode work in 4k?

[@ArranEye]

Yes, it does. After using a couple of these camcorders for a wide range of projects I remain very satisfied with their amazing capabilities.

[@thomaskalladan4065]

A good review of the video camera. I bought it to do live video streaming of church services due to the Corona Virus pandemic. There is an easy way of putting the URL of streaming but I could not figure it out yet.

[@ArranEye]

Thanks to Panasonic LUMIX Nordic, here's the procedure to live stream with your new camcorder... kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXSUl51orc9mirc

[@thomaskalladan4065]

@@ArranEye Thank you.

[@ryen7512]

Small sensor for this level of camcorder. struggles in low light. otherwise looks great!

[@KungfuJoeProductions]

Do these cameras have image stabilization?

[@ArranEye]

Yes they do. You can select from several options according to what you are shooting. It's very good.

[@KungfuJoeProductions]

@@ArranEye great

[@KungfuJoeProductions]

5 axis stabilization?

[@ArranEye]

Yes indeed.

[@TheChakwow]

Why not 4K shooting?

[@ArranEye]

a) because most of our work is HD and so the appeal of a 4k camera is it's beneficial interpolation of 4k to HD. b) because it won't stay in 4k when uploaded to KZbin. I have however checked out 4k recordings and they're fine and dandy - very crisp and clean. Astonishingly good pictures for such a small sensor.

[@TheChakwow]

@@ArranEye I shoot exclusively in 4K with a Pan HCX1000 which has 2/3 sensor. Low light results were poor until I found a scene mode which gave good results. Try shooting in 4K then edit in FHD. When I need outstanding low light in 4K iI use aSony with 1 nch sensor.

[@TheFoxwiz]

@@ArranEye I have seen a few other videos uploaded to KZbin in 4K. You should rethink item b.

[@expresscinematicuniverse]

@@TheChakwow Can you recommend a low light scene file for 4K?

[@pgtips4240]

I have looked at the footage of this camcorder on my 5k imac screen and in all honesty I came to the conclusion that it was a toy rather than a tool for professional looking video. I am not saying you can't get some nice footage out of it but next to other options it's basically a toy camcorder. For around the same price you can buy either a Panasonic G9 or GH5 with a lens included and I promise you it will blow any of these camcorders out the water for video quality. To me the sensors are just far too small and the video data rates also sadly too small. There are sime desirable features on these cameras for people with zero experience using a camera but for a serious pro video maker it's only going to disappoint imo.

[@ArranEye]

There is a place for both larger sensor cameras as you prefer, and versatile camcorders like this. The footage is well up to broadcast standard. I've worked in television for 50 years and this is the best camera for a wide range of work that I have ever used.

[@pgtips4240]

@@ArranEye You may have worked for 50 years but how many of those years have been relevant to the standards of today. We are only talking about video quality here, nothing else. All I am saying is that unless there is plenty light the video samples I have seen look really bad lacking dynamic range and very noisy. I looked at these on my 5k imac screen which is a very high quality screen too. Then I campared it with other similar priced cameras like the gh5 which just blew them all out the water. The gh5 made them look like toys and it's roughly about the same price with a lens included. The gh5 can also record at 400mbs vs the 100mbs data rates of the camcorders. So 100mbs is not a lot of data to be capturing really and this low data rate plus small sensor makes for some really rough video compared to what you could have for same money. Having said all this, if the camcorder ticks all your boxes then go for it but for me I would just feel robbed because I'm not a millionaire and I like to get the biggest bang for buck when it comes to buying a camera.

[@BackusCreativeImaging]

I have an HC-X2000, this review helped convince me to get it. Here's some footage I shot with it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKbahXVud8meg9E

[@ArranEye]

Glad to have helped, Gary. The pictures don't disappoint and the camcorder performs really well in a variety of settings. We recently provided footage for both BBC and ITV and they commented on the high quality.

[@BackusCreativeImaging]

@@ArranEye I watched your review like 10 times while waiting for my order to arrive. The HC-X2000 is fantastic. If it's good enough for the BBC, what more do you need? Your segment showing the "1 candle" low light test was great! I really like this little camcorder :)