Why PANASONIC HC-X1500 is a Camera For a Serious Film Maker in 2020

[SAMPLES in video]
In this video I compare usability and quality of the Panasonic HC-X1500 video camera to hybrid and cine cameras.
Is Panasonic HC-X1500 a camera for a serious professional or just an another camcorder?
#panasonicx1500 #procamcorder #professionalvideocamera
Cinematic footage/bokeh/low light performance video: • Panasonic HC-X1500 - C...
MORE FOOTAGE SAMPLES video: • Panasonic HC-X1500 - F...
How to set Panasonic HC-X1500/2000 for live streaming walk through: • How to stream with PAN...
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Buy Panasonic HC-X1500: www.ukdigital....
(not affiliate link)
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Affiliate links:
Amazon US:
Panasonic HC-X1500: amzn.to/3fivOem
Panasonic HC-X2000: amzn.to/2zu4Xgs
Amazon UK:
Panasonic HC-X1500: amzn.to/38yREds
Panasonic HC-X2000: amzn.to/3kfr8be
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Twitter: / tvpav

[@PavSZ]

Do you use dedicated video camera (camcorder) already or would you consider one after using run of the mill DSLR/Mirrorless cameras?

[@perspectivestudioscaribbea5899]

Yes, I presently own two mid-range canon camcorders and recently sold off my DSLR, I have been liking what I'm seeing about this HC-X1500 and think that 3 of them would be the way to go for a live switched multi-camera setup

[@xradrd]

Great review! Yes this has been my dilemma for so long. Do I get a DSLR or a camcorder? I've tried many great DSLR's for video- GH5, GH9, Fuji XT3, Sony RX 10iv, Canon EOS R, and a few more. But for the type of video I like to do (air show's) it's really tough shooting with a DSLR. I also have a Sony AX53 but what a horrible view finder :(. I wear glasses so I need a much larger eye cub/viewfinder. This camcorder has been on my radar for a while.

[@PavSZ]

@@xradrd if you struggle with DSLR cameras to film with this could be an answer. It has got it's limitations but the high frame rates and that long zoom could be perfect for filming air shows. As I said in my video, it is a pro camera, you'll need to learn what's what and understand what is possible and it will do well for you

[@jeveloz47]

I used dslr b4 and I prefer camcorder better Panasonic cx350

[@martinXY]

I do corporate and event video in government and have always used camcorder-style cameras. Sony NX5 and NX3 at work and Canon XA20 at home. I love the simplicty and the ability to react quickly to changing shot needs, as well as the simple but robust audio capture. This Panasonic looks perfect for home.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

Camcorders are video cameras. DSLR/Mirrorless bodies are photography cameras. There's a reason why shooting video with a camcorder for the overwhelming majorities of KZbin videos is superior; They get the job done with practically instant constant focus, insanely good image stabilization and everything you could possibly need fits in the palm of your hand (multiple lenses, body, battery pack, mic, etc...). The clips aren't interrupted, they don't overheat and they could run for HOURS on one battery. I could see the specifics of photography cameras coming in handy for macro shots and product reviews, but generally speaking, a camcorder is just a point & shoot camera on steroids. It was so liberating for me to transition from a DSLR to a my Panasonic VX1 for what I do. I don't need cinematic slow motion. I don't need bokeh. I don't need super low light performance. And the imagery is difficult to distinguish between DSLR/Mirrorless on a computer or smartphone screen (where almost all KZbin content is viewed) and in a lot of cases (especially with Canons), it's just an overall more natural and fluid experience to watch. There's an Aussie saying, "Some lures are made to catch more fishermen than fish." and that's how I see cameras for content creators. 90% of us just "need" a camcorder, but the community is constantly battered with gear pitches and some incessant need to be able to produce 8K video footage for screens that rarely produce 1080p quality in the real world.

[@trisjor]

This camera is quite intended for Broadcast, that’s why the equivalent of ISO is labeled Gain and measured in dB. Also note the User 1 and User 2 buttons, also quite common in broadcast environments.

[@TinLeadHammer]

All consumer camcorders call amplification Gain and measure it in dB. ISO is just a still camera convention.

[@Butterfly07949]

Great video thanks for uploading. Camcorders will never die because there is no recording time limit, don't overheat, stay in focus as you zoom and have no focus breathing ether. They are also anatomically better to hold than a dslr or mirrorless camera and therefore not clunky in the hands, meaning that they are made for video rather than a stills camera with video being an add-on function. I used to work in the industry back in the 80's at a television broadcasting company that produced pop videos and adverts. But back then it was broadcast standard definition on umatic tape and occasionally one inch tape.

[@PavSZ]

I totally agree

[@turbo_bikini]

3:07 is underrated. "Shitter speed." I was crying on the floor

[@ohmwai]

now i can't unhear it lol

[@vladsnape6408]

The quicker you get it done the quicker you can get on with doing more meaningful things.

[@PavSZ]

I speak 4 languages fluently and I'm sorry that my accent is not to your liking. Unfortunately I can't change it. Thanks for watching

[@vladsnape6408]

@@PavSZ You don't need to apologise. You entertained us with your unique pronunciation of "shutter". Keep up the good work.

[@AlexLawi]

@@PavSZ I don't think it was a personal attack on your accent. I think they, like me, found the pronunciation quite fun :) Your English is great, it was just a small detail that was a little funny. No need to change your pronunciation, you are not expected to speak like a native, of course, but anyone can still understand you. And nobody said they didn't like your accent, so no need to apologize for your accent. Quality Content bro! :)

[@WeaponsEducation]

I purchased this yesterday because of you for my channel. Thanks

[@PavSZ]

Great to hear! Thank you for watching!

[@MicTransit]

I actually watched this video after I placed an order for this camcorder. And my very first video was shooting some trains at 10pm on the street. As a trainspotter I'd say this camera is pretty useful for its 4k60p and long-range zoom even though more and more railfans are using their cellphone to get the job done. Since trainspotting is basically one type of documentary, I would say its low light performance is acceptable and the footages are useable as long as the autofocus works. Even though there is a lot of noise, those noise spots are actually much smaller than a cell phone or a GoPro footage (I did some comparisons), and the objects are still very clear even at 600mm focal length. Also as a hobbyist photographer and videographer at the same time I found that a lot of people are so obsessed with 10-bit 422 so that they forgot this is a camcorder instead of a DSLR/mirrorless camera that does a good job in cinematic movies while overheating much faster.

[@TonyVRailfanning]

I’m in Canada and looking at this model to just what your doing to railfan however from the review you can’t capture photos at the same time your recording? My 10 year old Panasonic tm900 does and although only 1080p/60 it would be hard to part with if this x1500 does not have a capture photos button while recording then that’s a big loss.

[@MicTransit]

@@TonyVRailfanning you can save thumbnails during playback

[@TonyVRailfanning]

@@MicTransit but doing that with 1080p the resolution is too low. Shooting 4K uses up a lot of space it it really worth it to shoot in 4K?

[@MicTransit]

@@TonyVRailfanning if this is your major concern I'd suggest you consider other camcorders. One of the most important selling points for this one is its 4k60p capability. If you'd like to shoot 1080p(30/60p) mainly there's a lot of other choices with much better image quality plus much less expensive. To directly answer your question, yes, and you will see the difference when you see your footage on a 4K monitor or a 4K TV. I personally will watch all my uploaded videos on my 4K TV. This is just my opinion since 1080p is still the most common form of train videos.

[@TonyVRailfanning]

@@MicTransit thank you for your info. FYI here is a sample of what I do kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX2qnmueZaZopbs

[@vacuumelite2065]

Sir. You are the only reviewer of many, to tell me this camera cannot utilise other lenses. Thank you so much. Great camera, great review; but not suitable for my use. Subbed. 😊😊

[@wippo76]

There are converter lenses kzbin.info/www/bejne/rajCoqR-h89rrqc

[@MikeSanchez88]

Great video. Been looking at this camera as an option for awhile. I shoot Sony A7iii , a6500 and rx100va for small events, an occasional real estate and for-fun videos. At work I am issued an FS5ii and rx0ii. I have no shortages of cameras but a camcorder just appeals to me. All the tools in one body. Learned on a GL1/2 XL1 years ago and can't get that bug out of my head. Not enough info on this camera out there. Appreciate it 👍

[@hanglooserecluse]

Subscribed as soon as I realised you were metal, best start to any camera youtube video i have ever seen

[@PavSZ]

thanks! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@videocreation5206]

Great review ,camcorders rules, there designed for video and dslr are designed for photos, made the mistake myself a couple of years ago buying a dslr listening to all the hype how good they are for professional filmmaking . Ended up being very expensive with the extra good quality lenses, even then was not happy ,too bulky carrying various lenses and overheating issues and short video records ,the list goes on. Back to the camcorder ,makes life so much easier

[@PavSZ]

Totally agree

[@Military872]

I am thinking the same, i am looking for a new Camera to shoot Video for fast aircraft handheld, WEX suggested the Sony A74 for this, then i need a lens etc etc.

[@KevinMullarkey]

@@Military872 Me too, i miss camcorders after switching to mirrorless (Lumix S5) last year. I grew up cutting my teeth on Pan camcorders and am now looking at going back to them.

[@snells-window]

Good review...I think this camera will be perfect for my needs. Great manual control and an incredible zoom for wildlife. Thanks.

[@TwistedFilm]

Wow! This camera is amazing! I can’t wait to buy this camera for my four-year-old so he can start playing with it and begin his career as a filmmaker!

[@PavSZ]

it might be a little bit too much for a 4 year old

[@soundhobo]

Panasonic has produced a real game changer here in both form and function. I have the X2000 with the additional handle with light and XLR inputs etc, etc. It’s new to me but I’m enjoying learning what this camcorder is capable of 👍 I’m also a GH5 user and the addition of CineV & D is really useful. All in all I’m pleased...as far.

[@tobymcmullen928]

getjourneyman would you be confident using it along side your gh5 in a multi cam shoot? Do you think the looks would match? Need a b cam for gh5 shoots, something I can slap on a tripod and I think this might be it

[@soundhobo]

Toby McMullen ...Some guys with much more experience than I have, have reported positively that they can match the Cine V and D profiles with ease. I’m thinking there is a match for the Natural profile as well, having said that all the profiles can be tweaked. It’s early days for me with this camcorder but it has that Panasonic look to its output and I would be happy to put it on a tripod and let it do its thing.

[@sebasgranda2635]

im feeling like this camera could be a must for documentary filmaking on a budget

[@SergeGolikov]

Glad I found this review (LIKED) 👍 My Lumix Video lineup since 2014 has included: FZ200, FZ300, FZ1000, FZ2500, GX8 up till very recently. Last month I upgraded to GH5, G9 and S5 for my Video Work, for the 10bit 4:2:2 workflow. The FZ2500 has been the A Camera for long lens work, Sport, Nature. Now I am thinking of returning to the Camcorder form factor for that workflow, and trading in the wonderful FZ2500, FZ300 - with it's amazing optics. Thanks for broadening my options 👍🍺

[@PavSZ]

Thanks for sharing this! Camcorders are not dead yet

[@blmeanie]

thanks for detailing your lineup , last year I went with the FZ2500 for videoing water sports, while the quality of the video is very good, the complexity of getting focused and I place the camera in a mount up on a boat tower, makes it difficult. Thinking of getting an x1500 to simplify the process a bit without losing too much video quality (hopefully)

[@DayPhotography]

As a Luthier studying video, I was happy to see you feature your guitar re-string sequence. Great video, Cheers.

[@PavSZ]

thanks!

[@suniso370]

I'm not even into cameras or video production, just clicked on this video for kind of an informative value, was pleasantly surprised to hear those riffs at the beginning.

[@MichaelSchagen]

I'm still using a hc-x920, a 3mos panasonic camera. Given the specs, and seeing the test footage I can tell that a camcorder like the x1500 realy needs good light to get decent images. The sensor in the x1500 is a bit smaller than in my camera, and an important difference is the x920 has three of them, one for each primary color, and uses a color splitter instead of a color filter which bayer sensors use. The lens on the x1500 is also a bit slower than on the x920. So the x1500 will have to produce a image with substantially less light then the x920. Furthermore the sensor of the x1500 has effectively about 8MP of resolution but these are bayer pixels, where each pixel is only red, green or blue. To produce a good 4k image with 4:2:0 color sampling you would need at least 12 Mp on your bayer sensor. So don't expect glorious crisp 4K from this camera. And finally the pixels on the x1500 must be even tinier than on the x920 which makes it hard to get a decent dynamic range. The dynamic range on the x920 is already quite limited. Furthermore, the range over which you can vary your aperture without suffering from diffraction diffusion is already quite limited on the x920 so it will be even worse on the x1500. You will really need to ride that built in ND filter as the light varies. Occasionally I use the x920 in it's auto everything mode and then, to be quite honest, the footage doesn't look much better than that of a modern smartphone, except for the ability to zoom in ofcourse. Some skill and manual settings are required to get the most out of these camera's. I think one needs at least a one-inch sensor to get a workable 4k image. If your interested in a camera like the x1500 because of the convenience and versatility of it's lens, the fz-2000 might be the better choice (only 4k@30p8bit though). It's also a lot cheaper than the x1500 and it can give you decent stills aswell. I like these camcorders for their convenience, but I think it is my last camcorder. As ILC's have gotten better, the only real advantage camcorders still offer is the motorized, long range zoom lens. But if you don't need that, ILC's have many more advantages. The 14-140 lens on a MFT camera gives you a good (non-motorized) 10x zoom range if you need it and it's quality is plenty good for 4K (8MP) video. Replace it with a fast prime and you can shoot great images under low light, etc.

[@PavSZ]

I couldn't agree more. I have tried filming myself in exactly the same lighting set-up as I film myself with Sony a7sII and Nikon Z6 and the footage from X1500 was NOT usable. It needs a lot of light to perform to its full potential. A lot of people ask how it is on low light but it will never be brilliant. It's not meant to be with that size sensor and that lens. It's great in right hands though. If you know what you are doing and DO NOT touch that zoom rocker on every single shot you take and understand its limitations, it will deliver the goods. Thanks for watching and commenting! 👍🏻

[@frankilluminati6027]

I also have a panasonic Hc 750 with the 3mos makes the most out of low light situations. I actually have 3 of them. Great Cam

[@AutospeciLvAkumulatori]

X1500 is a crap. Bought in february, tested 2.months, sell for cheap. Noise is terrible, even at 6db. Colors weak, no contrast at all. If tweak picture profil like dslr, dynamic range dissapears, maybe 8 stops. No log profile, of course. Cine profiles is a crap, skintones awful. Best marketed crap camera in the world!!!!

[@dcouzin]

@@AutospeciLvAkumulatori To say "colors weak, no contrast at all" after 2 months testing is strange. The camera menu offers a profile "SPARK ... with richer color level and sharper contrast -- the picture will be showy with vivid colors and give a bright impression." It's quite garish with its chroma level at +4. Each profile embodies about 40 switches and parameters which the user can customize. You can crank the chroma level up to +31 if you need it. The cine profiles have chroma level at -10, which seems wrong. Then change it. To learn this camera requires downloading the 200 page version of the user manual, and much patience with the engineer-jargon. We should distinguish between camera faults that can be easily undone during ediing (or "post") and those that can't. Dynamic range doesn't disappear -- it's either in the camera video file or not -- unless your "post" makes it disappear. I've had my Panasonic for just 5 days and have not yet measured the dynamic range (for I must first figure out what the 8 offered "gamma modes" do, and especially what the "dynamic range stretcher" does).

[@AutospeciLvAkumulatori]

@@dcouzin "rich colors" and black on zero and whites on 255, no details in shadows at all....

[@turbo_bikini]

I lost it when I heard "Shitter speed" 😂 Great video!! Thank you.

[@ArlynEmrys]

LMAO, and it repeats

[@glennsak]

I just found your channel and I really am enjoying your content. Really refreshing from other KZbin creators.

[@PavSZ]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@lonebeagle]

This looks like a great camera for run and gun and documentary use. It's small and has all of the video camcorder controls. I started with a DVX-100B, then an HVX200A which I still have and a GH-3. GH-3 takes great video but is a pain to use when shooting a family gathering or other non-planned setup. The HVX200A is great at everything for my needs but it is BIG and heavy. This HC-X1500 looks like the perfect camera for me. I don't need 4K and I'm not a pro (although I did get one doc film on national PBS). Great review, Thanks!

[@PavSZ]

it is a great little package - thanks for watching

[@FretSuccess]

Wow. This video has blown up. Awesome man!!!

[@PavSZ]

I know!! Still can't believe it

[@intheblues]

Great video, mate! Well done and very informative :-)

[@PavSZ]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lit2021]

"dB, the same symbol as decibel" - that's because it is decibel! :D Decibels are not only for audio, they are for any kind of amplification. If you amplify the signal from the camera's image sensor by 3 dB, that's one stop. 6 dB is 2 stops, 9 dB is 3 stops, and so on.

[@fuglbird]

Not quite. The f-stop is the ratio of the lens focal length to the diameter of the entrance pupil, so we need to use the amplitude ratio - not the power ratio. 3 dB is only a half stop, 6dB is a full stop and so on. Remember that f/4 to f/8 is one full stop and f/4 to f/5.6 only a half stop.

"bel" is just a logarithmic unit. It's way easier to calculate with. Instead of saying "two times X" you can just say +6dB or "four times stronger" you say +12dB.

[@DoubleMonoLR]

Just a note - dB / decibels (@ 3.23), which the gain will presumably be using too, isn't specific to audio - though it's how most people are familiar with it. It's just a logarithmic type of measurement/scale: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel

[@PavSZ]

yes, this has been explained in the comments before. I understand it now

[@charlieross-BRM]

How did I miss this model? Two months ago I bought the Sony FDR-AX700. It's very similar and within about $100 (less) than this Panasonic in the 1500 model. The Panasonic betters it in having 4:2:2 and 60p at 4K for a start, not that I knew enough back then to know if I wanted or needed those features. Very interesting to know and I'll look into it with more depth later. I don't regret the AX700 but it shows how KZbin, Google and websites can still let us down with lack of diversity.

[@joshuamirabal9891]

Sony breaks a lot of marketing rules to push their products. They have ok products but are scumbags as far as the Japanese corporations go. Panasonic, JVC, and others have been doing Profesional video since it began in japan but they don't spend as much money on marketing or the shady things Sony does but what that means for the consumer is that the less advertised products are more complete. Sony lost me with beta testing mirrorless cameras on paying customers for full price. It was at least every six months that they'd have a new flagship model. Something unheard back in the Dslr days.

[@MichaW94]

Would you prefer the hc-x1500 or the sony Ax700? You may could give me an advice?

[@PavSZ]

Sorry but I have never used Sony ax700 so can't compare

[@aquaevitae]

I am planing to buy 4K videocamera in a near future, which shoots 4K with full specs, 60P/HDR, and good enough sound quality with build in microphone. It should be such all in one baggage without too many external accessories, so in that perspective the solid objective with a long zoom is actually a very good thing. At the moment, i'm considering this Panasonic HC-X1500 as a very considerable choice and alternative for Fujifilm XT-3, or XT-4...

[@kevinstorey6021]

You have shined a light on a camera I didn't know about...thanks

[@mitre86able]

love the heavy background music while cleaning the guitar!

[@PavSZ]

thanks!

[@ithemeparkOFFICIAL]

How does the Panasonic X1500 compare to the Canon HF g60? I felt like the stabilization wasn't great on the G60 and it only records in 4K 30fps. It does have a bigger sensor but the low light footage looks really nice on the X1500. I also like the 24x optical zoom on the Panasonic compared to the Canon.

[@PavSZ]

sorry but I never used G60 and can't comment

[@fuglbird]

Your question is very important Ithemepark. Nobody seems to compare camcorders. Unfortunately most camcorder reviews are slightly extended unboxings. Fortunately some people are uploading the footage from their X1500 and G60 cameras. That's all we have to go from. Most KZbinrs only care about blurrying the background of their mom's living room.

[@ivarvuori503]

I have been looking everywhere for this comparison. If anyone has any experience to compare the two it would be much appreciated. I need a camera for long form recording (my fuji xt30 has recording time limit) as well as general filmmaking and these two fall right at my budget. I'm going insane from all the unboxings with no real in depth analysis or comparison....

[@jonathanblanco9737]

Both the Canon g60 and the Sony ax700 are more high end prosumer, while this is a cheap professional camera. The Sony and Canon have a bigger sensor, but not big enough to compete with a mirrorless in the eternal race for the perpetual bokeh that many youtubers are chasing today. If you are looking for a little better DOF control and low light performance, the Canon and Sony are a better option. Almost everything else is better on this camera, especially the state of the art image processor that gives you the ability to record internally 4k 422 10 bit, the lense, the image estabilization, and controls, this camera offers more dedicated buttons and configurable buttons and rings. If you want to use it as a point and shoot, I would get the Sony. If you want to work your shots in post, the 10 bit is going to make a.much bigger difference than the big sensor.

[@fuglbird]

@@jonathanblanco9737 Have you actually used the X1500 yourself? Have you tried to use the tiny buttons in practice? Or are you just blabbering? There are a few posts on KZbin from the owners of these cameras. They contradict what you are saying. I supposed you haven't tried any of these cameras yourself.

[@TVComercialProducer]

I love it, we use the Sony equivalent for recording content that will add to a sport broadcast, looks fantastic and has almost everything that our 20k studio camera has, they are awesome

[@PavSZ]

for the price and this size, they are great

[@SteveBurk]

The footage of you cleaning the guitar looks awesome. ONe of the reasons I just bought this camera. I consider that low light, works great

[@SteveBurk]

cat looks amazing too. great detail

[@PavSZ]

Rock on! 🤘🏻

[@LyricsMassiah]

Finally...a video camera for recording video.

[@TrophyFish]

The riff on the sample footage.....hot! \m/ \m/ Awesome review and video. Thanks!

[@PascalTristanRedney]

Camcorders like these have a lot of features that I would greatly enjoy, particularly for run-and-gun work. But I'm lot liking the image quality, there is a softness to the highlights that throws me off. Anyway, thanks for the video! It was thorough and well thought out!

[@johnjohn-cs9eu]

Which is your favourite?

[@ALIENdrifter66]

I get your point but many pros don't really think about the public. Most people won't notice the difference between something like this and a better camera. Doesn't matter if you record documentaries, interviews or short-movies, the public won't care. That's the important thing

[@Nearlyloved865]

I am shooting with Fuji Xt3 and is very satisfied. The video you showed has a very nice color system and smooth footage. I like what i saw. Its like a satisfying fuji color system. How you graded the color in your channel is awesome and also outstanding. This camera makes me kind of bending to it especially when it has unlimited shooting time though it might be a little flat. Great channel i subbed it.

[@benji-DS]

great video i really like the first Impression of the camera

[@PavSZ]

Thanks!

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Location scout camera, newbie film maker camera, cable access field shooter. Explorer hem plugged into a Roland or BlackMagicDigital hdmi cable fed switcher.

[@PavSZ]

Yes!

[@poolboyinla]

It's a cute camcorder.

[@grahamfjlaws6108]

Thanks for the review. Just to add my own two cents, after using the camera for 2 days, from the perspective of a GH5 user. The detailed manual is not as good as that of the GH5; it's not as user friendly. The main manual is a downloadable PDF, so if you want hardcopy (advisable when you're getting familiar with all the functionality), you'll need to print at least a subset of the 200 pages. Transfer of video data to a computer takes place over a USB connection (micro B to USB lead is NOT supplied !) and transfer is between half and a third the speed of the GH5' mini HDMI. The menus don't seem quite as logical in layout as the GH5, but that might be down to familiarity. Those are the downsides for me. The rest is all upside. Picture quality is superb. Usability in automatic mode is marvellous - the GH5's automatic modes are nowhere near as good. The manual modes are really flexible as well. Programmability is good - there are 12 user buttons that can be assigned, though only 5 of them are physical - the other 7 are accessed via the screen. When I take my GH5 out, it's in a reasonably-sized bag, with three lenses, variable ND filter, and quite a few other bits. If I'm on holiday, that's quite a payload, and big time overhead in setup for shots while my wife yawns and taps her foot. With this camera it can be as easy as point and shoot, and it fits in a relatively small shoulder bag. I'm recording in UHD 50p HEVC 10 bit, 200mbps internal. A 64gb card handles about 40 minutes at that speed, so a couple of 128gb cards in relay mode is probably advisable. In short, the X1500 is a keeper. I love it. Just to be clear, I am a hobbyist, not a professional. Interesting guitar by the way !

[@PavSZ]

Thanks for watching Graham! I have never used any Panasonic camera before. I use Sony and Nikon professionally and I found this camera easy to switch to. Very easy. As I said in my video, you can't really directly compare it to hybrid cameras. It's a different kind of beast. I have used the PDF manual because I could easily search through it on a computer or on my phone when out with the camera. There is no need to print it. I have been transferring the footage from the SD card via card reader. It was pretty fast this way. The only think I didn't like about the files is that I can't preview them on my mac at all. I need to import them to Adobe Premiere before I can see what's on them. Annoying. Overall I was very impressed with the functionality and quality of this camera. P.S. It's an Epiphone Explorer from the mid 90s. Heavily customised over the years. Love this guitar ;)

[@tobymcmullen928]

I’m thinking about getting one to pair with my Gh5 for live events, do you think the footage will cut together well? Colors etc will match?

[@PavSZ]

@@tobymcmullen928 yes but you will have to treat this camera as a different tool. It is a totally different in low light situation. X1500 will need more light. If you are controlling your light and not just run and gun at the events - then the answer is yes. Go in the dark room with GH5 and X1500 and GH5's footage will be smoother

[@tobymcmullen928]

Pav SZ 100% not concerned with low light just easily matchable looks, thank you!

[@PavSZ]

@@tobymcmullen928 in that case - it is matchable for sure

[@DavidHarry]

Excellent demonstration. I’m a video person and not a stills person, so would always use a video camera wherever possible for shooting video. You can get excellent video results out of a stills camera but it’s much easier to use a video camera for video. Cheers, Dave.

[@jroar123]

The problem is that it costs around $2500 U.S. Dollars. I am sure it takes great video and it should.

[@PavSZ]

I'm sure you can get it cheaper second hand now - it does take great video and it doesn't. It's all about your personal preference and it can't be compared directly to the mirrorless cameras in this price range

[@DerrickTWilliamsphotosnfilm]

The Music. YES SIR!!!

[@kevinmartin4787]

Thank you!!! watching from Central, Texas

[@PavSZ]

Thanks for watching!

[@bestamerica]

' nice pretty videocamera... but still problem with bad blur blur focus plus blur depth of field

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

hi there. I commented on the follow up video you did for this camera....but now I'm here...I have a Canon C100mk2/90D/Canon XF300 etc etc All tools for different jobs. For concerts and dance recitals I prefer camcorders so that I can plug in XLR audio, provide video signals to giant screens and 20x zoom at least. So Camcorders are great and needed. I know the sensor is small and some comments say that the video looks very "noisy" etc. I see some of that but I would never go over +9db gain on any camcorder really -not for paid gigs! I want the cleanest signal I can get. I watched your short video "London in lockdown" in low light and the low light performance was disappointing. Wow...I was expecting better. Not DSLR of course but better. But for adequately lit situations it would be cleaner. I considered gettting a couple of Canon XF400 with their 1inch sensor, but after reading some reviews I found that many Canon users don't seem to like it very much...have you ever seen it and tried it?? would a camcorder with a 1inch sensor be much better? (Just talking about video quality). I don't want to be struggling with a shallow depth of field during a dance show or a concert...I need the camcorder to focus well and capture video with deep depth of field. For artistic shots (interviews etc) I would use the canon 90D and the C100 mk2 with sigma f1.8 lenses....I need a good camcorder that is MUCH MUCH better than my vintage Canon XF300. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated! Cheers from Canada

[@PavSZ]

" I watched your short video "London in lockdown" "?????? I haven't been to London in over 20 years!

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

@@PavSZ sorry...i'm losing my mind! The video "London Lockdown" was shot by someone else and posted in one of the comments! Sorry. Well...I will try to get my hands on one of these cameras and see if they are better in low light (but I always use at least an LED light) than my current camcorders. For DLRS etc I'm already covered. I just need semi-pro real camcorders. Thanks so much for the videos!

[@frank-xp6pj]

I have the Sony AX53 that I use to record Dragraces....checkout my NHRA 2020 Winternationals part#5 to see the handheld Sony AX53 in action....How is the stabilization on this Panasonic? Will it give me steady footage like my Sony AX53 did being handheld for long periods of time & using a lot of zoom ?????

[@PavSZ]

it's pretty good - Ive managed to get perfectly steady, tripod like shots, at the far end of the zoom

[@frank-xp6pj]

@@PavSZ WOW, I heard that the stabilization wasn’t as good as Sony’s BOSS so this is good to hear. I have been looking for Sony to upgrade the Sony fdr ax53 with a camcorder that can shoot 4k@60fps but they haven’t. So I’m really looking into this Panasonic.

[@stevenunez]

Why not the Sony RX10IV- it has bigger sensor and 600mm zoom?

[@PavSZ]

If you send it to me then I'll review it 😉

[@schoeferfilm]

I am a Sony fan, but this 🎥 is not bad 👍🏻😉 a friend of mine has it and he is very confident with it 👌

[@GiuseppeArenaPhoto_Video]

I also worked with Sony from 2004... but there is nothing compared to this Panasonic now..... Sony AX700 has a 1 inch sensor but almost 10 years old tecnology.... Sony prefer to push people to pay for mirrorless and different lenses.......

[@2gunzfilms425]

They're great cameras...but...where they fall apart in comparison to DSLRs and Cinema Cameras is the Sensor Size and Interchangeable lenses.

[@InitialPC]

3:41-4:06 Is all that footage taken from this camera? If so that is impressive and definitely worth its price.

[@PavSZ]

yes! it would be seriously wrong if i put the footage from a different camera in this review 😉

[@samdezao]

I was wondering about this camera! Glad I came across this! Thanks for the breakdown!

[@PavSZ]

Thanks for watching!

[@randomrandom5518]

Amazing review, thank you!! I am looking for a camera that can do 4k/60 for up to 2 hours with no battery discharge nor turning off due to overheating. I want to do walking tours in summer for up to 2 hours. Would you recomend this camera for this? and also would you recomend a mic for this purpose and a gimbal? is this HDR? or only UHD?(or is the gimbal not necessary walking thru cities?) Thank you. Suscribed.

[@PavSZ]

thank you! I don't think you are going to get 2 hours recording at 4k/60p without using a lot of battery power. This camera shouldn't overheat but I don't think it is the best fit for gimbals. This is UHD only as far as I am aware. Mic like Rode Wireless Go would work well with it.

[@nightdonutstudio]

I think those camcorder with 1 inch sensor are better. I know canon has one with dual piexl auto focus. Forget the model.

[@BrasspineappleProductions]

I don't care what anyone else thinks, This is a good all around camera for reliability on the spot.

[@anafricantale230]

So basically this is the camera for the thousands of churches doing livestreams during COVID. Great review yet again bud 👍🏼

[@PavSZ]

or schools!!! Thanks for watching!

[@treverpitts]

It could be a camera that you plug in and you stream with it cuz a lot of churches as you're asking do you use camcorders if you want to get more of a cinematic look you can use like a Canon 70D as you're streaming camera but it really depends on. What you're trying to get and how far the camera will be back from the stage area if you're streaming like in a church situation

[@Kevin-lk4uh]

hey! Do you notice a low back background noise (noisy preamp) when you plug in your mic into the 3.5 socket? It sounds more like cars on a highway from a distance. Even if just the cable is plugged into the socket (without the mic), i can hear this noise. Do you have the same problem?

[@PavSZ]

it does not sound good. I can't really check it as I only had this camera for few weeks few years ago

[@randolphgarcia3494]

PS: CURRENT US PRICE-$1,700.00. IT HELPS TO WAIT AWHILE & BUY IT USED AS YOU MAY GET BETWEEN $500-600 LESS. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR BUDGET WILL ALLOW. THIS IS A GREAT MID-RANGE CAMERA TO PLAY AROUND WITH & YOU CAN'T GO WRONG W/THIS CAMERA BRAND. GOOD LUCK.

[@GrumpyMansREVIEWS]

The camera has really good quality. Great review!

[@zian3694]

Are video cameras better than DSLR's ??? In India most of the wedding videographars shifted from video recorders to DSLR. I am a music producer so .. for shooting video songs ... are they good choice in 2022??? mr. pav SZ

[@PavSZ]

they are not better but totally different. For any DSLR or mirrorless camera you have to buy lenses. These camcorders have a big zoom lens build in but they are not as good in very low lighting conditions

[@PHOTOREACTION]

Great review,Some questions.1. How well compare this to the Sony FDR-AX700E specially regarding the stabiliser 2.Are there some adaptors to make the lens wider?

[@PavSZ]

Sorry, I have no experience with the Sony camcorder. There are some screw on wide angle adapters available for this

[@TonyVRailfanning]

Looking at getting one as my 10 year old Panasonic tm900 is well, 10 years old but you mention you can’t take a photo while recording video? That seems to be a missed feature. My tm900 has a 3 chip image sensor and can take a snapshot while recording video simataniously so why miss that, just seems odd.

[@PavSZ]

you might be able to take a snapshot while recording with it - what I meant is that it is not a photo camera

[@FamilyFunIRL]

Thanks very much for the review, I enjoyed it and was helpful for making my decision on the purchase :)

[@PavSZ]

Glad I could help!

[@koi2007H]

This is amazing cam, tks for the review video👍👍👍👍

[@PavSZ]

Glad you like it thank you

[@MrJapanforce]

Perfect camera. From Panasonic of course!

[@PavSZ]

it is still a solid choice

[@filmdigital]

I have to admit, I love shooting with Mirrorless and Cinema Cameras, but for some styles of shooting, a Pro Camcorder just feels like a better tool for the job. Also, hats off to Panasonic for adding 10 bit 422 colour sampling. Most camcorders this size will only give you 8 bit 420.

[@PavSZ]

it's not for everyone but absolutely great tool in right hands

[@GiuseppeArenaPhoto_Video]

Sony AX700 for example as a 1 inch sensor but only 8 bit output 420. Even 420 10 bt output of panasonic gve more color correction possibility than 8 bit........

[@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.

[@PavSZ]

I had no issues recording with an external mic with the camera that I had for this review

[@bruce8209]

Hi, can you tell me pl. what the big importance or diff. about "cinematic" is? what is so special? Thanks!

[@PavSZ]

nothing, it depends how you, personally, define what cinematic is. To some people it is the colour grade, to others, shallow depth of field and to some, how it is filmed. All achievable with a camera like this

[@bruce8209]

@@PavSZ thanks! I expect the cam to get this morning with the tophandle. I sold my canon XF 100 (2012) and am very curios to the improvements.

[@thomaskalladan4065]

I am trying to use my Panasonic HC-X1500 to do live streaming on Facebook. My question is how I copy streaming keys to SD cards from the computer and use it?

[@jf1341]

same cam but with aps-c sensor would be dream setup

[@arddel]

It's called "Super 35mm" 😉

[@sang3Eta]

Sony sell camcorder using 4k 1" sensors. They used to make ASP-C camcorders they were called VG10/20/30. They even made a Full Frame called VG900. Shame no 4k version.

[@fuglbird]

We need long terms reviews. Please borrow it again!

[@PavSZ]

I will be doing some more videos about it soon! 😉

[@fuglbird]

@@PavSZ Sounds great! We're looking forward to it.

[@citizengar]

Great review, thanks. I'm liking this camera.

[@luk7n]

The problem I see here in the word of camcoders are not dying yet, is that if you are a youtuber you have to put a thumbnail into your video to catch watchers attention and if you are filming something you have to take a nice picture to make a nice thumbnail, how are you going to make a picture for your video with a camcoder? With your phone? Well maybe if you spent almost same amount of money to have a phone that takes great pictures but you double the price by the phone and the camera, so you have almost 4000$ to spend on mirrorless with lens and accessories. And you are ready to go. I do get the idea of having a camcoder, I would love to have one in future but I can´t imagine making great and nice looking videos and taking photos on my old S8+ to make thumbnails for my videos

[@PavSZ]

I take pictures with my S8+ and a lot of them are OK - if your light is good is totally usable to create thumbnails with

[@ThriftyAV]

Very nice review. I have the Panasonic HC-X1000 but I've been wanting something a little more portable.

[@petesimmonds8846]

Great walk through. Thanks :)

[@tollbar5468]

Yes, very impressive but; what is the point of the HC-X1500? For an extra couple of hundred quid (if that) you can buy a Sony AX700 which sports a 1'' sensor. When you start paying around 1500 quid for a camera/'corder you don't want small 1/2.3 sensors inside them - hence people are turning towards cameras.

[@PavSZ]

I'm not sure that everyone is bothered by that. It is certainly not the best option but for a lot of people the features or even the brand are more important than the size of the sensor.

[@ItsWilheim]

Seriously considering this camera for future film projects for sure, especially after this review. I suppose my only concerns/questions would be if the manual focus ring is focus by wire (which it likely is because of the very robust auto focus) and, despite the nature of measuring sensor exposure in dB, what the base iso rating is before turning up the gain. 200?

[@aquaevitae]

One note i have to make anyway. Even Panasonic HC-X1500 have a small censor, only half inch, and if compared for example to Fujifilm XT-3 which have aprox. 1 inch censor (23.5x15.6mm), but in Panasonic HC-X effective pixels have aprox. 9MP and in Fujifilm XT-3 26MP, so therefore, in Panasonic's smaller censor have actually slightly bigger individual pixels than in XT-3 censor.

[@SourceAwareness]

👍🏾👍🏾 Excellent Review, sir, many thanks!! 😎

[@PavSZ]

Much appreciated!

[@DoloresLowe]

Thanks for the great review!! Still relevant 2 years later, which is great as I just got this fabulous little video camera for vlogging my upcoming KZbin channel and our new boat experience. And... I LOVE YOUR SHIRT!

[@TedConingsby]

Hi, my first view of your videos, you're a nice man and like how you explain things . subscribed 🧸 🇬🇧

[@Dr23rippa]

The sensor size is very close to that of mobile phones. I know camcorders are usually small sensors because they don't need to slap 20mp on there but it seems small for 2020. What do you think?

[@tonielturula]

Buenos días. Saben si Panasonic tiene pensado sacar un modelo nuevo o actualización de esta videocámara? Porque veo que lleva más de 4 años en el mercado y no me gustaría comprarla y que sacaran un modelo nuevo al poco tiempo. Gracias.

[@PavSZ]

sorry but I only speak in English

[@elkhuntr2816]

How does video quality compare to a similarly priced dslr or mirrorless?

[@PavSZ]

it doesn't - the sensor is very small in this camera

[@blmeanie]

hi - thanks for the video - in one reply you say "The only think I didn't like about the files is that I can't preview them on my mac at all. I need to import them to Adobe Premiere before I can see what's on them. Annoying. " - is this saying/implying that you have to go through some proprietary software to "convert" the files? I once had a jvc camcorder that required that- super painful , is that the case with the panasonic?

[@PavSZ]

this is the case with a lot of files from many cameras - it's Apple issue not exactly the problem with camera. files. All video formats should play within Premiere

[@dimitriayrapetov30]

Thanks for the review Pav, I found it very helpful. You mentioned that this isn't a camera to pull out once a year. Was that because there is a learning curve to use it effectively, or because it's missing features that a consumer-level camera would have? I'm looking for something to capture family outings (5-10 times a year), and the 4K @ 60fps sounded very attractive at this price point. Is there another "prosumer" camera that you would recommend? I plan on dabbling with the recordings with Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.

[@PavSZ]

yes. the learning curve and the functionality. For example you can adjust white balance by changing individual RGB values, the file formats - ALL-I or LongGUP, bit rates and all that is just very confusing for occasional use. What you need is something more user friendly, high quality but aimed at the domestic market. I can't really recommend a specific model though.

[@fuglbird]

Yes, we need to practice:) Just film your fantastic family every week, and you are good to go! Never look back! Enjoy! Have fun!

[@digibreakthe1st12]

Good morning Mr.Pav i have a question how is the auto focus especialy used in real life situation like a wedding..i was eyeing this but having second thoughtd since i was burn already with the g7 and fz2500

[@PavSZ]

it's ok - better in fully auto than in manual. Auto focus is not something I would ever 100% rely on. This is ok, not amazing. I guess better than that of most of mirrorless cameras, for sure

[@8xu7ux84]

Hey! Nice review! I just bought the HC-1500 I have a hard time making the 4k clips running smoothly in Premiere v22.0, any trouble your side? any tip?

[@TexpatOTG]

Nice video .. that would be a great camera to have in your kit all the time. I'm a daily shooter and can see a really good use for that camera ...Cheers

[@EncoreFrenchLessons]

Thanks! What camera and lens do you use to shoot your videos ?

[@PavSZ]

I use Sony a7sII, a7III and Nikon Z6 with variety of lenses

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

The video snobbery in the comments below did not disappoint. It’s how people justify their having spent more than they could afford on a pro cam, and having to deal with a less expensive camera with considerably more than acceptable quality hitting the market while they’re still making the payments on theirs.

[@marksworld1986]

beautiful camcorder, i’m moving from gh3 to this bad boy and really looking forward to it. sure if i do need more i can still get a gh52 or gh6 but for the price and hardware of the x1500 is amazing

[@PavSZ]

it is still a decent camera

[@felixvideoworkshop]

Great video! In the last day of 2022, I wonder why these fully integrated prosumer cameras aren't more popular in KZbin-times. Maybe because the producers mirrorless / DSLR more as they can make more money from the accessories?

[@PavSZ]

they are different tools for different jobs.

[@philingram9281]

I tried the video capabilities on my Nikon D850 and wasn't impressed with the autofocus. I had already purchased the Ronin S gimbal stabilizer and wanted something that would give me a good intoduction to video. A friend suggested the Nikon Z6 as it is a full frame mirrorless with good raps regarding it's video capabilities. I also considered the the Black Magic's $k and 5K cameras, but decided on a camcorder for the simple reason I didn't want the hassle of changing lenses and rebalancing the gimbal. I settled on the Sony FDR AX-700 with it's 1 inch sensor - I know the sensor is smaller than the M3/4 and full frame cameras, also it has SD cards and is not capable of using C-Fast card and shooting raw, especially ProResRaw which could become a standard. But it does fit on the Ronin-S nicely, fast auto-focus, can shoot 4K and only one lens, ideal for on-the-go videoing.

[@joshuamirabal9891]

You're using auto focus for 35mm format. Why? 35mm film makers use manual focus lenses for a reason.

[@petrub27]

the sensor is smaller than 1 ich, you dont get 10 bit in 4k 60p, no log gamma curve how is that professional?

[@dasboot5903]

Only 2 QUESTIONS: *1. Does have this camera Waveform Monitor & Vectroscop or Histogram, to control the video signal ??* *2. Is the metal body of this video camera or is it plastic ??*

[@PavSZ]

no and no - there is no monitoring tools to my knowledge and it's all made out of standard hard quality plastic

[@dasboot5903]

@@PavSZ < Thank U very much :o)

[@dasboot5903]

@@PavSZ Thank you so much for your response !!!! Take care bro !!

[@dcouzin]

1. It has a Waveform Monitor and Vectorscope. I've programmed button USER 1 to show them (first one then the other). 2. The body is all plastic and feels really cheap! The focus ring has nasty backlash. It's "Made in Malaysia". My previous "Made in Japan" Panasonic camcorder, costing less, felt better.

[@dasboot5903]

@@dcouzin Thank you Bro for your important input !!!! I am oscillating between this Panasonic XC-X1500 and JVC GY HM-200 or HM-250 !!!!

[@MrProooosit]

Have order one now so i can make 4k on my youtube channel, one of the movies that make my chose to it was your good movie, have look on many different movies on youtube about different camcorders and dslr cams. so now i waiting to camcorder be delivered, be fun to try it. Thanks for a good movie, best regards from Sweden.

[@PavSZ]

Enjoy it

[@Military872]

Is this any good for Handheld filming of fast Aircraft, or another Camcorder?

[@PavSZ]

the answer is maybe. What you get out of it in that situation will depend on a lot of factors. The weather and available light, your experience filming hand held or panning from the tripod etc.