A Giant Step: Panasonic X1000 4K and UltraHD camcorder

Over the years, the industry has been turned upside down by the arrival of break-through digital camcorders. We can all make our own list of revolutionary, low cost cameras… Sony DCR-VX1000, Panasonic AF101, Canon 5D Mk2 etc.

Over the years, the industry has been turned upside down by the arrival of break-through digital camcorders. We can all make our own list of revolutionary, low cost cameras… Sony DCR-VX1000, Panasonic AF101, Canon 5D Mk2 etc.

Fast on the heels of the GH4, the release of Panasonic’s X1000 4K camera is another jaw dropping moment. IMO, it’s the first no-compromise, affordable UltraHD / 4K camcorder.

It’s a real leap forward, compared with every other low-cost UltraHD camcorder released to date:

• True 4K at 24p
• UltraHD at 50p at 150Mb/s for smoother pictures with reduced rolling shutter
• Full HD at 200Mb/s with highest quality Intraframe compression
• Optics with 20x zoom and built-in ND filter
• Continuous background recording PLUS triggered recording (via dual SD slots)
• 0 Lux night mode
• MOV and MP4 formats

But before we get compulsively obsessed with the technical specification, it’s worth thinking about the camera as a creative tool. The X1000 seems to have been born out of the AC90 camcorder, which is one of best handling and professionally featured HD prosumer cameras on the market. Unlike a DSLR, it’s made for video, so it feels great in the hand and needs no rig to hold it stably. Don’t take my word for it, check out the reviews online, like at Videomaker.com.

The X1000’s sensor is smaller than a Micro 43rds or APS model but this is no bad thing at all in the real world. The 2/3” sensor is better suited to the majority of camera operators, as it makes getting the focus spot on so much easier. Large sensors mean a shallow depth of field, something that can look very creative, but will make accurate focusing so much harder. If you’re happy to check and adjust the focusing continually, preferably with a follow focus, a DLSR is a good to go. For everyone else, opt for a proper video camera.

X1000 is a video-only system, so you get class-leading focusing speed, tracking performance and optical stabilization, plus WiFI (NFC), triple manual rings (focus, zoom, iris), NTSC/PAL selector, level gauge, focus peaking and magnification, zebras and so much more. All this from a camera that is 40% lighter and smaller than its direct competitor.

There are other affordable UltraHD camcorders, but each has one or more big limitation (30fps max, no true 4K shooting etc). We think the X1000 is the first that truly hits the mark.

This camera alone makes the trip to IBC 2014 worthwhile.