14 DAY TRIAL // Also present on the grounds at IFA 2014, Panasonic did not only unveil a bunch of new rugged tablets, but had something to offer to 4K video recording enthusiasts too.
Even if Photokina 2014 is just a few weeks away, it seems that Panasonic had some products saved up especially for IFA 2014.
It’s the case of its newest camcorder, the HC-X1000, which comes with 4K capabilities. It’s the company’s first product of this kind and is aimed at “prosumers” (for those unfamiliar with the term, they are customers who want to buy high quality technical products or equipment).
Naturally, the biggest selling point of the new camcorder is its ability to shoot in QFHD and Cinema 4K videos. The first mode means you’ll be able to shoot in 3,840 x 2,160 pixel resolution, while the latter translates into 4,096 x 2,160 pixels.
As for barebone technical specifications, at the camera’s heart lies a 1/2.3-inch BSI image sensor which supports shooting to up to 60fps.
The high-data flow can push things up to 150Mbps at 4K resolution and 200Mbps at 2K resolution. The powerhouse of the device is a Crystal Engine Pro 4K working in concert with noise reduction technology.
Panasonic claims this is why the camcorder is capable of shooting high quality footage even in low conditions.
Moving along, the new HC-X1000 takes advantage of a Leica 20x optical zoom lens and a triad of neutral density (ND) filters.
The ND filter will bring about the possibility to use a fast aperture for a shallow depth of field, devoid of overexposure.
The camcorder also plays nice with a wide range of codecs and formats, including AVCHD, MOV and MP4, with the highest bit rate being 200Mbps.
To make things easier and more intuitive, Panasonic also offers a 3.5-inch articulated LCD touchscreen that takes advantage of a resolution of 1,152K-dots.
Other things you should expect to find if you purchase the HC-X1000 4K camcorder are two SD card slots.
As for dedicated technology, the device takes advantage of the Auto Switch Recording system which can detect when the first card is full and subsequently sends additional footage to the second card.
Panasonic offers two-channel XLR input (with the option to attach an external microphone) to provide a rich audio experience to go with the video one.
Last but not least, the camcorder has Wi-Fi, NFC and 5-axis optical image stabilization tech. Expect the new Panasonic 4K cam to arrive in late October and to sell for $3,499 / €2,705. The good news is that you can already place a pre-order for it on Amazon.
