CES 2015 : Panasonic 4K UHD camcorders and 4K UHD blu-ray player

[DLD]

In order to sell more TV's they have to put UHD cameras in the hands of the consumers. ...

At this moment, 4K TV's from the "major manufacturers" are in the upscale category. A sub-$1,000 4K/UHD camcorder take that market down into the "middle class". A year ago, a similar product - Sony AX-100 - was priced at about $2,000, so this is a major value improvement. And Sony just announced AX-33 for the $999 MSRP as well.

Furthermore, the 4K camcorders are fully functional as stills cameras, both off full stills and 4K screen grabs, which makes Canon's new three point-and-shoots a dubious proposition at best.

Really, to match the market niches, there's a need for something in the GH4 performance tier at $1,500 and in a camcorder form.

 

[Run&Gun]

I love it… "home cinematography" and "amateur videographer" in the same press release.

 

[vanvideo]

B&H specs say the cameras have a low 460,7800 pixel LCD. That's low, even for an HD cam.
Since these cameras share the same body as previous Panny HD cams, they might have carried over the LCD design. Or maybe B&H has the specs wrong.

 

[DLD]

Maybe that's the difference between 870 and 970. The latter doesn't have its LCD MPX listed on B&H.

And the source itself - i.e., Panasonic's own site - has no detailed technical info on either of the cameras.

 

[ugafan]

if you want 4k, why not just get an fz1000 or lx100?

 

[vanvideo]

if you want 4k, why not just get an fz1000 or lx100?

Personal preferences. Some people (like me) prefer the form factor of a camcorder.
And don't the FZ1000 and LX100 lack headphone jacks? Weird omission, for a camera that can record video (and audio). And they're limited to 29:29 minute recordings. Parents recording their kids' band performance won't want to stop 30 minutes in.
Remember, the 870 and 970 are consumer cameras.

 

[DLD]

Z1000 doesn't have 4K 24p either. Shame on Panasonic for crippling its own camera.

(and it has other quirks too)