New Panasonic AG HC-X2 (HC-X1/UX180 successor)
- Thread starter firehawk
- Start date
On my HC-X1 and UX180s I applied an amFilm antiglare Screen Protector for iPhone 6/6s/7/7s model AM-IP6-ATG Had to trim a little with scissors but it works great and didn't diminish the touch screen any. But reason I got it was because of the horrendous mirror of the screen that made it impossible to see outdoors, which probably isn't the case with the new HC-X2?.
Can't find exact one but this looks close:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121524895128
I purchased this camcorder this morning. I will be on a long assignment and I’m going to need a workhorse camera. My main camera is an FX6, but this should be better for the run and gun content we’ll be producing. Going to do some tests and see if it’s a good fit. If not I’ll return and stick to the 6 for now.
drboffa
Well-known member
As a fellow FX6 owner who occasionally is tempted by a camcorder for certain types of work I'm very curious to see what your final thoughts are!
I will definitely follow up then. I love the 6 for everything, I even got a gratical eye for Eng work, but having a single lens and not having to build it out each time I travel is really priceless. I will still take the A7siii for gimbal work and maybe stand ups for the extra DR. I definitely want to see how much DR it will give me with a standard profile. Like an S cinetone equivalent which is a custom profile, but gives you a little more DR than 709.
The old style Varizoom for Panasonic controller 2.5mm like this
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/330081-REG/VariZoom_VZ_ROCK_DVX_VZRockDVX_Zoom_Control.html
will plug in but will not work in X2 with zoom or record. Works in X1.
The Varizoom for Sony Lanc controller like this
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...m_vzrl100_zoom_record_rocker_control_for.html
works in X2
Must be different protocol. This seems to indicate all old style panasonic controller will have to be replaced. Hope this helps
I seem to recall a discussion about this with the CX350. they've apparently moved away from the controllers we've been using since the DVX100 days
Some more info to add that might be useful:
It can do the super fast variable zoom like the UX180/HC-X1 but seems to have to be assigned to a user button to activate it, else it will variable zoom slow to a reasonably fast zoom, but certainly not a crash zoom *unless* you activate it.
It can no longer record DCI 4K at all, only UHD 4K
Lens is 24.5mm not 24 as before
Color is certainly different from before (looka better/more natural) so won't match X1 via factory presets ...unless tweaking it might?
LCD screen is WAY better than before
Can't do AVCHD in 30p anymore (29.98) but can do 24P and 60P
Facetracking seems to only work in FULL AUTO everything mode which is crazy.
Can still record in some H.264 .mov formats 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 that work in older software such as CS6.
Dual codec record seems limited to UHD 30P with HD 30P as before, at least in H264 modes
It can do the super fast variable zoom like the UX180/HC-X1 but seems to have to be assigned to a user button to activate it, else it will variable zoom slow to a reasonably fast zoom, but certainly not a crash zoom *unless* you activate it.
It can no longer record DCI 4K at all, only UHD 4K
Lens is 24.5mm not 24 as before
Color is certainly different from before (looka better/more natural) so won't match X1 via factory presets ...unless tweaking it might?
LCD screen is WAY better than before
Can't do AVCHD in 30p anymore (29.98) but can do 24P and 60P
Facetracking seems to only work in FULL AUTO everything mode which is crazy.
Can still record in some H.264 .mov formats 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 that work in older software such as CS6.
Dual codec record seems limited to UHD 30P with HD 30P as before, at least in H264 modes
Thanks of the update. I do have several of the old controllers but the second one you linked to is very reasonably priced.
This is very helpful information, keep us updated if you find anything else that is different or new. Thanks
drboffa
Well-known member
Sounds like I'm in a similar situation. I love my FX6 but have moments where the need to swap a 24-105 for a 70-200 (or 200-600) makes me wish for a fixed-lens camcorder with a 20x or similar zoom. I also own the a7s3 and have occasionally used it in tandem with the FX6 to cover the focal lengths I need, but having two cameras at hand at all times is not the most ideal solution.
That said, the AF and low-light capabilities of the FX6 have really spoiled me (and the variable ND, of course). I look forward to see how you find the Panasonic!
This is unacceptable. I haven’t received mine yet but I read some of the manual. It shows that there is an AF only switch, but when it talks about face tracking it shows AF/AE. Is there no way to shut off the AE portion in the menu somewhere? If not this is something they need to add via firmware because it’s insane in 2022.
Yeah oddly enough the bare bones Sony Varizoom linked is significantly less than the bare bones Panasonic Varizoom now. I have both plus the versions with focus iris in addition to zoom record
Don't expect the Panasonic to have the same picture quality and crispness of the large sensor sony FX6. They are two completely different beasts but both have their place.
Good point. Lens is not Leica like the CX350, but no sure how that impacts picture quality or not. I've have assigned crash zoom to a USER button. Really useful. I guess that is disabled by default in order to save battery, maybe..
Yes, it is a stupid limitation. I definitively would use facetracking but not in FULL AUTO MODE. So now, I'm stuck at zone AF.
Check out my post a little higher up with the image attachment. It seems like there is a way in the menu to disable the auto exposure function when using face tracking.
Yes I saw that. However is *seems* that you still have to slide the camera switch from Manual to Full Auto mode to be able to activate the FaceTrack with or without auto exposure. So maybe you override some of the Full Auto stuff in the menu in so it's not actually in 100% auto everything but the switch is still in the Full Auto position, which is still crazy if that's the case. I'll see if I can find out.
The ability to crash zoom is useful but I wish it could be left on by default like the HC-X1 / UX180 were, because it can still variable slow creep when crash zoom is enabled. I wonder if it's a power draw thing or a wear thing? The HC-X1 / UX180 came crash zoom ready by default and I don't think there was any way to disable that ability.
Yeah, non-Leica lens which concerned me because when they went non-Leica before on the AC130 / AC160 / HPX250 they suffered. But this time it seems the quality is good compared to the Leica HC-X1 / UX180 but part of the reason may be the sensor is higher res in the HC-X2. Probably helped with cost since the HC-X2 is the same price in 2022 as the HC-X1 was in 2017, and inflation is far higher now. The UX180 (which is actually what the HC-X2 replaces) with SDI was $3495 in 2017 so the initial HC-X2 price is good.