Barry_Green
Moderator
Yes it is very smooth and gradual.
Panasonic announces UX180 and UX90 pricing & availability
- Thread starter Barry_Green
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Barry_Green
Moderator
Yes in my opinion. Much better than the older cameras like the AC130/160 or HVX200 series.
Bassman2003
Veteran
Thanks for posting both of the videos with UX180 footage. I think it looks pretty good. I prefer it over the DVX200 since the blacks are not crushed. I would like to see how much you can shape the image as the highlights in these videos look a bit strained and under saturated in areas. I like to have the DRS function engaged on my PX270 and wonder how closely the two could be matched. I know if I would ever decide to get a 4k camera like the UX180 I am sure they will announce the P2 version the next day... I just would rather stay in 10bit land with 24bit audio. And I need a 720p60 mode. Come on Panasonic. It is still useful for a fair number of jobs.
It's difficult to not imagine a higher spec'd 4k camera in the future.
The UX180 is already, in many ways, more camera than I need and/or can master, but it is also one of the first with the features I've been waiting for (which is why I have it on pre-order, and why I've been reading Barry's DVX200 pdf). Like you, I need better audio recording, but that's relatively easy to work around. If I was in need of 10bit as well, I'd probably just wait for the GH5 and/or the inevitable camcorder that follows it (UX270?).
Bassman2003
Veteran
It's difficult to not imagine a higher spec'd 4k camera in the future.
The UX180 is already, in many ways, more camera than I need and/or can master, but it is also one of the first with the features I've been waiting for (which is why I have it on pre-order, and why I've been reading Barry's DVX200 pdf). Like you, I need better audio recording, but that's relatively easy to work around. If I was in need of 10bit as well, I'd probably just wait for the GH5 and/or the inevitable camcorder that follows it (UX270?).
Well imagine is the key word for now! The AF-100 folks are still hoping. I agree but do not know the economics behind the different models. Panasonic does seem to be targeting the $3,500 and under area rather than the $5,000 segment where the better codecs are. I do not want to shoot 4k for every project so I would want to match the 1080p 10bit & 24bit audio. Not every job needs all of that resolution or backup space. I would guess if something is in the works it might be announced at NAB but not delivered until the end of summer.
Always difficult to say how YouTube videos were shot and what processing they went through in editing since all these videos were edited and re-encoded for sure. UHD is VERY critical of focus. Nice to see some samples but I think a full review is needed sometime to get at the details. Paired with a Shogun Infero and you could get both higher quality encoder, nice monitor and audio. If the UX180 outputs UHD60P from the HDMI when it is in standby this combination would be very good. If the HC-X1 is only different by not providing SDI and timcode connectors it would be a better choice with the Inferno and save $300. That would still be good combination for the total price with a lot of capability. What would you have to pay for a 20x zoom , DCI 4K and UHD 60P . Either the now getting old PXW-Z100 with 1/3" sensor still listed as more than the UX180, or move into the FS7, URSA range !!! Can you actually get a 20x zoom for that range for less than the price of your car !!! I think Canon has one for around $70,000. I can hear lots say " well you just change lens " Not in the middle of a performance in the dark you wouldn't !!! It is the combination of features that make the UX180 attractive. I shoot from the back of a theatre so like the ability to get really wide and pickup whole stage and more as well as get close into a face on stage. So wide angle and zoom range is important.
Bob's review was re-encoded at 40mbps in Corel VideoStudio, but I think his vids were the cleanest I've seen. Youtube makes a hash of fhd anyway, so it's hard to say.
Which is why it's sad that the expand focus assist isn't there while recording, especially with the lower resolution LCD screen. Of course, if you really choose to use an outboard recorder, you may be in luck there as well!
I use the expanded focus a lot with my NX5U but I rely on touch focus for a lot of the cameras ( AX100 ,AX53 and NX30U) and for my FDR-AX1 in UHD60P I find auto focus more reliable than manual focus for some reason and wish it had touch focus which I will use more I think if I get the UX180 or HC-X1 !! I currently have a 5" BM video assist which is a nice monitor. Yes the videos do look clean. I am not a fan of slow frame rates so for me it is 60P. The UX180 would be fine to take an SDI output to the BM video assist for FHD but for UHD I think it would default to FHD with UHD internal recording. Since the 3G SDI will only be HD anyway HDMI is the only output for UHD so the HC-X1 is just as good as UX180 in that regard. My dilemma of the choice between them favoring the HC-X1 at the moment until I find out if there are any other differences.
He came to the same conclusions as I did based on the available information. If you want UHD60P the HC-X1 may be a better choice than the UX180 and at the moment gives $300 towards an Inferno !! If the UX180 had a 12G SDI the choice may be different. But 3G SDI ( meaning HD at 60P ) the HC-X1 is a better choice.
True North
Well-known member
I find the HC-1X to be such an odd production and branding decision by Panasonic. In the UX90 review, it appears that in the UK their is an even larger gap (900 quid) between the price of the HC-X1 and the UX180 than in the US. Unless you have a real need for an SDI and time code connection it seems like an absolute no brainer to get the HC-X1 in the UK. The US pricing seems to make a little more sense as they have made the UX180 only $300 more than the HC-X1.
I believe that they have a marketing problem when they announced UX180 and UX90 in April. They want to create 2 cameras one with SDI/HDMI and better zoom and one with HDMI. But they announce the prices (UX180 under 4000$) and (UX90 under 3000$).
But they forgot that the AG-DVX200 have lower price in the market so if they give a price of UX180 near 4000 they would have a problem because UX180, except the bigger sensor, is better. So they create a type of camera without SDI and similar characteristics of UX180 and normal price.
This is the only logical explanation that I give, and of course until we see the operation instructions to see exactly the difference between HC-X1 and UX180. Maybe HC-X1 have a lot of limitations.
But they forgot that the AG-DVX200 have lower price in the market so if they give a price of UX180 near 4000 they would have a problem because UX180, except the bigger sensor, is better. So they create a type of camera without SDI and similar characteristics of UX180 and normal price.
This is the only logical explanation that I give, and of course until we see the operation instructions to see exactly the difference between HC-X1 and UX180. Maybe HC-X1 have a lot of limitations.
That is kind of strange. Looking at the prices for all 3 cameras, the UK prices for the UX90 and UX180 pretty closely match the US prices (UK prices are a couple hundred dollars higher at current exchange rates):
http://cvp.com/index.php?t=category/Panasonic UX180 UX90 HC-X1
But the HC-X1 at current prices in the UK would come out at around $2700 or almost $500 cheaper than the current US list price of $3199.
I wonder if there's a pricing mistake in there somewhere.
http://cvp.com/index.php?t=category/Panasonic UX180 UX90 HC-X1
But the HC-X1 at current prices in the UK would come out at around $2700 or almost $500 cheaper than the current US list price of $3199.
I wonder if there's a pricing mistake in there somewhere.
Street prices are almost lower than list prices. Some companies before the release they set for preorders list prices and after release they recalculate how much can win from each product. This company have low price for HC-X1 but high price for UX180 ($ 4375). But street price for both will be lower than current prices.
And of course you have to calculate the exchanges, after US elections they have a lot of up and down in currencies.
And of course you have to calculate the exchanges, after US elections they have a lot of up and down in currencies.
$4400 is including VAT. £2917 is $3651, which is a very similar price to the $3500 it's available for for pre-order in the US.
The HC-X1E implies it isn't a world camera (ed: although the quoted specs disagree with that implication). Given I'm facing upgrading all of my hardware to handle 4k editing, this definitely gives me pause.
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Does list price $3500 includes VAT or not? For example B&H with price $3495, includes VAT?
Short answer, no. There is no VAT in US, only sales tax, and that's charged at the state level. B&H doesn't collect sales tax for states other than NY (where they are required to because they operate in that state).