Panasonic's new AG-CX350 camcorder
- Thread starter nutmegger
- Start date
Now I'm weighing whether to return the UX180 I picked up at the end of December, and wait for this cam to release. This sounds like the cam I really was looking for, and checks more boxes for my work ... 422, 10 bit, plus the live streaming and NDI options for live events. I saw a mention in an article of allowing USB dongle for LTE uplink but don't see that in anything official from Panasonic.
Really need to know how it does in low-light compared to the UX180. Not sure whether to care about lack of DCI 4K for my personal workflow, everything I've delivered to date is FHD even when shooting higher.
The Panasonic spec sheets say the EVF is the same res on both, but the UX180 does have higher res on the LCD. On the other hand, with simultaneous SDI and HDMI out, adding an external SmallHD/Atomos/etc is easier while still being able to feed SDI to a switcher as I can with PX270.
Bit odd they decided to go to LANC rather than stay with the 2-plug config, meaning anyone who has remotes from PX or UX will need to buy new.
Bassman2003
Veteran
I did not catch the LANC part. I use separate zoom and iris rear controllers. Will have to research what is available for LANC. The zooms have a switch so they should be good.
I am a bit hesitant to get excited about the streaming capabilities until they a proven to work well. What little capability that was mentioned with the PX270 was a complete mystery to anybody I spoke to at Panasonic. Like it was all marketing and they did not get around to those features. Glad to see this model in the wild and look forward to evaluating it for my business.
I am a bit hesitant to get excited about the streaming capabilities until they a proven to work well. What little capability that was mentioned with the PX270 was a complete mystery to anybody I spoke to at Panasonic. Like it was all marketing and they did not get around to those features. Glad to see this model in the wild and look forward to evaluating it for my business.
I have always been interested in a 4k version of the 270, but not quite sure how to feel about this one. Until I need to deliver in 4k, I am still liking my 270. One thing for sure, this cam might cause Canon to rethink the pricing on the new 700 series handycam which in my view is REALLY expensive.
Resolution aside, does anyone notice any new features that would make me want to ditch my 270? Not so far as I can see on casual review. Could someone explain to me if the codecs in the new cam will offer any advantages over the I-Frame recorded to P2 in the 270.
A few other thought on the comments:
Who really needs log on a handycam?
For anyone who didn't know, the 270 can accept both P2 and SD cards after the the firmware update.
The 270 has the best EVF and flip-out resolution of any cam I know of (haven't used any of the pro shoulder mount cams). That was a big selling point for me. New cam has less.
The dual output is nice, but who wants to frankenrig a handycam, that kind of defeats the point. Especially if I am compelled to do a monitor. I want to focus without extra rigging.
The 270 lens servo is pretty good indeed.
Curious that the new cam has 67mm filter threads instead of 72mm
In any event, after a quiet time, it's nice to see some new handycams coming to market.
Grant
Resolution aside, does anyone notice any new features that would make me want to ditch my 270? Not so far as I can see on casual review. Could someone explain to me if the codecs in the new cam will offer any advantages over the I-Frame recorded to P2 in the 270.
A few other thought on the comments:
Who really needs log on a handycam?
For anyone who didn't know, the 270 can accept both P2 and SD cards after the the firmware update.
The 270 has the best EVF and flip-out resolution of any cam I know of (haven't used any of the pro shoulder mount cams). That was a big selling point for me. New cam has less.
The dual output is nice, but who wants to frankenrig a handycam, that kind of defeats the point. Especially if I am compelled to do a monitor. I want to focus without extra rigging.
The 270 lens servo is pretty good indeed.
Curious that the new cam has 67mm filter threads instead of 72mm
In any event, after a quiet time, it's nice to see some new handycams coming to market.
Grant
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It depends on what you are shooting and what the lighting is like. Getting an additional 1-2 stops of dynamic range when shooting scenes with high contrast makes the LOG option worthwhile to me. ( though it looks like HLG might be a good enough substitute for LOG )
Greg Smith
Veteran
Pretty easy problem to solve with an adapter like this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/774394-REG/QUE_AUDIO_QAD2_QAD2_1_8_3_5mm_to.html
- Greg
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Interesting camera. 10bit, 24.5mm.. really all I want from a 'handy cam'
The 705 and Sony 280 are not IMO handycam money.. this is.
Time to replace the EX1?
The 705 and Sony 280 are not IMO handycam money.. this is.
Time to replace the EX1?
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
as for 10bit and log/hlg .. yep I want gradeable footage not baked 709, just cos one is working with a handycam that doesnt mean the work should not be finished to ones usual standards.
Barry_Green
Moderator
It's more like a "greatest hits" cam. All the best features of the DVX100, HVX200, HPX170, UX180 and PX270 all together, plus some very nice improvements and things working the way they should (like the wfm always working properly and not locking out all the other displays, and the EVF and viewfinder both working simultaneously, etc).
Mitch Gross
Veteran
The 350 can use SDXC cards or MicroP2, just like the EVA1.
The HD 120fps is great, an improvement over previous camcorder models.
The 350 uses the same batteries Panasonic camcorders have been using for years. The largest one will run the 350 for around 6 hours.
The zoom range is quite good, getting wider and tighter than the competition.
The LCD display is better in daylight than previous models.
The HEVC recording is supported in almost all major NLEs (at least the ones that update every now and then -- can't help people who are running 2012 software!!). And there are LongGOP & All-I (h.264) for those wishing to match with other camera systems' codecs.
The HD 120fps is great, an improvement over previous camcorder models.
The 350 uses the same batteries Panasonic camcorders have been using for years. The largest one will run the 350 for around 6 hours.
The zoom range is quite good, getting wider and tighter than the competition.
The LCD display is better in daylight than previous models.
The HEVC recording is supported in almost all major NLEs (at least the ones that update every now and then -- can't help people who are running 2012 software!!). And there are LongGOP & All-I (h.264) for those wishing to match with other camera systems' codecs.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Mitch.
As the biggest camera moaner on the board.. I think this looks like a very nice tool
S
As the biggest camera moaner on the board.. I think this looks like a very nice tool
S
Bassman2003
Veteran
Had a look at B&H regarding remote IRIS controls via the LANC port. Pretty slim. This change kind of sucks! I have always had separate controls for zoom and iris on each arm of the tripod for concerts and shows. If it is all on one remote you will be constantly taking one hand off the tripod arm to adjust the iris. Not cool unless there is a way to reliably split the signal to feed two controllers.
nutmegger
Well-known member
At the bottom of this Panasonic page, Panasonic shows three LANC remote controllers for the CX350.
https://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/products/ag-cx350/features01.html
Enjoy.
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Bassman2003
Veteran
Remote IRIS is the issue. Most remote zooms have a switch between the two protocols. With only one LANC port how do you run both?
I was going by the specs on the B&H site:
UX180
EVF Resolution 2,360,000 Dots
LCD Screen Resolution 1,150,000 Dots
CX350
EVF Resolution 1,770,000 Dots
LCD Screen Resolution 1,370,000 Dots
It would have been great if the CX350 had better resolution like the DVX200. Adding an external monitor to a hand camcorder somewhat defeats the purpose for ease of run&gun.
Sounds like the CX350 is more like the UX180 should have been with enough processing power to be able to display things on screen without the limitations of the UX180 and the annoying choice of EITHER LCD or EVF, but not both. And hopefully you can turn on focus peaking in auto focus mode too, like on the older cameras. That is another annoyance with the UX180.
UX180
EVF Resolution 2,360,000 Dots
LCD Screen Resolution 1,150,000 Dots
CX350
EVF Resolution 1,770,000 Dots
LCD Screen Resolution 1,370,000 Dots
It would have been great if the CX350 had better resolution like the DVX200. Adding an external monitor to a hand camcorder somewhat defeats the purpose for ease of run&gun.
Sounds like the CX350 is more like the UX180 should have been with enough processing power to be able to display things on screen without the limitations of the UX180 and the annoying choice of EITHER LCD or EVF, but not both. And hopefully you can turn on focus peaking in auto focus mode too, like on the older cameras. That is another annoyance with the UX180.
Does this mean the single cable Sony LANC controllers will work with the CX350? Still can't split it into two controls like you want, though, like the old Panasonic controllers
So which camera does this replace? will you be doing a write up Barry? thanks.
I bought a UX180 near the end of last year also so I understand.
Simultaneous HDMI and SDI is a plus for sure. And Mitch says the 120fps is better as well as LCD outdoors.
422 and streaming are also nice.
Since the sensor is so much higher res it may not be better in low light, but it is a couple years newer so maybe........
I'll keep my UX180 because it does most of what I need and I got a good deal on it, but if I'd known this camera was coming out I probably would have waited.
Like Barry said, the CX350 sort of combines many of the good things from past Panasonic cameras into one.
Sometimes I want to feed a mixed line out from my audio recorder to camera 2 via 3.5mm for rushed edits that won't be mixed in post. I also have some mics including a stereo shotgun that work well for some situations, which use 3.5mm. I use XLR the most but it would be nice to have 3.5mm option.
Thank you. That is a little shorter than the long obnoxious one I've been using (which is a good thing). But you still have to make sure you have it with you when you need it