Last Updated on July 9, 2020
HC-X1 Highlights
- 1-type (inch) MOS Sensor
- 24mm f2.8-F4.5 with optical 20X zoom (24-480mm) LEICA DICOMAR 4K Lens
- 4K DCI (4096x2160) at 24p; 4K UHD (3840x2160) up to 60p
- 4-Drive Lens System
- 5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S. and Advanced O.I.S.
- Dual SD Memory Card Slots
- MOV (QuickTime), MP4 and AVCHD file formats
Panasonic HC-X1 Introduction Video
Panasonic HC-X1 Overview
Capable of recording DCI and UHD 4K resolution videos, the Panasonic HC-X1 4K Ultra HD Professional Camcorder makes a worthy companion for those who cover events, shoot ENG-style video and make short films. With a 20x optical zoom lens, users can start to shoot at a wide 24mm equivalent FOV and stretch all the way to a 480mm equivalent FOV. This means that the camera can be used for tight shots or for filming a subject from far away. Equipped with a 1”-type sensor, the HC-X1 can create beautiful background blur when shooting at longer focal lengths similar to those shot on bigger professional cinema cameras.
Design & Features
The Panasonic HC-X1 brings 4K Ultra HD recording to a compact, handheld camcorder. It can record both in DCI (4096x2160) and UHD (3840x2160) to SD cards but a U3 or higher card is needed to record videos with bit rates over 100 Mbps. Different recording options are available thanks to the availability of two card slots: simultaneous (recording a video as well as a backup or recording a high-rated video as well as a low-rated one) and relay recoding (video recording continues to the next card once first is already full).
As mentioned, the HC-X1 supports DCI 4K recording at 24p and UHD up to 60p. Videos can also be recorded at 1080p and 720 HD resolutions up to 60p. In addition, the HC-X1 is capable of shooting super slow-motion videos.
Panasonic’s HC-X1 is capable of variable frame rate recording which can be set up to 10 steps, from 2 to 60fps. Also, super slow-motion can be achieved when recording in HD resolutions at 120 fps.
The HC-X1 supports multiple file formats for recording: MOV, MP4 and AVCHD. In addition, videos in the aforementioned format can be recorded at bit rates ranging from 5 Mbps to 200 Mbps.
Autofocus in the HC-X1 can be customized by adjusting AF Speed, AF Sensitivity and AF Area.
The Panasonic HC-X1 also comes with a 4-Drive Lens System which simultaneously and independently drives 4 element groups (group 2, iris, group 3, group 4) inside the lens. Users can suppress the lens size and the drive range for each of the 4 groups in order to optimize image quality and zoom power.
The Leica Dicomar 4K lens was specifically designed for the HC-X1 and with it, image sharpness can be maintained throughout the 20x optical zoom range. Shooting in tight spaces is made easy with the use of the 24mm wide-angle setting as an adapter is no longer needed.
With the HC-X1, Panasonic is bringing a familiar handheld camcorder body to consumers, and one that comes with lots of control buttons that can be customized to provide easier access to essential functions. The HC-X1 offers an OLED EVF for video recording while the 3.5-inch touchscreen is there for monitoring and menu control.
A zoom rocker sits on the handgrip for better zoom control. The three lens rings – for focus, zoom and iris – can be used to control the lens functions manually.
Camera shake is the enemy of anybody who loves taking videos. However, some really do experience hand-shake jitters and rather than end up with horrible looking videos, the advanced O.I.S. feature of the HC-X1 remedies that. Unstable shooting conditions also contribute to fuzzy outputs but image stabilization helps reduce shake. Activating the 5-axis hybrid O.I.S when shooting in HD also helps further stabilization as it combines optical and electronic stabilization along the five axes (horizontal, vertical, pan, roll, tilt).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- It has a 1”-type sensor. With a sensor this large, users can still capture great videos even in bad lighting conditions.
- It supports simultaneous recording. The HC-X1 allows users to record an high-quality video on one card while simultaneously recording a low-quality one on the other card.
- It supports relay recording. Continuous shooting allows users to never miss a moment when recording an event.
Cons
- It doesn’t have SDI outputs. Other cameras aimed for professional use have this feature but sadly it’s not available with the HC-X1.
Final Thoughts
The Panasonic HC-X1 comes packed with features that make it ideal for professional shooting. What’s not to like about it? It supports the recording of videos in 4K at 24p, UHD at 60p/50p and FHD at 60p/50p in multiple formats. It even has support for HD recording in slow motion. Shooting in low-light conditions is made easy thanks to the 1”-type sensor. In addition, the LEICA DICOMAR 4K zoom lens creates opportunities for shooting different kinds of shots.
| Camera | |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 1x 1″-type MOS Sensor |
| Effective Pixels | DCI 4K: 9.46 MP UHD/HD: 8.79 MP |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.5″ / 8.9 cm |
| Type | Touchscreen |
| Pixel Count | 1,152,000 |
| Rotation | 270° |
| Viewfinder | |
|---|---|
| Type | 0.39″ / 9.9 mm 1,769,000 dots |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Power Supply | Battery: 7.2 VDC AC Adapter: 12 VDC |
| Power Consumption | LCD Operation: 19.7 W |
| Dimensions | 6.8 x 7.7 x 13.6″ / 17.3 x 19.5 x 34.6 cm |
| Weight | 4.4 lb / 2 kg (without battery or SD card) |
| Packaging Info | |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 9.35 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 18.1 x 12.4 x 10.8″ |
Unboxing the Panasonic HC-X1
User Reviews
Submit your review | |
The HC-X1 is a very good camera. I was torn between this, the HC 1000 and the sony Z90. I am glad i choose this as its been everything i expected. really good in low light and easy to switch modes. all round a great camcorder
Used for over a year in many environments, great bit of kit.
- Advanced Optical Image Stabilizer...
- Supports 4K, UHD, FHD; 60p/50p/25p/24p
- High performance LEICA DICOMAR 4K Lens...
- 2 channel XLR, Audio, Wired/Wireless...
