Panasonic: Get yourself connected
Posted on Apr 9, 2025 by Pro Moviemaker
Four new camcorders make it easier to shoot high-quality footage and broadcast it quickly
Panasonic Connect’s new series of four 4K/60p 10-bit professional camcorders have been developed for location filming and to get the footage out to the world quickly. The higher-end £2894/$2575 AG-CX20 and £2274/$TBA AG-CX18 models, and the £1449/$1699 HC-X1600 and £1099/$1299 HC-X1200 camcorders, all feature fresh optics with a lightweight chassis design.
Each one has an integrated 25mm wide angle to 600mm telephoto zoom lens, with two manual control rings.
All four cameras feature optical and electronic image stabilisation to correct camera shake through five axes, including rotational blurring. And each one provides snappy focusing and tracking with face detection that maintains precise focusing and exposure for subjects.
The CX20 model supports Full HD live streaming through IP-based SRT protocol, with the CX20 and CX18 both delivering simultaneous SDI/HDMI outputs.
Also supported for these cameras is NDI HX2 IP connectivity for high-quality, low-latency live streaming in a network environment, without the need for external converters. The CX20 and CX18 support RTMP, allowing content to be streamed live directly to social media platforms and video-sharing sites, such as YouTube.
The cameras have improved high-resolution OLED viewfinders with larger eyecups, USB-C ports for more rapid data transfers and power delivery, plus low-bit-rate recording for FHD and MP4 shooting, supporting 28Mbps, 24Mbps and 20Mbps.
Low-speed zoom control is 2.8x slower than prior models – and all have improved network functionality, supporting 5GHz Wi-Fi and USB tethering, as well as Ethernet and wired LAN connectivity.
The improved mobile app enables remote control of camera settings and lenses, a longer-life, compact battery and high-resolution, 3.5-inch touchscreen. There are SD card slots, allowing for simultaneous backup recording.
The design of all four models enables heat to be dispersed from the front panel thanks to a slimline fan. The CX20 and CX18 include Panasonic’s VW-HU1 handle unit, featuring a two-channel XLR audio input and control, plus an adjustable LED light for shooting in low-light conditions.
All four camcorders support multiple bit rates and formats. When configured for 10-bit recording with an HDMI output, each model delivers 4K/60p 4:2:2 output with an external recorder. Additionally, the camcorders support MOV, MP4 and AVCHD formats, while the CX20 also supports the P2 MXF workflow.
Panasonic upgrades its PTZ flagship
The successor to the popular Panasonic AW-UE150 has recently been revealed as the £10,750/$9995 AW-UE150AW/AK 4K PTZ camera. The UE150AW/AK supports the NDI High Bandwidth protocol, enabling easy IP-based, low-latency 4K video transmission. This is in addition to support for SRT and NDI HX2 protocols, ensuring consistent performance in unstable conditions.
It is also compatible with 12G-SDI, 2x 3G-SDI, HDMI and fibre output formats. This enables integration into a variety of on-site production systems, great for both remote production and live streaming.
Equipped with a high-sensitivity 1.0-type 4K MOS sensor, Panasonic’s UE150AW/AK has a wide-angle lens, 20x optical zoom and built-in auto-tracking functionality.
An optical low-pass filter (OLPF) reduces luminance and colour moiré when filming monitors or LED walls, while HDR and HLG compatibility delivers a full range of colours.
The Optical Image Stabiliser is improved, minimising shake during pan and tilt, and upgraded synchronisation of pan, tilt and zoom presets creates smoother operation.
It is compatible with Panasonic’s AK-HRP1010GJ and HRP1015GJ remote panels for colour matching with studio cameras, ideal for broadcast set-ups.
Learn about the growing importance of PTZ models for the industry in this article.
This article was first published in the March/April 2025 issue of Pro Moviemaker
