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Panasonic Camcorder HC-X2 and X-20 Foto Koch
Reading time: 5 minutes - October 06, 2022 - by Fotokoch Marketing

News in the camcorder sector, the Pansonic HC-X2 & HC-X20

There are new camcorders from Panasonic. On the one hand, the HC-X20 and the bigger brother HC-X2.
Since the cameras are mostly identical, we will first deal with the HC-X2, but point out at the appropriate places what you have to do without when buying the HC-X20.

Hardware

Physically, the two camcorders are almost identical and can directly shine with many professional features. These include the 3 rings on the lens for zoom, focus and iris. Or features like the dedicated audio interface with 48V phantom power, the ND filters and the many quick buttons, which almost completely eliminate tedious clicking through the menu.

The difference between the two cameras is only visible on the back. The X2 offers the same ports as the X-20, but also 3G SDI, BNC timecode and a dedicated LAN port.

Another special feature is the lens with a focal length of 24 to 490 mm and a maximum aperture of 2.8 to 4.5 mm, which, thanks to the built-in image stabilizer, can deliver a good picture in any situation, even if the subject is a bit further away.

With this focal length, you can actually get everything on the picture as desired. The wide angle makes work easier, especially for documentaries, live events and sporting events. If the 20x zoom is not enough, the image can be digitally cropped as an emergency solution, which results in a total of 24x zoom.

Panasonic-HC-X2: SDI OUT and TC IN/OUT

Video Features

4K at 60 frames per second is now becoming irreplaceable for many workflows. Here, both camcorders now trump with a full sensor readout of the 1 inch sensor while also offering good low light performance with a slightly cinematic style. This is a big update compared to the old HC-X1, which at the time didn't utilize the full sensor.
With 4K at 30 FPS, the camcorders also meet all broadcasting standards, as 30 FPS can be recorded at 4:2:2 10bit internally. The 4K 60p unfortunately only in 10 bit 4:2:0 but in Full HD we would have the 10bit 4:2:2 again. If 60p is not enough, the camera can still increase to 120 FPS in 4:2:0 even in Full HD.

Other differences

One big difference between the two camcorders is in gamma management.
There, the X2 can record both HLG and V-Log to capture the full 13 levels of dynamic range, which is definitely a big advantage over the X20 in many situations. Coupled with the 1-inch sensor, V-Log can often be a lifesaver in documentaries when the shooting situation turns out to be difficult. Here you simply have the most flexibility in post-processing.

Another helpful feature is proxy recording.
The X2 can store an HD proxy version on the 2nd memory card in parallel to the high-resolution 4K footage. In editing, you can then use the smaller and easier to handle proxy files and replace them with the full quality files only before the final render. With the X20, the 2nd slot is only used for continuous recording if the first card is full or for a safety backup as a 1:1 recording, both of which are of course also possible with the X2.

Panasonic HC-X20

  • 4K semi-professional camcorder
  • large sensor - 1-inch sensor with 15 megapixels
  • high recording quality - max. 4K 60p 4:2:0 10 bit / 4K 30p 4:2:2 10 bit / FHD 120 fps
  • max. focal length - 20x optical zoom from 24.5mm WW to 490mm tele with F2.8-4.5
  • Equipment for professionals - 2 XLR inputs / ND filter / 2 SD slots / stereo microphone
  • WIFI / Full HD LiveStreamin / USB 3.1 / HLG
  • perfect image control - 1.8 megapixel viewfinder and 8.8cm LCD monitor with 2.8 megapixels

Streaming

Panasonic has put a lot of focus on live streaming for both cameras, with the X2 clearly leading the way here. As just mentioned, the X2 has a LAN port, which allows the camcorder to be directly connected to the network. This is also possible with the X20, but only via WIFI, which is not only slower, but also more unstable.
If you want to stream directly with the camera, we would like to mention that only the streaming protocols RTSP and RTMP(S) are supported. So please check before if it works as planned.

However, both cameras can also be connected to a smartphone, since the USB C port is not only used for data transfer of the recorded clips, but also for tethering to use the mobile data of the phone. This means that live, self-sufficient streaming is possible directly on site, which should be especially interesting for live reporting.

 

Panasonic HC-X2

  • 4K professional camcorder
  • large sensor - 1-inch sensor with 15 megapixels
  • high recording quality - max. 4K 60p 4:2:0 10 bit / 4K 30p 4:2:2 10 bit / FHD 120 fps
  • max. focal length - 20x optical zoom from 24.5mm WW to 490mm tele with F2.8-4.5
  • Equipment for professionals - 2 XLR inputs / SDI output / ND filter/ 2 SD slots / Stereo Micr.
  • WIFI / Full HD LiveStreaming / LAN / USB 3.1 (Tethering) / HLG
  • perfect image control ? 1.8 megapixel viewfinder and 8.8cm LCD monitor with 2.8 megapixels

Conclusion

The HC-X20 and HC-X2 both have the ability to work 4K in 60p with a 1 inch sensor in a professional camcorder body. Combined with the large telephoto lens and strong capabilities for streaming, they are cameras suitable for almost any area of the film industry with particular strengths for broadcasting.

The X2 pushes the professional features a bit further with things like an SDI, timecode, LAN connection as well as software features like V LOG, HLG and proxy recording.
Also thanks to the new improved face autofocus we can highly recommend both camcorders for reportage, interviews or streaming setups.

However, for those looking for something in the cinema range, we would rather suggest using other products, as we can't meet the right demands here with the 1 inch sensor.

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