Panasonic has announced two new camcorders, the Panasonic HC-VX3 and Panasonic HC-V900. The HC-VX3 shoots in 4K while the HC-V900 records in full HD, but there’s more to talk about these new camcorders. Let’s dive in.
HC-VX3
The Panasonic HC-VX3 features a 1/2.5 inch BSI (Back-Side Illuminated) MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. You can record up to 25 fps in 4K and 50 fps in 1080 HD. Files are recorded as either MP4 or AVCHD depending on resolution and frame rate.
More on the HC-VX3, the camcorder also sports a 24x zoom with a full frame equivalent focal range of 25 mm to 600 mm. The lens uses Panasonic’s 4-Drive Lens System. In addition, the lens has a wide maximum aperture of F1.8 to help film in low-light conditions.
HC-VX3 extras
The flagship HC-VX3 has some extra features compared to the HC-V800. It is equipped with Timestamp record-ability and also includes an audio line-in option. In addition, you can edit videos shot in 4K with just the camera and without a PC then save them in 2K. You can adjust your footage after it’s been recorded by zooming in, correcting camera shake and even chasing the main subject.
HC-V900
The Panasonic HC-V900 also features a 1/2.5-inch BSI MOS sensor. However, the camera can only record up to 1080p HD resolution video at up to 50fps. The VC-V900 offers the same 24x zoom range but with a slightly longer full frame equivalent range of 28.9 mm to 693.7 mm.
In addition, the lens has the same maximum aperture of F1.8. Again, you can choose between recording in MP4 or AVCHD file formats.
Optical image stabilization
Both the HC-VX3 and the HC-V900 feature the same high-precision autofocus system. They also both use five-axis hybrid optical image stabilization (OIS) to keep your handheld footage looking stable and smooth. In addition, the camcorders include a Ball OIS system which Panasonic says reduces wear on the drive section. The company says that it greatly improves correction for small-amplitude hand-shake as well.
Other features
The HC-VX3 and the HC-V900 feature a three-inch high-definition, 1,555K-dot LCD touchscreen monitor. Both camcorders also incorporate a wind shield zoom microphone with a built-in damping material to suppress wind noise when filming outside. Alternatively, both camcorders have a stereo jack for an external microphone and a headphone jack to monitor your audio.
What we think
With most mirrorless cameras now offering advanced video recording features, camcorders had somewhat fallen out of fashion. However, there are times when a dedicated video device is just what you need. So, it’s refreshing to see Panasonic bringing two new models to the market. It’s also good to see that both cameras include the options for an external mic and headphones. This can hugely increase the quality of your audio recordings. In addition, the line input and Timestamp record-ability with the HC-VX3 make the 4K camera more useful in professional scenarios.
Pricing and availability
Panasonic says that both camcorders will be available for purchase at the end of November 2024. The Panasonic HC-VX3 for retails at $899 and the Panasonic HC-V900 is priced at $699.
