Panasonic has a pair of new 1in 4K handycams from their broadcast division that are currently sitting under glass at NAB. The details are short at the moment, but here’s what we know:
The UX series will have 1in MOS sensors. There are two models on display – the $4,000 AG-UX180 has a 20x zoom (they’re not saying what f-stop yet) that will shoot 4K (4096×2160, 24p only) and UHD (3840×2160) on SD cards, and has both SDI and HDMI. It will do dual codec recording to two cards and is a world camera doing both 60/30p and 50/25p. The $3,000 AG-UX90 does UHD 30p and FHD at 60p, has a 15X zoom and HDMI.
Here’s the press release:
“With an increasing demand for 4K video content, Panasonic is introducing the UX series to make 4K acquisition even more accessible to video professionals,” said Steven Cooperman, Senior Product Manager, Panasonic System Communication Company of North America. “UX camcorders will provide high-mobility shooting and workflow equivalent to our existing professional integrated-lens handhelds.”
The UX series will support recording up to 4K (4096×2160, 24p only) and UHD (3840×2160). (The AVCCAM series allowed recording up to FHD/1920×1080.) UX camcorders will use the SD Memory Card1 as recording media. The UX Premium Model AG-UX180 supports, in addition to 4K and UHD, dual codec recording (UHD2/FHD), IR recording in low light, and 3G SDI/HDMI2.0 output. The UX camcorders’ 1-inch (effective size) MOS sensor ensures sensitivity equivalent to that of conventional handheld cameras. Variable frame rate (VFR) recording functionality (2-60 fps) is planned in FHD mode.
The suggested list price (SLP) of the AG-UX180 is expected to be under $4,000.00, and the SLP of the AG-UX90 under $3,000.00. The availability of these new UX models later this year will bring the company’s line-up of professional 4K cameras to six, including the flagship VariCam 35 and VariCam LT cinema cameras for HDR production in 4K resolution, the AG-DVX200 4K, 4/3” large-sensor camcorder and AK-UC3000 4K camera system.
1: Video-shooting at 100Mbps or higher requires an SD Card compatible with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3). 2: Excludes UHD 60p, 4K
