Panasonic AG-UX180 4K Camcorder Review (in 4K) 

Thanks!

Thanks! I have a cousin in Hungary named Gabor Kovacs.

nice, what a small world :) could you please confirm that at this price range, this camera is the best? I was looking at the JVC GY-LS300 but reading too many bad reviews about that one

Gabor, I have not used the GY-LS300, so all I really have under my belt is this Panasonic UX180. I liked it a lot, though -- really nice lens. I would like it even more if it could record 4:2:2 10-bit, like the Panasonic GH5. That would be excellent.

Thank you Bob/Robi I ended up buying a Panasonic AG-DVX200 - with around 500 bucks accessories on top. Thanks so much for this great video. Köszönöm szépen! Hajrá magyarok! :)

I looked at the Panasonic AG-DVX200 and really admired its features. I like the idea of a Micro-FourThirds sensor (bigger than the 1-inch sensor in the UX180) -- better in low light and easier to do focus effects. Enjoy your new camera!

You are welcome.

Yes, I agree that's a tough choice. I might actually go with the DVX200 for its bigger sensor, but... the UX180 shoots wider (24mm) instead of the 30.6mm of the DVX200. I have 4K cameras that can't shoot wide enough, so I'd probably go with the UX180 to get the wider shooting angle. Tough call, though.

Thanks Bob. The bigger sensor on the DVX200 just makes a difference to the volume of image data captured I guess and makes for a better result? Such a shame it only goes to 14x zoom as well. I don't get why the 180 exceeds the spec of the 200 (i.e. on fov and zoom). Maybe just because the tech the 200 is based on is already 18months+ older than the 180. But the 200 is still £1K more than the 180. Any other big differences that explain why it costs so much more?

The sensor size has to do with the depth of field and the light capturing ability of the sensor. Assuming both the UX180 (1-inch sensor) and DVX200 (Micro Four-Thirds sensor) have 8-megapixel sensors for 4K shooting, the pixel sites on the Micro Four-Thirds sensor will be bigger than those on the 1-inch sensor. That means that each pixel can gather more light. The bigger the pixels on the sensor, the easier it is to provide sharp focus without artifacts or aberrations. And, of course, bigger sensors give you a more defined depth-of-field, which looks great in a variety of shots. Otherwise, I think both cameras record 4K at 100 megabits per second, so they both make the same amount of data. So why does the DVX200 cost more? I don't know for sure, but it's likely that the lens on the DVX200 costs more than the lens on UX100. That's because lenses for bigger sensors require bigger glass, and lens glass is an expensive commodity. Especially in zoom lenses.

Bob Kovacs Thanks Bob. Very interesting info. Learning a lot as I look more and more into these new camcorders. Here's hoping there are a few Christmas or New Year price specials :>)

Yes, it still works for many kinds of video acquisition. I still wish it had 10-bit 4:2:2 recording, though, even if it was a $500 upgrade.

@@BobKovacs Yes, and thanks to your video I'm in love with this 2-year old baby. Thank you very much, mr. Kovacs.

it's 2020 and it's still banger! :D

I don't have a GH5 or GH4, but I do have a Panasonic GX8, which is similar to the GH4 and also shoots 4K video. The UX180's auto focus is MUCH better than the GX8's. More important for run-and-gun work as well as sports, is the smooth 20x zoom lens on the UX180. The UX180 is great for news, features, event and corporate work, while the GH5 is great for more cinematic stuff. At the moment, I'm using its older brother, the GH3, to shoot a new comedy called "Almost Spies." Although it's HD and not 4K, the GH3's video looks great, and swapping lenses gives me good flexibility for episodic shooting.

DEAR MIKE FRENCH I AM SELLING MY GH5 IT IS A BLIND DSLR .AFTER 2 YEARS AND HALF I AM STILL SEARCHING FOR THE AUTOFOCUS

Thanks! Panasonic does have firmware updates for some of its cameras that give it a "V-Log" feature, which makes the video look much more film-like. However, Panasonic charges for it. And I don't know if it is available for the UX180.

IF you run at 30 or 60 sure but I would hope at 24fps it is less video like. I have not used this camera but that is my experience with other cameras.

You're welcome! You can also check out my review of the Panasonic AG-CX350 camcorder, which is newer and has more features than the UX180: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dnBYFWNests.html

The two negatives I had were that the 3.5-inch display was dim and it would be nice if the US180 had a shoulder support of some kind. The camera is not heavy, but you have to hold it with your arms and that can get tiring. This camera uses 8-bit 4:2:0 color encoding, so it is not going to hold up as well for editing effects as a camera with 8-bit 4:2:2, and a camera with 10-bit 4:2:2 will be even better. But that's more of a need for filmmaking, not run-and-gun news or event shooting. The single sensor is susceptible to rolling-shutter effects, but the UX180 is no worse than any other single-sensor camera in that regard. The menus on the UX180 are similar to my two other Panasonic cameras (GX8 and ZS100), so that was easy for me. I found the combination of familiar menus and touch-screen operation (using the 3.5-inch pull-out display) really easy to navigate. Plus, the UX180 has LOTS of buttons for routine operations. I also liked the way that the UX180 would tell me in the viewfinder if it thought the image would be better if I selected a neutral-density filter. Hope that helps!

Thanks! I worked hard to keep the review short and to focus on video clips in a variety of settings. I knew that people would want to see shots from the street at night, but I just didn't have a chance to do that. For my "dark" test, the gain setting was +12. I've found that RU-vid tends to flatten the look of my videos -- all my 4K stuff pops much more directly on my monitor than it does once uploaded to RU-vid. My editing software (Corel VideoStudio) also encodes the 100 Mbps camera clips down to 40 Mbps, so there is quite a bit of loss. I do have tons of footage from the UX180, but no easy way to share it besides RU-vid.

I wish I could have. However, Panasonic loaned me only this one camera.

You're welcome! Before you commit to the UX180 (which is a fine camera), you should look at the Panasonic CX350. The CX350 is a couple years newer than the UX180 and has more features. You can see my review at: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dnBYFWNests.html

@@BobKovacs Thank you for the recommendation, I'm still researching as of now. I came across the JVC GY-HC500U today. This one truly seems to have everything I'm looking for besides the poor auto focus. Do you have any thoughts on the JVC GY-HC500U

No, I'm not familiar with the JVC GY-HC500. I can't tell you how it stacks up against either of the Panasonics. A quick glance at the HC500's specs looks nice... probably competes squarely against the Panasonic CX350.

@@BobKovacs Thanks for your input and content Bob! Subscribed.

Excellent comments, Greg. First, are you sure that the UX180's HDMI port can't be used to record 10-bit 4:2:2 externally? I realize that an external recorder is pricey -- the least expensive may be the $900 Blackmagic Video Assist 4K, although it also comes with a nice 7-inch display to help with focusing. I did not do a deep dive into the UX180's specs, but I did test 4K output from the HDMI port (plugged into my 4K TV) and it works. That should give you 10-bit 4:2:2 if you have an appropriate recorder. If you're recording at a level to require 10-bit 4:2:2 video, then bringing a separate audio recorder is probably also a necessity. Panasonic does brag some about the low-noise inputs on the UX180, and 16-bit is good enough for anything I will do. But if audio is your specialty, then I understand your concern. The Blackmagic Video Assist 4K has an audio noise floor of -128 dB and uses 24-bit/48 kHz sampling. It's not 96 kHz, but it gets you your minimum requirement. If you're doing high-end film/documentary work, the $3,200 Panasonic HC-X1 (the UX180's twin without SDI output) and the $900 Blackmagic Video Assist 4K will set you back $4,100 and give you a respectable 4K cinema set up. But I do understand about wanting the internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording -- I was surprised to see that was not an option with the UX180. I have a Panasonic GX8, which shoots 4K and is more or less similar to the GH4. By the time you add a couple good lenses to get clean glass and some zoom range, it adds up to a $3,000+ price range. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably get the HC-X1 and have a longer zoom with a smoother touch, built-in neutral density filters, XLR audio with easy controls, built-in shotgun mic mount and a more television-like shooting experience (I have a TV background). We'll see how the GH5 shapes up when it is finally delivered.

Hey Bob! Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately according to Panasonic's brochure the Video Signal for External Output is only 8bit 4:2:2 (*3) (*3: Output of UHD/59.94p/50.00p becomes 8 bit 4:2:0.) As a pro camera you would think it would have this feature. Depending on the shoot I may want to grade the video in post and 10 bit will just hold up better. Maybe this will be a future firmware update... Panasonic are you listening? As for audio I have a Zoom F8, Sennheiser mic, boom pole, field bag etc. Although on run and gun stuff I would rather leave the recorder at home and use the on board audio (one man band here). I am concerned a bit about the quality of the on board mic peramps but I would prefer the 24 bit over 16 bit. Having a bit depth of 24 vs 16 essentially allows the audio to have more dynamic range and it provides more head room. Couple that with a good mic and good preamps you'll have "cleaner" audio. Besides it takes up almost no space on the SD card. (firmware fix?) Your right though, people won't notice the difference other than the guy mixing it. :-) However, as the industry standard 24bit should be well, standard. Anything less is skimping. I know how you feel with the GX8 and having to kit it out. My GH3 rig is big and heavy with all the gear and its a pain having to stop shooting to swap lenses especially when recording an event. Just for static interviews it's not a problem but once the filming becomes dynamic it's a logistical nightmare. The good thing is I also shoot the EM5mkii for stills and have the lenses. With all that said the UX180 will probably be the camera I go with. The zoom range is exceptional especially on the wide end, it shoots 50/60fps in UHD, and it shoots 120fps slow motion. Happy Holidays! Greg

I know this was 5yrs ago but I have to point out that this is not a good comparison. The AG-UX180 is a run and gun Camera . The GH5 is a great DSLR that shoots great video but it is far from a run and gun camera. The AG-UX180 is a camera you just pick up and shoot. The GH5 would be a poor choice for that. They are both pro for what they are built for. With the AG-UX180 you can do manual adjustments easily from the controls, The GH5 simply does not have this.

@@garypranzo9334 Hi Gary, yeah I know. I wasn’t comparing the form factor but rather the tech inside them. Cheers, Greg

You are welcome!

It's a nice camera... hope you get lots of use from it.

Just so people know that I answered Vladan's question, he and I discussed camera choices in a series of e-mails. Since he is interested in good photos and good video, I recommended the Panasonic GH5 (or GH5 MkII) with a decent lens.

Thank you Bob Kovacs for your thorough answers, they have been a tremendous help. Cheers!

It's probably my hand... I thought the anti-shake was pretty good. I did no color correction on the clips from the US180, but I obviously edited them into this video. Keep in mind that the video got compressed down to 50 Mbps MP4 for upload to RU-vid, and then RU-vid does some processing as well.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the Canon XA45. You might also want to look at the Panasonic CX350, which is newer and more versatile than the UX180. I reviewed it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dnBYFWNests.html

There is quite a bit of handheld footage in this, particularly the construction scenes. But no shots of aircraft.

Too bad, you can really see the difference between the different cameras image stabilization when you zoom in on a moving aircraft.

I used the 4K (3,840 x 2,160) setting right out of the box, so it sounds like you got a bad unit. If my video doesn't have the noise yours has, then your unit is definitely bad. Bummer!

You're welcome.

Ed, I do not have any personal experience with the Panasonic DVX200, so all I can discuss are my impressions from the specs and my background. The DVX200 has a bigger sensor (Micro FourThirds vs. 1-inch), so I expect that it will be a little better in low light and have a more pronounced depth of field. That said, the UX180 has a more versatile lens, particularly well suited for shooting wide (for news, events, corporate -- wide is a real benefit there). If you shoot more cinematic/storytelling, the DVX200 might be better for you. If you do more events, corporate video and news , the UX180 is probably better. There's nothing more disappointing being at an event and not being able to go wide enough to capture it.

I was told that it would be available by the end of November. I wrote a review for Amazon and was going to write one for B&H, but the site wasn't accepting reviews for the UX180 yet. I liked the camera a lot and wouldn't mind having it back!

I got that backwards... I posted a review on B&H but not on Amazon. Amazon does not yet list the UX180.

Thanks! The Panasonic UX180 is decent in low light, but not spectacular. It's major selling point is its good 20x lens, which lets you get really close to things. If you don't need a lens with that sort of telephoto capability, and working in low light is important, take a look at the Pansonic AG-DVX200 camcorder. It has a bigger sensor than the UX180 and a 13x lens. The bigger sensor on the DVX200 should be better in low light. The Sony A7S II is spectacular in low light, so if that is really important, that may be the way to go.

I checked it out, but i think it's not worth for extra 1000 euros. I think, if i use UX180 and buy extra LED light, then it should be okay. Only bad thing is that sellers don't have that camera in shop to test. Only cheaper Panasonic cameras..

You're welcome.

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. Between the CX350 and the UX180, the CX350 is the better camera. The CX350has a better display screen and the CX350 has MUCH better codecs and encoding flexibility. If the price was the same, I'd go for the CX350 every time.

You're welcome. You ask a complex question. Take a look at this video and see if it helps: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-32PPzwPjDZ8.html

Final Cut is professional editing software, and FCP7 is a fairly old version at that. AVCHD is generally considered a consumer format, so that may be the disconnect: A consumer video format won't work with older pro editing software. I have not used Final Cut Pro in any version, so I am not specifically familiar with any incompatibilities, but above is my best guess.

Thank you for the extensive comment! I think that some of the artifacts you're seeing are a result of the 30 fps 4K video that I shot with the UX180. Motion would be smoother in the 60p setting, but the chip I had was not happy recording the 150 Mbps data for 4K/60p. Also, keep in mind that my editing software (Corel VideoStudio) encoded the camera's 100 Mbps video down to 40 Mbps, then RU-vid did another re-encode when I uploaded that. And you probably watched it at 1080p -- that's a lot of encoding and places to introduce artifacts. But the bottom line is that you probably should shoot in 4K/60p if motion is critical.

Thanks for the kind response. I think I drew the same conclusion so I am holding out for a Sony camera and hopefully the Sony FS5 mark II will shoot in 4k/60p. Thanks again for the response.

The Panasonic UX180 will shoot in 4K/60p, but it is at 150 Mbps. (I don't now what the Sony FS5 uses for 4K/60p recording.) Just wanted to mention that.

Thanks for the kind response. Unfortunately, all of my projects just came to a screeching halt as of yesterday because in the mail I received this massive bill. It is unfortunate, but my fault and necessary so I will pay it. Buuuut I think it is nice that the UX180 shoots in 4k/60p. Actually, one of my first significant video camera purchases was a Panasonic PV-L779 Palmcorder. Yes, I still have it and yes it is in great condition and it shoots to 8mm. And of course, I had to grab it to remember the model number. lol... I bought it for a trip overseas in the late 90's. Oh... the point... Actually, the Sony FS5 does not shoot 4k/60p, only 4k/30p. Although I like Panasonic, I just like Sony more and I have so many Sony products and I kinda understand their downsides. But sometimes, it is easier to stay with the crazy girlfriend you know than to start all over in a new relationship. lol... Oh! The relationship is definitely abusive with their high markups, but that is life. lol.... Sooooo considering I just got hit with this massive bill, I am going to hold off for the second version of the FS5 and maybe, although not likely, it will shoot 4k/60p on SDXC cards in 4:2:2 up to 150mpbs in XAVC-I. Yeah, I know that is asking alot, but if I can get the 4k/60p on SDXC I will be happy with that and just have to deal with that crappy XAVC-L codec, but I would prefer the XAVC-I. In either case, thanks for your feedback.

The Panasonic CX350 is two years newer and has many more features. I recommend it over the UX180 if the cost difference is small. You can see my review of the CX350 here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dnBYFWNests.html Thanks for the comment!

@@BobKovacs Thanks! I think I'll by the CX350!

I think the UX180 would be excellent for weddings. (Actually, you should consider the Panasonic HC-X1, which is identical to the UX180 except that the HC-X1 does not have BNC SDI and timecode connectors, and the HC-X1 costs around $400 less. Otherwise, it's identical, and you probably don't need SDI or timecode connectors.) I can't comment on the sensitivity of the UX180 vs. the two Canon cameras, as I have not used either Canon. That said, the UX180 has good sensitivity and its lens is MUCH more appropriate for weddings than what you likely have for the two Canons. Plus, the UX180 (and HC-X1) has convenient XLR audio inputs, built-in neutral density filters for shooting outside, a pull-out display that pivots AND and a bright, clear eyepiece viewfinder. And it shoots in 4K -- do the Canons do that? (Maybe they do... I just don't know.) The Canons are generally built for photography but can do video. The UX180 (and HC-X1) is built for video -- if what you do is primarily shoot video, getting a camera that is built for video will make your life easier. You can do a nice, smooth impactful zoom, for example. A shotgun mic mount is built into the camera. It has convenient audio controls. Etc. So although I can't compare the sensitivity of the two, the Panasonic UX180/HC-X1 (or any dedicated video camera, really) will make your life easier when shooting video.

You are welcome!

Do you have a Dropbox or other account I could use to upload some raw footage? I'll give you a few minutes of raw footage if you have a suitable upload location.

Oh, I didn't try the IR feature, so I can't give you anything there.

Bob Kovacs Thanks for the quick reply! If you have some free time, would you mind filming with the IR features at night and uploading that footage to one of your RU-vid account?

Sorry, but I gave the camera back to Panasonic after two weeks. It was loaned to me to review it.

I'm afraid that I can't help you. I had the camera on loan for two weeks, and that was 5 years ago. I hope you get an answer that helps.

Miklos, I did not test for the manual focus assist function. You can plug a larger external monitor into the HDMI or SDI ports, but that doesn't help a shooter with his eye to the viewfinder. So the answer to your focus questions is: I don't know. And yes, the UX180 gets its 24mm wide angle (at 4,096 x 2,160 resolution) without cropping. The 1-inch sensor is 9.5-megapixel, so all (or nearly all) of the sensor is used. At standard 4K (3,840 x 2,160), there is slight cropping so that the wide angle is 25.2mm.

Thank you so much, Bob, for the explanation. Now I understand why my FZ2000 has the crazy crop in 4K. The FZ2000 sensor is 5472 pixels wide, a 4096-pixel portion is used for Cinema 4K, which is 1.33 crop of the total sensor width; 3840 is used for UHD 4K, which is 1.4 crop. The total sensor width gives 24mm FoV (EQ) in photography and FHD modes, that is 73.7 degrees, so Cinema 4K gives 32mm FoV (EQ) while UHD 4K 34mm. So the sensor in the AG-UX180 is totally different and optimized for 4K, this is the trick. I see. Thank you so much. Miklos

Miklos, I've been thinking about your viewfinder question. Although I don't recall if the focus assist window pops up during recording, my impression of the eyepiece viewfinder was that it had excellent resolution. In other words, I did a few rack-focus tests while recording and it was easy to get focus with my eye to the viewfinder. It is really a good viewfinder.

Thank you, Bob, for the follow-up information. Does the camera have a dedicated button for Magnifications? Nearly all Sony and Canon video cameras have button like that. On those cameras the engineers found magnification so important, that dey designed even a dedicated button.

I don't remember if it had a magnify button, unfortunately.

It's been a while since I used this camera, but I show in the video that the auto focus is excellent. However, I did not really test the auto focus in low light. The camera's low light performance is generally good, but cameras have gotten just a bit better since this camera came out two years ago. No camera will make bad lighting look good, but this camera is competent working in poor light.

Hi, Noel... thanks for asking! The HC-X1 is nearly identical to the UX180 -- the only difference is that the UX180 has time code and maybe HD-SDI connectors and the HC-X1 does not. Otherwise, I had the UX180 a year ago and sent it back to Panasonic, so I don't really remember the profile choices. It should have at least one and maybe two profiles with "Cinema" in the name, such as "CinemaD." I would use one of those "Cinema" choices for a more documentary look. You might want to check what the profiles are and test them before you shoot, though. It can't hurt to get some experience with the camera.

I don't think that's true of the UX180. My personal experience with the UX180 is that it is considerably wider than 35mm at 4K. Panasonic says that it's 24mm for 4K DCI (4,096 x 2,160) and 25.2mm for 4K (3,840 x 2,160). In my experience, those are the correct numbers.

The AG-UX180 can operate at both 59.94 Hz and 50 Hz, so it can be switched between NTSC and PAL frame rates. That's what I got from reading up on Panasonic's site.

Thank you

I edited it and did some minor color/brightness tweaking with no issues. But I hear you -- it would be great if Panasonic offered a firmware upgrade to 10-bit 4:2:2, like what is available in the GH5.

Yes, I'm in Fairfax County. I just responded to your message on my web site.

David Leonard Sorry, I didn't try variable frame rates. I can't help you with that.

If you are in the US, I recommend B&H Photo, Adorama and Amazon. I have purchased cameras from all three and have always gotten good service.

Thank you!!

The UX180 should work fine for that. Good luck!

@@BobKovacs ordered! Comes in Monday. Thank you for your helpful video and cordial responses to comments

@@davidnolan9440 You are welcome, David. Believe it or not, I teach an adult evening class for the local school system called "How to Become a RU-vid Star," and I tell my students that friendly interaction with their viewers will help them build an audience and get subscribers. It's good to hear you confirm my suspicions.

@@BobKovacs yes indeed. One question I'm sure I'll figure out when I operate it but the audio. We will use one xlr input for a mono recording. Does channel 2 need to copy the first so when you edit it you don't get the extra camera noises?

I've never done live streaming, at least in the sense it's done on the Internet today. Years ago (back in the SD analog days), I worked as a television engineer for IBM and we did live educational broadcasts over a nationwide closed network. Anyway, I suggest that you use a Y-adapter to split the single audio feed into two, then plug in those two. It will be the same audio on the left/right channels, but at least there will be something on both sides. If it comes out of only one side, many viewers will notice and be distracted by that. That's for live streaming. If you're just worried about editing, it's easy in any editing software to take one channel and duplicate it for the other side. In other words, you can duplicate the sound of the left channel on the right channel. I did that just today on a project I'm doing about comparing lavaliere (clip-on) microphones. I should have that video up later today.

Hmmm... I looked and didn't see it. Of course, that particular shot was made with my Panasonic GX8 camera and not with the UX180. I still didn't see any moire, however. Maybe it is an interaction with your monitor and display resolution.

The UX180's maximum quality encoding file format is 8-bit 4:2:0. Can you color grade that? Yes. Is 8-bit 4:2:0 the optimum encoder format for color grading? No. So to answer your question, "Can I actually edit my videos in color grading with this camcorder?" The answer is: Yes. Will you always be happy with the result? The answer is: It depends on how easy to please you are.

Brian, I don't remember what the audio monitoring was like when I had this camera. I *think* I may have had it set to show/hear live video/sound instead of what has been recorded. But I just don't remember.

Hi Bob - I discovered that is exactly what the issue was. Another thing I realised is that my camera did not ship with a complete instruction manual - which if I had had the complete instructions I probably would have figured this out. Mine just came with a Basic Operating Instructions booklet. However Panasonic support was very helpful and called me back to help solve the mystery. BTW did your unit ship with a complete instruction booklet? I asked if Panasonic could send a nicely bound booklet - but they directed me to the download - which isn't as nice IMHO.

Hey Brian, Panasonic loaned me the camera to review back in October, and the box it came in wasn't even printed up for the camera. A full manual was not available at that time, so I got a preliminary manual that definitely had some gaps. I don't mind getting a full manual as a PDF, then printing it out myself if I need hard copy. But I see your point -- if you get a $3,500 camera, it would be nice if it came with something more than where the on/off switch is.

My recollection is that you are correct: The SDI output is 4K 8-bit 4:2:2. But I don't know if that is 60p -- without looking it up, I assume it is 30p. I'd love to get an Atomos external recorder or maybe the Blackmagic 7-inch Video Assist, but sadly have neither.

Bob Kovacs thank you Bob

The zoom rocker on the lens is a servo zoom that varies depending on your touch. This is one of the features that makes the UX180 a real pleasure compared to shooting with dSLRs -- you can do s-m-o-o-t-h lens moves easily. The zoom rocker on top has just two speeds, I think.

Great question, but I don't know the answer. I am using DaVinci Resolve 14 and I tried files from the UX180 with Resolve. They work fine. However, I don't have Premiere. I edited this review with Corel VideoStudio X9, and it had some crashing problems. However, I think that is a computer/firmware issue more than it is a Corel VideoStudio issue.

I no longer have this camera, as this was a loaner I got for review. However, it's my understanding that the camera records only two audio channels -- just one left/right pair. That's terrific that the old Canon XL-1 had four audio channels... that's handy to have when you need it. I can just imagine recording a concert with two direct feeds from the audio mixer and two for ambient sound.

Like I said Hearing the Pilot/s & their spotter/s while Videoing R/C Plans flying (Attempting) formation is neat.

The focus is an electronic ring, but it works fairly predictably. The servo zoom is a bit touchy and takes some getting used to, but it's much easier and smoother to control than the zoom lenses I have for my dSLR. If I add up the cost of my current camera and the three zoom lenses I have, it's more than what the UX180 costs. Since the HC-X1 is the same as the UX180 but without an SDI output, I could get the HC-X1 for less than my current rig, and it would be better/easier to use for video. Of course, the UX180 doesn't take photos, and I do take some of those with my current gear...

Thanks for the quick response and for posting the review Bob.

No, I don't have any SDI gear to use to test the SDI output. I did plug the HDMI output into a monitor and noticed considerable lag. However, that could be delay from the HDMI processing. The HDMI out did look great on my 4K TV.

thank yout for quick reply!

Le DVX200 dispose d'un capteur quatre tiers micro qui est plus grand que le capteur de 1 pouce dans le UX180 / La DVX200 a une lentille de zoom 13x, tandis que le UX180 a un objectif 20x. Ce sont les deux grandes différences, mais il y a certainement quelques petites différences. Je ne l'ai pas utilisé le DVX200, donc je ne peux pas comparer les deux plus que cela.

I have not used the DVX200, so I can't compare it. And I thought the macro focus on the UX180 was excellent. In the video, I'm perhaps 15cm (8 inches) from the front condiment bottle when I test autofocus.

Thank you freind.

Thanks!

The two are identical, except that the UX180 has an HD-SDI output and timecode output, both on BNC connectors. If you do not use either HD-SDI or timecode (both these are more for television broadcasters, such as TV news operations), then the HC-X1 costs less and is exactly the same in every other way.

Yes, it has an SDI Out connector (BNC).

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the Panasonic AG-AC30. I do not know if the battery is compatible.

The UX180 is a nice camera, and it would be great to have if you plan to work in television. This is the sort of camera that's used for TV news and other TV programming (reality, documentary, etc.) If you want to do more film production style shooting, Panasonic's choices are the GH5 family (GH5 Mark II and GH5S) and the S family (S1, S1H, S5). Of course, lots of other camera companies make cameras that do excellent film-style shooting, such as Sony, Canon and Nikon.

@@BobKovacs yes I'm looking for camcorder more than a camera

Then the UX180 is a good choice. A better choice, if you can afford it, is the Panasonic AG-CX350. It is a newer version of the UX180, and it is a really powerful camcorder. I reviewed it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dnBYFWNests.html

@@BobKovacs thanks for the reply

I did not try slow motion with the UX180. I stepped through the menus and didn't see any reference to high-frame-rate recording, but it might have been there if I had dug more deeply. FWIW, my Panasonic Lumix ZS100 camera does nice 120 fps recording in HD (1080p), especially if the ISO is set to 125 or 200.

I have not used the GH5 (which won't be available until April, I think). I do have a GH3 and a GX8. The GH3 makes beautiful HD at a variety of different data rates, but no 4K. The GX8 does nice 4K, but its internal recorder is limited to 8-bit 4:2:0. The GH5 is supposed to have at least 8-bit 4:2:2, and possibly 10-bit 4:2:2. 10-bit 4:2:2 would be amazing if the GH5 indeed has it. The UX180 (and very similar HC-X1) are 8-bit 4:2:0, but its lens is MUCH better suited to ENG and run-and-gun shooting than the setup you can get with the GH5. The GH5 (and GH4/GX8) is better suited to filmmaking and documentary work because of the way the controls and lenses work, while the UX180 is designed to be used as a typical video camera, with all the video camera controls where you expect them. It all comes down to how you plan to use the camera. Do you want to do ENG and event work? Or do you want to have a more flexible filmmaking camera? One final thought: The UX180 will shoot wider at 4K than the GH5 with any of Panasonic's lenses, except for the widest of the wide-angle lens. If you need to go w-i-d-e, the UX180 has a nice lens for that.

I use a PNY 128GB U3 SD card in both my 4K cameras, and the cards work fine at a data rate of 100 Mbps. I used a 64GB U3 card in the UX180 camera, and it was unhappy at the 4K/60 mode, which records at 150 Mbps. I did not try one of my PNY cards, though... that's what I suggest first. Here's a link to the card I use: www.amazon.com/PNY-Elite-Performance-Speed-P-SDX128U395-GE/dp/B00WWBCQEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496152288&sr=8-1&keywords=PNY+128gb+sd+u3

Thanks Bob!

I was unfamiliar with the Panasonic HC-X1. Looking at the specs and photos of it, it looks and reads *exactly* like the AG-UX180. From a quick look at the HC-X1's specs, I can't see any difference.

I think one of the "big" difference are the output. The UX180 has SDI connections while the HC-X1 doesn't. There could be other differences, but this is the one that sticks out to me.

That and TC, afaik.

Thanks. The UX180 definitely has SDI out, although I didn't try it.

Thanks! I don't use timecode for editing, so I didn't try that.

Not sure what you mean about "lack of focusing." The UX180 has auto focus, of course, but it also lets you conveniently focus manually. And the UX180 makes better video in all measurable ways than any cell phone I've seen.

There's WAY too many cameras for me to give an exhaustive list of recommendations, but I suggest the Panasonic GH4 or the new Panasonic GH5. Get a good lens that has easily controllable focus (and maybe an external focus control) and you can do a lot of good work. Otherwise, this Panasonic AG-UX180 is a decent choice, especially since it comes with a good lens that is easy to control focus and zoom. Good luck!

The UX180 has the correct frame rates for both NTSC and PAL countries: 60Hz, 50Hz, 30p, 25p, etc.

So the signal transmitted by SDI can be PAL or also NTSC?

PAL and NTSC are antiquated standards that are not used in most countries. What remains from the PAL and NTSC standards are the frame rates: 60Hz for NTSC and 50Hz for PAL. (There are some slightly reduced frame versions that conform to the color versions of NTSC and PAL, such as 59.94Hz.) So the answer to your question is that, if you set the UX180 to 60Hz or 59.94Hz or 29.97Hz or 24.98Hz, that will be the video that is outputted from the SDI connector. And also outputted from the HDMI connector.

Tahnks unfortunately in Argentina the Pal format is used for television, and to transmit a signal it is necessary to adapt to the format

Then what you need to know is that the UX180 will produce video at the PAL frame rate.

Eric Woody What would you like to know?

is it good for filming wildlife?

Did you watch the video? I specifically show some examples of wildlife. Since the zoom telephoto is 500mm+, it has pretty good reach. And it gets to its max telephoto at f4.5, which is pretty good. However, if you need a 1000mm lens, this camera isn't going to do it.

Peter, the UX180 will do infrared recording, but I do not know if it is compatible with a 950 filter. (I assume that's a wavelength of 950 nanometers.) You might try asking your question to someone at Panasonic.

hi again . iam currently use 5x42 monocular glasses ;:which have an almost endless range ''an recording though a camcorder but my pic is so grainy. an unclear . thank u for your advice . hopin for some more advice but real hard to find ... what's between the stars is alive ...

I used a PNY 128GB U3 SD card. My experience with the UX180 is that this PNY card worked fine at 100 Mbps, but was not reliable at 150 Mbps.

thanks for reply.regards

I bought these cards,SanDisk extreme pro 95mb/s, but it does the same( a tremor of the image).Is there any special setting or movement of the camera in 4k?....only in full 4k resolution (4096×2160). In UHD (3840×2160),works perfect.What is the problem?

It could be a bad SanDisk card. It should be the same data rate for both UHD and 4K -- at least that's my recollection. Other than that, I don't have any advice for you. The PNY card worked perfectly for me at UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution at 100 Mbps, but sometimes glitched at 150 Mbps. That is the only experience I had.

Yes, the flip-out display is dim, and it could easily be too dim for some applications. I didn't really test for rolling shutter, but I don't really notice any issues on my other Panasonic cameras.

yea cheers bob shame the screen like that and EVF on the hcx1000 & hcx1 as well not good from panasonic

You might want to think about the Panasonic GH5 with the Panasonic 14-140mm lens. I got a GH5 this past May at a great price, and I already had the 14-140mm lens for my other Panasonic cameras. The 14-140mm lens on the GH5 is excellent for shooting 4K video, and it is amazingly stable with the lens' optical stabilization and the camera body's in-body stabilization. You can zoom in all the way handheld and get surprisingly good shots. I even use the "tele-extender" feature on the GH5 that gives me a 35mm equivalent focal length of around 400mm -- and it is still reasonably stable for handheld work. It's great on a tripod. The GH5 and 14-140mm lens combo will cost about $2,500 on Amazon or B&H Photo... dunno what it works out to be where you are (UK?). With the GH5's 10-bit 4:2:2 recording, you will get better quality than the UX180. And there's a bonus: The GH5 is a very good photography camera as well as video. In the UX180's favor, it has a nice zoom rocker for smooth zooms, and it's easier to do a manual rack-focus on the UX180. The UX180 also has far better audio features and you can get batteries that will last all day for shooting. Of course, the UX180 will zoom in to 480mm or so, and will go a little wider at the wide end than you can do with the 14-140mm lens. (You can always get a wider lens for the GH5, obviously.) Just a thought.

thankyou kindly bob for help on gh5 and ux180 being honest never used anything semi pro or pro consumer just yet being videoing hand held with much lower class panasonic hc ax870 it is small senser nice ultra hd detail great 20x optical zoom had good results filming steady and fast moveing aircraft with this but one problem when filming 4k 25fps you get wobbley footage when zoomed in hand held use wise ive just bought i great manfrotto 502 ah video head with a great manfrotto tripod 055 pro 3 just waiting and saving to get the right piece of kit to go on top i dont want to look into this to professional bob

I haven't touched this camera in four years (it was loaned to my by Panasonic), but what more do you want to know?

Lowest price video camera?

@@1percentclub666 What do you expect to do with your video camera? You can shoot simple videos for RU-vid using a cell phone or point-and-shoot camera. If you think you will be making a serious movie, you will need a better camera. Panasonic, Sony, Canon, Nikon and others have good cameras (and lenses) that can get you started with film making for around $1,000 or so.

Sir we are planning wedding, funeral, qurbana, FB LIVE like celebrations, So we need a 4k video camera.

I recommend the Panasonic GH5 or G9 cameras. Both do excellent 4K video, and both are good as photography cameras as well (especially the G9). You will need at least a couple different lenses, such as Panasonic's 14-140mm lens and 12-60mm lens. The two of them will cover most of the wide-to-telephoto needs. Don't forget good audio -- you should probably have a shotgun microphone and a wireless lavaliere mic, as well. A Panasonic G9 with the two lenses I mention will probably be around $2200US, and you should expect to pay at least another $250 for a couple of decent microphones. You can probably get by with some cheaper gear, but that's what I recommend.

With the aperture wide open, the lens is F2.8 at the widest angle (24mm) and F4.5 at the narrowest angle (most telephoto). The lens can be stopped down from those apertures, but I don't know the highest F-stop.

Thanks Bob, I shoot with a Sony NEX EA50 at the moment, I'm a wildlife photographer. I'm just wondering if the Panasonic would be a worthwhile step up or do I stick with the Sony and continue to use my Nikon lenses with the Sony E mount, albeit that the Sony is 1080P?

I think you're going to want to go 4K at some point. If you already have lenses you like, you should probably look at getting a camera body compatible with your lenses. I like the Panasonic UX180 and it is a decent wildlife camera once you get around the fact that the lens maxes out at 480mm or so and can't be replaced. You may want a setup that will give you 600mm or even 800mm, and that can't be done with the UX180 (as far as I know, anyway). If you can live with the 480mm limit, the UX180 is a very nice camera. Still, it would be nicer still if it could do the 4:2:2 10-bit recording that the Panasonic GH5 can do.

I'm not an expert on video by any means but do I really want go from my Sony's APSC sensor down to a 1" sensor as I fear that it won't gather as much light as it is that much smaller. I also worry about claims of a maximum aperture/iris of f/2.8. As this sensor is so tiny that surely can't be correct, f/stops are based (as far as I am aware) on full size 35mm sensors (as used on 35mm film camera's) which are big and able to collect a vast amount of low light. A one inch sensor would never be able to gather the same amount of low light due to its size, its ok sticking an f/2.8 lens on a camera with a smaller sensor and saying that you still have f/2.8 but in reality this is not true, you may get better reach but not the same maximum iris/aperture. This is true of any camera using a sensor smaller than 35mm. I use a Nikon 600mm f/4 lens on my Nikon D500 which has a cropped sensor and I do not believe that I am still getting f/4, with the reduced size and amount of light covering this sensor its probably more like a 600mm f/5.6. There are a number of photographers who also support my claim, Steve Perry at Backcountry Gallery is just one. I do however like the look of the Panasonic UX180 and it would probably be ok at at 480mm (just) .

Certainly, the 1-inch sensor is much smaller than the APS-C sensor in the Sony camera, and that raises a variety of factors. But I can tell you from considerable personal experience that you can shoot excellent video with a 1-inch sensor. Pretty good stills, too. And the cameras/lenses are much smaller & lighter than they are with APS-C and full-frame 35mm sensors. The question comes up: Do you want the convenience and lower-cost of a smaller sensor or the weight/cost associated with larger sensors? Is the quality difference that important to you? Only you can make that call.

The Magnus VT-4000 sells for $160 on Amazon, and it is a good sturdy tripod that has decent fluid pan/tilt and can easily hold this camera. I had a smaller Magnus tripod that I used pretty hard for three years, and it is still usable -- although I got a travel tripod that is easy to carry in luggage to replace the small Magnus. The VT-4000 is considerably beefier than the one I have (which is a VT-200).

@@BobKovacs thanks so much!

@@BobKovacs I just did some further research into this. overall you are correct, its probably the best bang for the buck tripod out there! My only issue with it, is that it only goes up to about 5' in height. DO you by chance know if they make this version with a 6' height?

According to the writeup on Amazon, the Magnus VT-4000 goes up to 59 inches (or about 5 feet, as you noted). I did not see any obvious way to increase the height. If you need more height, take a look at the Cayer BV25LH tripod on Amazon. It's just a little more money, goes up to 73 inches or so, and has good reviews. I'm not familiar with it, but it might be worth a look.

@@BobKovacs Awesome, thanks

The 3.5-inch pull-out viewfinder is really dim and hard to see in daylight. However, the eyepiece viewfinder on the UX180 I had was bright and clear -- easy to use in any conditions.

Are you asking how to use the white balance setting in a UX180? If so, I no longer have the camera (it was loaned to me), so I don't know the exact steps.

धन्यवाद

That's not the first time I've heard that, but I don't see it.

I think the HC-1E is the same as the UX180, except that the HC-1E does not have an SDI connector. Otherwise, same camera. I think.

Your video looks great... I really like the lens on that camera.

@@BobKovacs thanks sir . Appreciation comming from you is special