Videomaker - USA (2019-11)

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10 VIDEOMAKER >>> NOVEMBER 2019


Camcorders


The Best


P

rofessional camcorders are often
smaller, lighter, less expensive, and
have more controls than other camera
options. With so many choices on the
market, from affordable cinema cameras to
DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the advantages
of a fixed-lens camcorder may not be as easy
to see as they once were, but those advantages
are definitely still there.
At the end of this article, we’ll go over some
of the special considerations unique to this
form factor. But first, here are the best camcord-
ers currently on the market.

Best beginner camcorder
Panasonic HC-VX
The Panasonic HC-VX1 is an affordable camera
with a good looking image, better than average
low light performance and UHD 4K recording.
With loads of light, the image quality of the
Panasonic HC-VX1 is impressive, especially for its
small sensor. Add in its 25mm to 600mm zoom
and three optical image stabilizer systems, and
the HC-VX1 shines above the rest. The 1/2.5-inch
back-illuminated MOS sensor offers impressive
image capture even at 12 decibels (dB) of gain.
Although at that level there is significant noise,

it still has good color reproduction. This means
that if you find yourself in a less than ideal light-
ing situation, it’s likely you will still be able to
capture something worth watching.
Overall, with a top resolution of UHD 4K at 30
fps and the ability to capture up to 26-megapixel
stills, Panasonic crams a lot of value into the HC-
VX1 — all for $800.

Best enthusiast camcorder
Sony HXR-NX
The Sony NXCAM HXR-NX80 offers all the
features you want and need out of a camcorder.

390 B02 Pro Camcorders.indd 10 9/24/19 2:09 PM

VIDEOMAKER >>> NOVEMBER 2019 11


Camcorders


Best beginner camcorder
Panasonic HC-VX
The Panasonic HC-VX1 is an affordable camera
with a good looking image, better than average
low light performance and UHD 4K recording.
With loads of light, the image quality of the
Panasonic HC-VX1 is impressive, especially for its
small sensor. Add in its 25mm to 600mm zoom
and three optical image stabilizer systems, and
the HC-VX1 shines above the rest. The 1/2.5-inch
back-illuminated MOS sensor offers impressive
image capture even at 12 decibels (dB) of gain.
Although at that level there is significant noise,

it still has good color reproduction. This means
that if you find yourself in a less than ideal light-
ing situation, it’s likely you will still be able to
capture something worth watching.
Overall, with a top resolution of UHD 4K at 30
fps and the ability to capture up to 26-megapixel
stills, Panasonic crams a lot of value into the HC-
VX1 — all for $800.

Best enthusiast camcorder
Sony HXR-NX
The Sony NXCAM HXR-NX80 offers all the
features you want and need out of a camcorder.

From hybrid autofocus to Hybrid Log-Gamma,
(HLG is the only HDR standard that is backward-
compatible with SDR viewing) the NX80 is
feature-rich. Shooting up to 960 frames per
second in Slow and Quick mode and up to 120
frames per second in HD, the camera shoots up
to 100 Megabits per second in UHD 4K and offers
SLog3/S-Gamut3 picture profiles. It also features
built-in neutral density (ND) filters preset at 1/4,
1/16 and 1/64.
Paired with the NX80’s one-inch Exmor CMOS
sensor is a 12-times optical zoom lens with a
good maximum aperture of f/2.8 - f/4. The 35mm

These are


the best


camcorders


on the market


today for


videographers


at every level.


390 B02 Pro Camcorders.indd 11 9/24/19 2:09 PM
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