NEWARK, NJ — Panasonic has announced pricing and availability details for the first two models in its new UX series of professional 4K camcorders — the UX premium model AG-UX180 and the UX standard model AG-UX90. The UX180 and UX90 begin deliveries in December and November, respectively, with suggested list prices of $3,795 and $2,295.
The camcorders offer a host of features for the high image quality and advanced functionality required in video production, including a newly-designed Leica Dicomar 4K compact lens with a wide 24mm angle (4K 24p, 17:9). Both models incorporate a 1.0-type (effective size) MOS sensor, providing the same level of sensitivity as conventional handheld camcorders. Versatile and easy-to-use MOV (QuickTime), MP4 and AVCHD file formats are supported.
When recording in FHD, variable frame rate (VFR) enables 10-step recording at 2-to-60fps. The variety of recording modes with selectable image quality, frame rate and bit rate settings respond to a wide range of applications, from education and corporate to sports and Web video.
Intelligent AF makes even difficult 4K focusing automatic and affords high speed, superior tracking performance and stability. AF operation can be customized with adjustments to speed, sensitivity and area width. When the Focus Assist button is pressed, Expand or Peaking is displayed to assist the user's comprehensive manual focusing operation. Additionally, Auto Focus is activated for a subject that is touched on the camcorder’s LCD panel.
The camcorder’s two SD card slots enable virtually unlimited (to 96GB) relay recording by simply changing SD cards, and also allow simultaneous recording. Additional recording functions include pre-rec, interval rec, freeze frame and time stamp. Six files preset with picture quality settings are provided as Scene Files, and any of 44 functions can be allocated to 13 user buttons.
A 3.5-type LCD monitor built into the camcorders' handle section can be pulled out and turned 270 degrees vertically for use in high-angle, low-angle or selfie shots. The camcorder's 16-axis color correction provides an independent effect to each of 16 phases of video images, enabling color matching of multiple cameras under the same lighting conditions as well as creative image rendering. Additional image adjustment functions include detail, skin detail, chroma level, chroma phase, master pedestal, gamma and knee setting. The camcorder is equipped with eight selectable gamma modes, including two Cine-Like Gammas, drawing on technologies developed for the VariCam.
The high-resolution OLED EVF features a 1.77 million dot display. LCD/EVF displays include waveform and vectorscope, ZEBRA, Y level marker and level gauge. Beyond 3G-SDI/HDMI output, the UX180 offers a video/audio out for monitoring, two channel XLR audio, USB 3.0 Host/Device and TC Preset In/Out to sync multi-camera shooting.
Professional interfaces include HDMI output, two-channel XLR audio, USB 3.0 host/device, and video/audio out for monitoring.