Three new Panasonic camcorders have just been announced with upgraded features to satisfy the most demanding filmmakers. The new Panasonic X1200, X1600, and X2100 are the successors of the wildly popular X1500 and X2000 camcorders. The brand has expanded upon the impressive specs of two of its high-end camcorders and added a few highly requested features and a new lighter-weight camcorder designed for creators on the go. Whether you’re shooting the next great film or looking for a camcorder for the newsroom, this is an announcement you definitely won’t want to miss.
Key Features of the Panasonic X1200, Panasonic X1600, and Panasonic X2100
- 25mm Lens with 24x Optical Zoom
- Extended Battery Life
- 4K High-Precision Autofocus
- Hybrid O.I.S. Stabilizes Footage
- 4K/59.94p and HD/120fps Slow Motion
- Heat Dispersing Design
What’s New About These Panasonic Camcorders?
A 25mm lens covering 24x optical zoom gives filmmakers the ultimate flexibility and versatility on the new Panasonic X1200, X1600, and X2100. 4K high-precision autofocus paired with face detection locks onto subjects to give tack sharp focus for the duration of your video and can be quickly activated by simply touching the LCD panel. A Hybrid O.I.S. system uses optical and electronic stabilization to deliver steady footage and minimize small-amplitude blurring. Finally, 4K resolution at 59.94fps delivers resolution when it counts most, and HD/120p slow motion gives you creative flexibility in your footage. There are a lot of exciting features on these new camcorders; let’s take a closer look.
Massive Focal Range
25mm on the wide end is ideal for capturing the whole scene, while the 24x optical zoom brings you to 600mm when you need to capture something further away. Digital zoom can bring you even further to 32x in 4K or 48x in full HD, genuinely giving you as much range as you desire. With 4K footage, you also buy yourself the convenience of cropping in post while still maintaining HD resolution. Whether you’re creating the next Broadway film, shooting documentary-style interviews, or filming live events, the focal range of these Panasonic camcorders has you covered.
Precision Autofocus and Hybrid Stabilization
Looking under the hood, we find two powerful features that lay the foundation for outstanding video quality. 4K High-Precision Autofocus with Face Detection can lock onto subjects to offer precise focus and sufficient exposure. You can expect top-tier results for static and moving shots with precise subject tracking that uses color recognition when activated on the LCD panel. A hybrid O.I.S. system uses optical and electronic stabilization to correct distortion in five directions and improve small amplitude blurring. With the precision autofocus system and the hybrid stabilization, you can ensure stable, in-focus footage in the most significant moments.
Ergonomics
Capturing high-resolution footage at high frame rates can generate massive amounts of heat around the camcorder’s sensor, so Panasonic has strategically designed the body for heat dispersion. If you’re a videographer who needs to shoot for extended periods, you’ll be satisfied with the heat dispersion that lets you keep the camera rolling. The X2100 comes equipped with a detachable handle unit with a REC button, zoom lever, 2-channel XLR audio input, LED light, and more. Not only do these camcorders produce great footage, but they also make the process feel seamless to allow you to focus on your creativity.
Extended Battery Life
A multifunctional USB-C port can charge the high-capacity duration batteries, which last 4 hours and 35 minutes on the X2100 and over 6 hours of shooting on the X1600 and X1200. The well-balanced and heat-dispersing body can film for that long and is comfortable for long periods. USB power delivery delivers continuous power. Additionally, it charges the battery when the camcorder is off.
Who Should Buy the Panasonic X1200, Panasonic X1600, and Panasonic X2100?
All three camcorders cater to the pro or semi-pro filmmaker or creator. The X2100 is the workhorse camcorder that will satisfy the needs of most professional filmmakers. Panasonic designed the X1500 as a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-handle camcorder. The battery life has a slight edge over the X2100. Finally, the X1200 camcorder is perfect for any creator who needs to film on the go. X1500 and X2100 have a viewfinder, WiFi, live streaming, and 24-bit PCM audio, compared to the X1200, which is missing those features. The needs of each creator will vary, but any of these camcorders will be an excellent addition to your kit if you care about high-quality footage.
Comparable Panasonic Camcorders
These three new camcorders are the successors of the Panasonic X1500 and the X2000. Many of the features on the three new camcorders are similar or identical to the X1500 and X2000, and they still offer incredible value if the updated features aren’t important to you. The most significant difference is the OLED display, compared to an LCD on the X1500 and X2000, which still offers excellent resolution for reviewing footage. A multimedia USB port is also present for both charging and accessories on the newer camcorders. Finally, the X1500 and X2000 have 2.4GHz WiFi, while the X1600 and X2100 have 5GHz WiFi.
Final Thoughts on the Panasonic X1200, Panasonic X1600, and Panasonic X2100
Whether you’re a current Panasonic camcorder user looking to upgrade to new features or someone new to the filmmaking game, the X1200, X1600, and X2100 camcorders all offer excellent features that cater to different types of creators. Improved ergonomics, an upgraded OLED screen, and 5GHz WiFi headline the new features on these camcorders that will surely be noteworthy upgrades. No matter what kind of video you like to capture, one thing is for sure: Panasonic continues to push boundaries when it comes to innovation in the camcorder industry.
