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An Elegant and Effective ENG/Documentary Camcorder
Nobody seems to notice traditional HD video cameras anymore. In a large-sensor, 4K world, we are too often drawn by the hype, forgetting that there are applications where the traditional video camera is the appropriate tool.
The Panasonic AJ-PX270 is an appropriate tool for ENG, documentary, run-and-gun, corporate and event video. This is an affordable, compact, lightweight and feature-rich camera.
ENG camera users will appreciate that its control layout replicates traditional ENG devices. With battery, it weighs a tad under 6 lb. and is balanced well for both handheld shooting and mounting on a tripod.
And the feature set-all I can say is amazing. This is Panasonic's first "popularly priced" handheld camera to include AVC-lntra 100 I-frame recording with resolution and frame rate as high as 1080 50/60p. And yes, this one camera is universal. Just set up for NTSC or PAL region and all 24/30/60 or 25/50 frame rates are available. To save media space, it can record AVC-lntra 50, AVC-LongG50, AVC-LongG25 and AVC-LongG12. To maintain backward compatibility, it records DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50 and DVCPRO 25. An optional upgrade raises the stakes to AVC-Intra 200.
With its three 1/3-inch CMOS sensors, the PX270 can record to standard P2 (one slot) or the new microP2 cards (two slots). Its 22x fixed lens has a variable servo zoom and three rings: focus, manual zoom and manual iris. One small gripe I have is that the manual iris, like many cameras in this price range, is a continuous rotation and no f-stops are indicated on the lens barrel. The viewfinder display, however, does indicate the f-stop. And speaking of displays, the top flip-out viewing screen is sharp, but, like most viewing screens, is inadequate in direct sunlight The eyepiece viewfinder is a stunning OLED display that you simply have to see to believe.
Other Panasonic cameras have been criticized for having servo zooms that do not stop/start smoothly. This issue has been remedied in the AJ-PX270. The variable servo zoom is a little touchy, and since it is based on simply depressing the zoom rocker all or partway, it is virtually impossible to repeat a zoom. The 22x zoom //1.6 lens is sharp and remarkably...