Panasonic HC-VX981K 4K Ultra HD Camcorder with 4K Photo Capture, Wi-Fi

Panasonic HC-VX981K

Panasonic

Video Review of the Panasonic HC-X1000 1080p 4K Ultra High Definition Camcorder w/Upgrade Acc Bundle

Video Review of the Panasonic HC-VX981K 4K UHD Camcorder with 4K Photo Wi-Fi w/Free Accessory Bundle

Adorama

Video

Video Cameras

Consumer Camcorders

Panasonic Consumer Camcorders

Panasonic HC-VX981K 

Top Rated Gear: Panasonic HC-VX981K 4K Ultra HD Camcorder with 4K Photo Capture, Wi-Fi Buy now & save $2. Color: Black, Configuration: Camcorder Only, Ergonomics: Palmheld, Features: Built-In Microphone, Mic Input, Touch Screen LCD, LCD Size: 3"

Why settle for less when you can experience the pinnacle of video recording with the Panasonic HC-VX981K 4K Ultra HD Camcorder  This advanced camcorder simplifies the 4K recording process, offering in-camera editing solutions that eliminate the need for complex software. The HC-VX981K is equipped with an innovative High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode that expertly reclaims highlights and shadows, a feature often lost in most compact camcorders. Even if you don't have a 4K display option, this versatile camcorder offers in-camera downsampling to 1080p displays, ensuring you never miss a detail.The camcorder's unique feature is its ability to create multi-camera scene picture-in-picture recordings by simply adding a Wi-Fi link to a mobile device camera. This feature, combined with ultra-sharp 4K Ultra HD recording, allows you to capture and produce high-quality content effortlessly.The HC-VX981K boasts a LEICA Dicomar Lens with a 20x optical zoom and 5-axis Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization, ensuring clear, blur-free results. The 4K in-camera post cropping, panning, zooming, and subject tracking stabilization features eliminate the need for complex editing software, making it a user-friendly choice for both beginners and professionals.The camcorder's 4K PHOTO feature allows you to capture high-quality photos from 4K video frames, offering you the best of both worlds. The exclusive HDR mode reduces the overly high-contrast look created by overexposed and underexposed shooting conditions, ensuring balanced and visually pleasing footage.The HC-VX981K also offers smooth zooming, easy tracking, exact panning, and a convenient stabilizer. These features, combined with the Level Shot function that automatically detects and corrects camera tilting, ensure you always have level footage.The camcorder's high-quality core technologies, including the remarkable LEICA Dicomar lens and an advanced BSI Sensor supported by a 4K Crystal Engine, suppress distortion to consistently give an accurate rendering of the scene.Finally, the built-in Wi-Fi links up to three smartphones simultaneously to record picture-in-picture from multiple angles, making the Panasonic HC-VX981K 4K Ultra HD Camcorder a truly versatile tool for capturing and sharing your world in stunning detail.

Is excelent camcorder. Small, very lightweight, excelent mic and high quality audio, is excelent for carry, and excelent take video.

Panasonic Camcorder HC-VX981

The colors and function of this camcorder are top notch! The mic leaves a bit to be desired... Thankfully it has a mic input!

Needs a better mic

A versatile consumer camcorder offering 4K and an incredible range of zoom. It offers a sharp picture and natural colors. Easy to use in auto mode but settings can be overridden. The small sensor handles bright light fine, but can struggle in low light situations and the image can become noisy. A versatile easy touse entry level camcorder.

Easy to use entry level 4K camcorder

easy to use and reliable, pretty versatile.  You can set it up to shoot with auto settings, partially auto or manual.  many recording formats and quality levels.  lightweight, get some extra batteries if you use it a lot in the field.  but battery life is good.

Versatile, flexible and easy to use.

Excellent

Rexestrada

Great little camera. Perfect for live streaming events and speakers!

Good Value

I love how some people are bragging about how they bought two or three of these cameras.  Why do people brag about how much money they have?  As if anyone cares you bought two or three.  Wow!  You're rich!  LOL!  Pathetic......It's a good camera.

It's good.  I bought 3 because I have lots of money

I'm very happy that I can create professional 4k YouTube videos with this amazing camera! No cons whatsoever, it's all pros. The only thing I recommend is purchasing a 2nd original battery in case you record hours of footage.

Excellent camera with kit for the price

Nice camcorder, one fatal flaw for our use. Bought 2 for our church to upgrade our video system, but had to send them back because the HDMI output was not clean. Could not use for live streaming or for running to video computer as HDMI input.
If you are buying for use as a handheld camcorder, should work great.

be careful - no clean HDMI output for live streaming

I would highly recommend this product. We will be using two of these cameras with a group of students. The camera is easy to use and good quality. Would recommend.

Good quality and easy to use.

The 4K video is everything I was looking for in a camcorder. But you plan on recording longer than 1 hour in 4K mode. I highly recommend you buy any extra battery.

Everything I expected and more

This camera has a lot of capabilities, such as HDR, slow motion, 4k with Photo and several combinations of resolution and frame rates, i.e. 4k and 24 fps, 1080 at 24, 30, 60fps, etc.  I found the HDR to be not as robust as I'd hope for high contrast scenes but it definitely does make a difference in those situations.  Other restrictions pop up as you try to use custom setting, like 4k cannot use HDR only 1080.  Not a big deal really.  Also I wish the iA+ mode Intelligent Auto + ( which means auto but you have one variable you can adjust manually)  had more range to the changes.  Adjusting the iris works but limited to about 3 stops.  Helpful, but it won't bail you out of a very High contrast scene.  Also wish it had metering options like spot metering, center weighted average, etc, like a dslr.  But it does a good job on it's own, on auto and of course if you have the time to do manual settings.  It is very lightweight and portable.  A myriad of combinations of shooting settings.  I've only had it for a month, Low light is okay but not great, I've put it through it's paces in all sorts of conditions.  I'm happy with my purchase so far.  Good camera for the price and zoomed in, still photos are pretty good at 20mp,  And I'm used to using pro dslr cameras.

Nice camera, versatile and compact.  good for intermediate video

The only problem I have is in low light. But if you understand that and what your uses are for getting this camera, it is a great camera. I use it for recording events which usually last more than 30 minutes and it records the event in a single file. DSLRs because of industry manufacturing limitations can not make a single file recording more than 30 minutes. In DSLRs, more than 30 minutes gets broken into several file which make editing more complicated than I want. I use this as well as my other cameras with a switcher and other devices for recording the programs. The camera itself is used to provide backup footage of the view from this camera. I am very happy with this camera and what it can do, the images it produces are excellent.

Very good camcorder.

This is my first 4K camcorder and I'm still exploring its many features.  Overall, I'm happy with its performance.  The image quality is very good, with nice neutral colors.  Audio quality is decent, but better when an external microphone is attached.  I haven't yet tested image stabilization.  Most of my filming was done using a tripod.  Only a few quirks:  First the hot shoe mount should've been placed on the top of the camera instead of at the rear as a plug in accessory.  Second, the touchscreen navigation isn't as responsive as I'd like it to be.  Finally, if you want to use any of the filters Adorama included in the bundle, you would have to mount those first and then mount the lens hood on top of it.  Besides those, I am glad I purchased this kit.

Nice Camcorder for Family Outings

This camcorder is simple to use for somebody that just wants to shoot in "auto", but will also let you have some manual control if you choose. The wife enjoys using it to record our two toddlers, and she's not a techie. The video quality looks great and the audio is about as good as you can get with a built-in mic. The build feels light and plastic-y , but looks like it should hold up well as long as you don't abuse it.  Low light performance seems about as good as you would expect from 1/2.3 sensor... I'd call it very good. If you want excellent low light, or more isolation /narrower depth of field you probably want a 1 inch type sensor. AF and stabilization are excellent on this unit. I'd recommend the HC-VX981K highly, especially if you can get it with a bundle and instant rebate... at ($), I am very pleased with it. 

Great camcorder

I have been very pleased with how easy it is to capture excellent quality video with this camcorder and really like the bundle package - well worth the extra money beyond getting just the camera.

Excellent camcorder and an especially great deal with the bundle

Originally I bought x3 Vixia HF R700's for a podcast I film and was disappointed with the quality of these but Adorama has such a great return policy that I just returned them and got a full refund.  I then Decided on the Panasonic HC-VX981 of course was a step up in price, but with 4K, some sample shots I seen and not to mention the accessory bundle, this was a win win.  The only gripe I have with it is the memory card slot being on the bottom, which makes it hard when you have a tripod attached.

Panasonic HC-VX981K 4K Ultra HD Camcorder with 4K Photo Capture, Wi-Fi

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