{"id":63302,"date":"2020-04-08T14:53:26","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T18:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=63302"},"modified":"2025-03-18T12:48:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:48:15","slug":"hands-on-review-filming-with-the-panasonic-ag-cx10-4k-professional-camcorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/hands-on-review-filming-with-the-panasonic-ag-cx10-4k-professional-camcorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands-on Review: Filming With the Panasonic AG-CX10 4K Professional Camcorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I remember the release of the Panasonic<\/a> AG-DVX100, back in the early 2000s. It was a compact prosumer camcorder that truly<\/em> excited me. Now, in 2020, Panasonic has done it again. They’ve truly piqued my interest and, I think, raised the bar for this class of camera.\u00a0<\/span>You could say that the Panasonic AG-CX10 borders on full-out professional-class camcorder.\u00a0 <\/span>I can honestly see this camera being used by vloggers<\/span> and news-gatherers<\/span>. And videographers for weddings, sports and action, documentaries and more.\u00a0<\/span>The list goes on and on.\u00a0<\/span>Let\u2019s get into why.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Panasonic AG-CX10<\/span> has a familiar build quality to similar camcorders but is feature-packed.\u00a0<\/span>Just like other camcorders at this price point, you\u2019ve got built-in ND filters<\/span>. You also get dual-programmable lens rings for focus and aperture or zoom.\u00a0<\/span>You\u2019ve got XLR inputs on the top handle, a high-resolution EVF, flip-out LCD screen, multiple programmable user buttons, and it\u2019s lightweight. In fact, Panasonic bills the Panasonic AG-CX10<\/span> as the lightest 4K 60p camcorder<\/span> (with a fixed zoom lens) on the market. Now here are the features that set it apart:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Rob Adams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Photo by Rob Adams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Resolutions: <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The CX-10 uses the Venus Engine which is usually associated with Lumix camera technology, and allows for faster image processing. You can get 10-bit 4:2:2 internal 4k recording at 30p up to 150Mbps and 10-bit 4:2:0 4k recording up to 200Mbps in 24p, 30p and 60p. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shooting in FHD<\/span>, e<\/span>njoy 4:2:2 color up to 200Mpbs all the way 60p.<\/span> These are very robust internal codecs for a camera of this type. There\u2019s a choice of four recording modes<\/span>. These are .MOV, .MP4, AVCHD, and Panasonic\u2019s P2 .MXF<\/span>. All offer a plethora of bitrate and frame rate options.\u00a0<\/span>You also have multiple choices of either Long GOP or ALL-I intraframe modes.\u00a0<\/span>In addition, there\u2019s the ability to utilize the CX-10’s full-sized HDMI out to get uncompressed 10-bit video signals to an external recorder.\u00a0 <\/span>Oh, and there\u2019s super slow-motion recording in frame rates up to 120p in FHD.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Rob Adams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Photo by Rob Adams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Zoom Lens:  <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The CX-10 has a 24x Leica<\/a> Dicomar zoom lens that offers a 35mm equivalent of 25-600mm of optical zoom range.\u00a0<\/span>In iZoom digital zoom mode, you can get 32x clear magnification shooting in 4K and 48x in FHD.\u00a0<\/span>I found this lens to be extremely sharp and it offers vibrant color.\u00a0<\/span>The zoom is smooth and easily controllable with both zoom rockers on the main grip and top handle, which can be adjusted for a desired speed.\u00a0<\/span>It also has a built-in switch-activated lens cover.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensor: <\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Usually a camera around this price point contains a max 1-inch sensor but the CX-10 boasts a 1\/2.5-type (inch) MOS sensor that is great at handling rolling distortion. <\/span>Straight out of the box, this camera handled everything I threw at it and it performed respectably in low light and processed changing exposures in varying condition quickly and accurately. However, if you\u2019re looking for dynamic range, don\u2019t expect a sensor that matches a full-frame CMOS. <\/span>Flatten out your picture profile for better falloff in your exposures.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auto-Focus: <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The CX-10 shines here big time. <\/span>The face-tracking just works, really well<\/em>. <\/span>The AF\/AE mode actually uses the color of the image to track focus, allowing it be far more accurate than what I\u2019ve seen. <\/span>Multiple modes of adjustment here, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s dual SD card slots \u2014 a must for today\u2019s shooters \u2014 and you can have the flip-out LCD and the EVF operating at the same time. The EVF even extends out and flips up from the handle! The viewfinder is 0.61 cm (0.24-inch), but the quality of the image on the screen and data readout is very nice. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s what blows me away about the CX-10:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Panasonic CX10 | RobReview<\/div><\/div>
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