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Review Summary
Image Sensor: 1/2.3-inch BSI MOS Sensor
Total Pixels: 18.91 megapixels
Effective Pixels:
Motion Image: 4K: 8.29 megapixels [16:9], Full-HD: 6.10 megapixels [16:9] (Level Shot Function OFF or Normal)
Still Image: 7.00 megapixels [3:2]
8.29 megapixels [16:9]
6.22 megapixels [4:3]
F Value: F1.8 (WIDE) / F3.6 (TELE)
Optical Zoom: 20x
Intelligent Zoom (Crop/Enlarge): 4K 25x / FHD 20x
Focal Length: 4.08 - 81.6mm
35mm Film Camera Equivalent:
Motion Image (16:9):
4K: 30.8 - 626mm (Level Shot Function OFF), Full-HD: 37.0 - 752mm (Level Shot Function OFF or Normal)
Still Image: 34.5 - 690.3mm [3:2]
30.8 - 626mm [16:9]
37.6 - 752.8mm [4:3]
Filter Diameter: 49mm
Lens Brand: Leica Dicomar Lens
1400 lx
2 lx (Scene Mode Low Light 1/30), 1 lx (Night Mode (Color)), 0 lx (Night Mode (IR))
Auto / Manual
Intelligent Zoom OFF: 20x
Intelligent Zoom ON: 4K: 25x, Full-HD: 40x
Digital Zoom: 60x / 1500x (The maximum value of zoom magnification can be set in two patterns)
Auto / White Set / Sunny / Cloudy / Indoor1 / Indoor2
Motion Image:
Auto Slow Shutter ON : 1/30 - 1/8000 (60p / 60i / 30p), 1/24 - 1/8000 (24p)
Auto Slow Shutter OFF : 1/60 - 1/8000 (60p / 60i / 30p), 1/48 - 1/8000 (24p)
Still Image: 1/2 - 1/2000
Auto / Manual
HYBRID O.I.S.+ with Active Mode, O.I.S. Lock, Level Shot Function (Strong mode: 2K only)
Yes
Miniature Effect, Silent Movie, 8mm Movie, Time Lapse Rec
SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card
[AVCHD] AVCHD Progressive
[iFrame / MP4] MP4
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
1080/60p (28Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/60p)
PH (24Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/60i)
HA (17Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/60i)
HG (13Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/60i)
HE (5Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080/60i)
2160p/30p(72M) (72Mbps / VBR), (3840 x 2160)
2160p/24p(72M) (72Mbps / VBR), (3840 x 2160)
1080p/60p(50M) (50Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)
1080p/60p(28M) (28Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)
1080p/24p(50M) (50Mbps / VBR), (1920 x 1080)
720p/30p(9M) (9Mbps / VBR), (1280 x 720)
960 x 540/30p (28Mbps / VBR)
Approx. 45 min (4K MP4)
Approx. 50 min (60p mode)
Approx. 50 min (PH mode)
Approx. 50 min (HA mode)
Approx. 50 min (HG mode)
Approx. 50 min (HE mode)
Approx. 50 min (2160p/24p)
Approx. 1 h 0 min (1080p/24p)
Approx. 50 min (MP4 50M)
Approx. 50 min (MP4 28M)
Approx. 55 min (MP4 720p)
Approx. 55 min (iFrame)
20 thumbnails/page, 9 thumbnails/page, 1 thumbnail/page
AVCHD: Dolby Digital (5.1ch / 2ch)
iFrame, MP4: AAC (2ch)
5.1ch Surround, Zoom, Focus and Stereo Microphone
Dynamic type
JPEG (DCF/Exif2.2)
Still Image:
[16:9] 25.9megapixels (6784 x 3816), 14 megapixels (4992 x 2808), 2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080)
[3:2] 20 megapixels (5472 x 3648), 10.6 megapixels (3984 x 2656), 2.0 megapixels (1728 x 1152)
[4:3] 20.4 megapixels (5216 x 3912), 10.9 megapixels (3808 x 2856), 0.3 megapixels (640 x 480)
Simultaneous Recording: 4K MP4: [16:9] 20.4 megapixels (6016 x 3384), 8.3 megapixels (3840 x 2160)
Other than 4K MP4: [16:9] 14.0 megapixels (4992 x 2808), 2.1 megapixels (1920 x 1080)
3.6V (Battery) / 5.0V (AC Adapter)
Max. 7.1W (Recording) / Max. 7.7W (Charging)
3.0-inch Wide LCD monitor (460,800 dots)
Yes
Yes (Dial)
AV: Yes
HDMI: Yes (micro)
Microphone (stereo mini): Yes
Headphone (stereo mini): Yes
USB: 2.0 Hi-Speed
USB Charge: Yes
Yes
Yes (cold)
Yes (Auto)
Standard: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Frequency: 2.4GHz band
Approx. 2.56 x 2.87 x 5.47" (65 x 73 x 139mm)
Approx. 0.77 lbs (351g) without battery and SD card





The Panasonic VX981 4K Ultra HD camcorder brings simplicity to the 4K recording experience. It adds in-camera editing solutions that can enable anyone to capture and produce content without complex software. An innovative HDR mode reclaims highlights and shadows often lost by most compact camcorders. For those without a 4K display option, the VX981 offers in-camera downsampling to 1080p displays. Plus the ability to create multi-camera scene picture-in-picture recordings simply by adding a WiFi link to a mobile device camera.
Ultra-sharp 4K Ultra HD recording, plus in-camera editing for 1080p displays.
LEICA Dicomar Lens optical 20x zoom, 5-axis Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization.
4K in-camera post cropping, panning, zooming and subject tracking stabilization features eliminate the need for complex editing software.
WiFi connected mobile device Twin Camera feature adds multi-camera scene picture in picture recording.
4K PHOTO captures high-quality photos from 4K video frames.
Exclusive High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode reduces the overly high-contrast look created by overexposed and underexposed shooting conditions.
4K Post Editing
Smooth zooming: Easily zoom-in on subjects without changing camera angle.
Easy tracking: Automatically keep the subject inside the cropped area.
Exact panning: Pan any scene by selecting the start and end points.
Convenient stabilizer: Auto adjust compensates for image shaking.
Enjoy 4x the resolution of Full-HD 1080p by recording in 4K. Even pause and extract exact moments from 4K video frames for still images with 4K PHOTO mode.
Level Footage at All Times: The Level Shot function automatically detects and corrects for camera tilting.
Clear, Blurless Results: HYBRID O.I.S.+ and 5-axis correction thoroughly suppress blurring caused by unwanted handheld shaking.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) Movie
By combining two images taken with different exposures, blown highlights and blocked shadows are eliminated. A dedicated HDR button enables quick mode changes.
High-Quality Core Technologies
The remarkable LEICA Dicomar lens produces the subtle nuances and shading LEICA lenses are renowned for. An advanced BSI Sensor supported by a 4K Crystal Engine suppresses distortion to consistently give an accurate rendering of the scene.
Wireless Multi Camera
Built in Wi-Fi links up to three smartphones simultaneously to record picture-in-picture from multiple angles.