Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

Sensor size and resolution have the biggest impact on low light performance the price of the camera isn’t always relevant. The fs100 has a larger sensor and lower resolution so it’s not surprising it performs better in low light.

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

I agree, I posted one in low light up to 12 dB, thought it was really acceptable

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

I think a lot of people have been spoiled by seeing Red and A7sII footage in movies and online, and get this internal mechanism telling them everything should look like that. Most prosumer cameras are not really getting better in low light, maybe just cleaner at lower gain settings, but raw sensitivity and s/n ratio drop as they add more and more pixels to the little sensors.

Paul

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

I was comparing it to my previous Sony EA50 (APS-C sensor).

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

Tom, I've used a NX3 quite a bit, and the and although I haven't compared them side by side, the UX180/HC-X1 is a quite bit better in low light. The UX180 is also definitely sharper.

I got my UX180 a few weeks ago and just posted a review to my web site.

Panasonic AG-UX180 Review - mike-warren.net

Here's a test of the UX180's 30x iZoom

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

A recommended the UX180 to a friend a few months ago, and he just unloaded it because he found the gain to difficult to change in a fast paced ENG environment. Apparently, every time you want o change gain, you have to enable the operation....EVERY TIME. He found it infuriating, and also commented the lens was full of magenta/green chromatic aberrations. Was very good in low light though. :-)

Paul

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

SWIT batteries are fine, I have two, I got mine ( and the camera) from Pro AV.- a great shop

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

thx Michael for this reply. It's the sharpness I'm missing from my NX3. When I just see the 1080p images from the HC-X1 is like you said sharper. I just read the review on your website. When you have time I would like to see the NX3 vs HC-X in lower light. Thx for your time!

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

For me, the gain very easy to adjust. There's a dedicated button that switches between 3 preset gains. I have mine set to 0, 6 and 12 dB. Then, after pressing that button, just press the menu wheel once to engage full gain adjustment in 1dB steps.

I find chromatic aberration is very well controlled. There is a little purple fringing on edges that are blown out, but I've always seen that as a side effect of Bayer sensors.

I guess that depends on what it's being compared to. I find low light performance to be adequate.:-)

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

Yeah, the push, push, then adjust, then push push then adjust again, for each shot, is quite exhaustive in night ENG, where gain is practically the only thing you really adjust.

After seeing some UX180 wide open video clips, I can agree the lens flares a bit and exhibits CA, but to get 20x 24mm bolted in front of a 1" sensor, you would expect as much.

Paul

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

My friend who owns the NX3 actually asked me if I wanted to borrow it again over the Christmas break, but I declined. He's away until the end of January, I think. I'll try to remember to ask him for it when he get's back to town. You might have to remind me.

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

How is it done on other cameras? My memory from the old days is that there was a 3 position switch. Beyond that, it was quite complicated.

Re: panasonic hc-x1
 

What SDHC or SDHX cards & class ratings do I need for FHD 50P. Pity can't switch straight to 100FPS by user switch. How do you go when switching ti Intelligent Zoom ? Pete Constable