Barry,

Thanks for the great information. I've looked around but could not find the answer to this question. Does the UX-90 have an i.zoom function? Is it useable in HD mode? Thanks!

Yes as Pete said, it has i.Zoom. It works only in HD, it turns the 15x optical zoom into, effectively, a 25x zoom. And it works extremely well.

The Ux90 has izoom in HD.

Barry the UX90 white balance doesn't operate how I'm accustomed to, a three toggle switch: 1 preset and 2 custom balances you create by holding a white card in front of the camera while pressing white balance button.

How do I set a custom white balance for existing lighting?

It actually works exactly the same way. The White Bal button takes the place of the white balance switch. It provides three channels (preset, Ach, and Bch). It's not a switch anymore, it's a button, but the same functionality is there and works the same way -- use the button to select Ach (or Bch), fill the screen with a white card, and then press the AWB button on the front of the camera under the lens.

Thanks Barry I didn't realize what that button under the lens was . Now it makes sense.

Barry,

I am sure this is going to be one of those "Duh" moments, but I can't find anyway to playback the video on the UX90. I searched the manual and all of the regular buttons on the camera, to no avail. What am I missing?

Barry,

I am sure this is going to be one of those "Duh" moments, but I can't find anyway to playback the video on the UX90. I searched the manual and all of the regular buttons on the camera, to no avail. What am I missing?
I was baffled by it too. It's not very intuitive. On the top front of the camera near the lcd there is a button called "Thumbnails". Then use the touch screen to select and play a clip. I actually find the touchscreen to be a good interface for playback. Although it's difficult to find and reach the thumbnails button when the camera is on a tripod.

This is one of many things I've notice that Panasonic interface is a bit odd.

Thanks. I actually just figured it out. It was the only button I hadn't pushed yet!

So in terms of raw sensitivity, the UX90 is about 1 stop faster, and the UX180 is about the same or even slightly behind. But, the UX180 has a "HIGH SENS." mode that doubles the ISO and reduces the grain, so it becomes an effective 1000 ISO, and that puts it 1.5 stops more sensitive than the AC160, so ... at that point, it's a wash, they're equally sensitive.

Incorrect re the HIGH SENS mode. The HIGH SENS mode, called EXTENDED on JVC cameras, is basically 6db of RAW GAIN added to whatever normal gain number you see on the VF/EVF. The noise increases as if you simply added 6db of gain to whatever gain setting you select. The first application of this was on the HPX2000. They had a setting you could assign to a user button to activate the "6db boost" feature.

If you want to test this out, take any of these cameras, set them to normal mode 18db, shoot a clip, then switch to HIGH SENS/EXTENDED and shoot a clip at 12db. Compare side by side, you will see they are identical. The most use I can find for this is that you can change one menu setting instead of changing three gain values if you move into a dark situation for ENG. :-)

Paul

For UX90 and UX180 owners, Panasonic is now offering a free download of my latest book, "A Guide To The UX90 And UX180 Camcorders". You can get your copy here from Panasonic's website:
http://info.panasonic.com/ux-series-e-book.html

Just downloaded it. Looks good Barry! It's also nice how Panasonic offers this for free (I certainly hope YOU were paid well for your hard work!)

I really like how the guide does in depth with the settings and features. This document is going to be a great way to train operators, and much of the information is useful for more than just the UX90/180.

Thanks Barry. I'm going to download it. I would like to learn more about the image control menu. Specifically I'd like to crush the blacks a bit. For theatrical work I find I need to darken the blacks for the non stage areas.

Btw, I was re reading that post about the light sensitivity. Which out of the three cameras performs the best in low light?

Which three - UX90, UX180, and HC-X1? Or UX90, UX180, and DVX200?

Actually, I guess it doesn't matter, as the answer is all the same -- they're all about the same except for the UX90, which is one f-stop less sensitive than the others, and doesn't offer the HIGH SENS option.

Which three - UX90, UX180, and HC-X1? Or UX90, UX180, and DVX200?

Actually, I guess it doesn't matter, as the answer is all the same -- they're all about the same except for the UX90, which is one f-stop less sensitive than the others, and doesn't offer the HIGH SENS option.
Isn't the higher sensitivity setting just a software enhancement (additional gain with higher noise reduction)? Why isn't the ux180/x1 a stop faster in normal mode?

They are. The UX90 has a base ISO of about 250, the UX180/HC-X1 have a base ISO of about 500. Then you also have the HIGH SENS option, which pushes the UX180/HC-X1 effective ISO to about 1000.

For UX90 and UX180 owners, Panasonic is now offering a free download of my latest book, "A Guide To The UX90 And UX180 Camcorders". You can get your copy here from Panasonic's website:
http://info.panasonic.com/ux-series-e-book.html

Thanks Barry, very helpful book. But I have one question - after download I tried to check pictures from scene files setings (I'm talking about videos for demonstration) and after clicking inside of mentioned video I still have white frame, nothing shows up, could you be so kind and check it?
I read your previous book - guide to DVX200 (I own one) and all videos for demonstration are working great.

Regards

Janusz

I would say to check which program you're using to view the PDF in. I found that when on an Apple Mac, the "Preview" app would display the pages but wouldn't play the videos; when using Adobe's Reader app, the videos played fine.

I'm using Windows 7 and latest version of Acrobat Reader DC. I have both your guides: DVX200 and UX90/180.
In guide for DVX200 videos are playing perfect, but in guideUX90/180 still no luck - just a empty white frame.
I checked it in three comps - desktop (Win7) notebook Sony Vaio (Win7) and netbook SONY Vaio (Win10) - no luck.
Link to screenshots below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B8EICTmmyn-feGRIMVlULXJHM3M?usp=sharing

Regards

Janusz

I'm not sure what to tell you... it was created in the exact same program as the DVX200 Book was, the videos are incorporated in the same way, and I tested it on both Mac and Windows before sending it in... Perhaps try re-downloading it in case something was corrupted during the download?

I compared size of downloaded content of both guides. Both have almost the same number of pages: DVX200 Guide - 279 pages, UX90/180 Guide 269 pages and number of included videos is almost the same.
But DVX200 Guide has 20,0 MB and UX90/180 Guide only 11,6 MB (lack of embeded videos?)

Maybe somebody from win7 users can check if videos from UX90/180 Guide ale playing correct?
Regards
Janusz

I have both your guides: DVX200 and UX90/180.
In guide for DVX200 videos are playing perfect, but in guideUX90/180 still no luck - just a empty white frame.


Excellent initiative, Barry. Unfortunately I'm having the same experience here on WIN10 Pro - the DVX200 guide behaves as expected, the UX90/180 just blank, and not linking. FWIW the guide was DLed on 03.06.2017.

Same problem here with missing videos. Downloaded on 3-6-17.
Ken

Not quite the same but mine will not unzip in either my WIN7 PC or the WIN10 PC !!! I have downloaded twice so far.

But DVX200 Guide has 20,0 MB and UX90/180 Guide only 11,6 MB (lack of embeded videos?)

Well, that's certainly odd, because the book as I sent it to them is 75 megabytes. I don't know how it became 11.6 megabytes unless they somehow recompressed it, and perhaps in that process the videos became disabled? I don't know, but I will raise the question with them to see if they can fix it.

Okay folks, I believe the issue is resolved. When they recompressed the book, some features I had installed (like the videos and hotlinks) didn't survive that process.

They have re-posted it in a much better form that, while being much larger, it better represents the book as I wrote it. I encourage all who have downloaded the old version, to download the new version as a replacement. The download is much larger, but I believe you'll be better served by the higher-res pictures, the active linking between articles and the table of contents, and by the videos.

Downloaded the new version (62.3MB).
I can see the pictures, but no video links.
Using Firefox to view the PDF.

Ken

Tried again with my email and got no reply. Tried from my wifes computer with her name and got the download !!! I too have the pictures now but no video. File is 64M compared with 11M before.

Please try viewing it using the Adobe Acrobat Reader. I verified that the videos do work in that reader.

I now have the videos working.

Downloaded Reader. No luck here. I assume the video links are the topics in outlines/rectangles.
Anyway, the content is just as valuable with or without the videos.
Ken

Some of the pictures are videos but not all.

Downloaded Reader. No luck here. I assume the video links are the topics in outlines/rectangles.
Anyway, the content is just as valuable with or without the videos.
Ken
There are words in rectangles, those are hyperlinks that will jump to that topic.

The videos are in pictures. Some of the still pictures are actually videos; I believe they all should have a little text box below them that say "click the picture above to see a video that describes this" or something along those lines. An example is the picture for the knee point and knee slope; that is actually an embedded video.

And please make sure you're using the 62-megabyte version of the book; the 11-megabyte version definitely doesn't have the videos.

Got the videos working with Acrobat.

Ken

Superb! Glad this is all sorted out.

What's the battery life for the UX90 Camera for the different batteries you have?

Also, how's the camera durability?

Coming from some older sonys and liking the price, 4k UHD, and Auto Focus Assist, which sony got rid of unfortunately.

Thanks!

Durability and battery life is typically of this class of camera. Battery about 2 hrs. It has focus assist but it can't be used while recording.

Barry, I got the UX180 for better light sensitivity, thanks you were spot on about it.

I had another question concerning both cameras (90/180). When I close down the iris too far the image goes black. I couldn't find anywhere in the menu to set a limit. If there isn't please pass on to Panasonic that this is something that should be fixed. I've never owned a camera that acted this way.

I was filming a theatrical performance last night with unusually bright scenes. And it happen couple of times. There is nothing worse than having the screen suddenly black out during a live shot. When you're using a remote with a small dial to control the iris it easy to turn it too far and trying to remember what's the maximum aperture before it blacks out, it's just terrible.

I want to have fun with that last post, but I will be kind.

It is not a malfunction, you are just literally CLOSING the iris completely, ALL real cameras do this. Professional B4 broadcast lenses actually have the letter C on them to indicate CLOSED. You should not be operating the camera close to totally closed iris, that is what the neutral density filter switch is for. You want to keep the iris wide open to maybe f5.6 for the sharpest picture, if you iris down too much, the light will bend through the tiny iris opening in such a way as to cause lens diffraction.

Now learn how to use your new camera. :-)

https://fstoppers.com/studio/fstoppers-original-what-lens-diffraction-and-when-does-diffraction-happen-6022

Paul

Barry, I notice something strange. On my both UX180 after recording start I can't go to menu (button doesn't work and from quick menu it says invalid). Is this normal, bad setting or is a bug?

No that's actually "normal" a lot of the newer cameras do that. Could be a by product of 4k cameras can't do two things at once . But it's very frustrating for live work where there's a setting that's that can only be accessed through the menu but you can't stop shooting to change it.

I am shooting conferences on a tripod for 5-6 hours continuously. Of course I need to change settings while this time. I can't "imagine" always the perfect settings before the shooting because it's lights may change during the conference.

This is totally stupid, it's a simple menu and I don't think that the problem is 4K processing 1st because I shot on FHD and 2nd quick menu works, so how much cost in CPU needs a simple fk menu!!! AMAZING!!! They didn't say that on operation manual.

The funny is that I didn't buy Sony Z150 because 4K & output and menu button on top... this is worst... totally disappointed and they have to fix that. This is the 1st priority on usability.

It is possible to handle most exposure situations without going into the menu. You just have to adapt your mindset to the camera.

I've found its best to run in full manual and the setup auto menu to adjust only the setting you want like gain or iris. I prefer how most other cameras handle exposure. A physical button for gain/iris/shutter/white bal/focus. Press the corresponding button to toggle between auto and manual.

I really wish I could change exposure compensation and auto audio levels while shooting.

I think it may be a Panasonic issue as the my new GH5 is the same though all my Sony's allow access to the menu while recording even in UHD 60P for the FDR-AX1 , or UHD 30P for the AX53 or AX100 , the older NX5U gives full access to change the gain settings for the switch for example while recording and it can also do a focus expand in the LCD to check focus too while recording. I expect it is a lack of processing power.

I want to have fun with that last post, but I will be kind.

It is not a malfunction, you are just literally CLOSING the iris completely, ALL real cameras do this. Professional B4 broadcast lenses actually have the letter C on them to indicate CLOSED. You should not be operating the camera close to totally closed iris, that is what the neutral density filter switch is for. You want to keep the iris wide open to maybe f5.6 for the sharpest picture, if you iris down too much, the light will bend through the tiny iris opening in such a way as to cause lens diffraction.

Now learn how to use your new camera. :-)

https://fstoppers.com/studio/fstoppers-original-what-lens-diffraction-and-when-does-diffraction-happen-6022

Paul

It would be nice to disable though as when I'm filming a theatrical show that ranges within minutes from insane bright lights to literally being lit by a candle...it's hard to activate and deactivate the nd filter. And as depending on the level of zoom it can close at 10...or 11...

At least it was in my 160, which I'm looking to replace with the ux100

Does the ux100 handle the transition from nd to needing gain more smoothly?

I didn't feel like explaining to someone who hasn't filmed theatrical performance what it's like. I've since talked to other people and their response was yeah Panasonic does that for some reason.

There's a lot head scratchers with Panasonic. There should be some sort of indicator like the fstop blinks when you reach the last stop or you should be able to disable it in the menu.

As far as the ND filters I can't say if it's smoother than your camera. There isn't any sort of ramping in this camera. There are four position but there's no hiding when you flip on a nd filter while recording.

Yes, it would be nice to have a blinking warning 'beyond this point there be blackout" notice. Also having the ND filter control either a switch or a button like the gain (so you could easily switch it to a level or disable it vs, reaching around to the front to turn a dial as it is on the 160...which I will have to look at on the ux180)

But nothing is perfect.

It seems you use the ux180 similar to how I would be (filming theatrical events). I'm looking to replace my three 160s with it. Actually had the sales person talk me out saying I'd see little difference. But it seems that between the wider lens, the enhanced stabilization and the 4K giving me more image space to use for editing down to 1080, it would give me a significant quality increase (and that's before I factor in the higher recording bitrate).

The thing I love about the 160s is how forgiving the focus/depth is and I can have people crossing downstage and it will remain reasonably in focus. Is the 180 similar? Does it being 4K mean focus has to be more on the nose, or if the light/aperture is in a decent sweet spot, will the depth be similarly forgiving?

Is there a way to change the gain scroll to advance faster than 1db increments?

Paul

Just got an HC-X1 which is the same camera as the UX180 without SDI. Finally got the AG-ROP wifi app working, except when I try to switch from camera mode to thumbnail mode, I get a connection error. Since the other functions (record start/stop, iris, etc) are all working, any idea what might cause this glitch?
Thanks,
Len

To owners of HC X 1. How 'bad' is the lag I have heard about on the LCD when recording in 4K? If it is even an issue.

Ian

I've been using NX5U since it first came out. I am currently investigating buying new cameras where I could provide customers with recorded video being uploaded onto their mobile phone (iPhone, Samsung, Pixel). I've been doing this for many years now and customers and just love it.

I am currently looking at the Sony NX5R and the Panasonic UX-180.

I do not need to create 4k files and will take a long time before I do. However, the Panasonic seems to create mp4 files which can be uploaded onto a mobile phone without any problems.

The Sony has ftp and streaming capabilities which after investigation I may use. The NX5R create h.264/mp4 files but I am not sure those could be uploaded onto iPhone, Pixel....

I need 20x zoom, LANC capabilities and h.264/mp4 videos recorded at 1080/60p.

For shows, I've been using AVCHD at 720p and users just love it. I would then used whatever best format the camera I select to create year end shows.

Unfortunately, I do not have any of those two cameras with me. I need to test if mp4 files created from those camera could be uploaded onto my iPhone.

I would appreciate if someone could provide me with a three minutes clip from each of those two camera. Panning and zooming cars coming by would allow me to know better about those cameras.

Thanks for your help!


Best regards!