Panasonic HC-X920 review

[Paul Anderegg]

Yes, this camera has CLEAN HDMI output. In fact, I used this camera for LIVE on air television broadcasts feeding through a TVU backpack. :-)

The only thing to keep in mind is that the words RECORD and PAUSE will briefly appear on the HDMI signal after you press the record button.....not a major issue.

Paul;

[Peter Fondi]

My camcorder is HCX920P
I"m having a problem with the computer not reading my card. It is a PNY 64GB Elite performance, with 10 in a circle and a 1 in a U. it says 90MB/S 14.5 hours HD video I. I've taken video with the camera and played it back, but when I put it in the USB hold and place it in the USB port, the computer wont recognize it, and if I try to format it with the computer, it tells me that it is unrecognizable. The card was formated with the camcorder.

[Don Andress]

Hello guys.

I have recently purchased Panasonic x920, encouraged by online tests and reviews, but it seems that I might have done a stupid thing...

The main thing for me is to record best low light clips possible.
Everywhere on the internet I could find opinions that x920 is the best in this price range.
In a daylight all the clips are sharp and no complains in this area but I get a horrible noise and grain in low light!


I'd like to present to you some of the samples, they are stored on my Google Drive, all original MTS, max 1min..

All shot in artificial low light, indoors, 1080/50p (Europe), always automatic settings except for one clip with manual focus, all shot on a tripod.
File names should be pretty self-explanatory, just one thing - in terms of light: 3 - strongest, 0 - weakest.
Please disregard audio - Kill Bill was in the background ;)
https://drive.google.com/folderview?...&usp=drive_web


Can you please tell me if anything can be done?
Can I adjust any settings in manual mode to get better low light picture quality?
If so, could you please advice which settings to use?



Also please find attached MediaInfo properties of the first clip:

Video
ID/String                        : 4113 (0x1011)
MenuID/String                    : 1 (0x1)
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format_Profile                   : High@L4.2
Format_Settings_CABAC/String     : Tak
Format_Settings_RefFrames/String : 2 frames
Format_Settings_GOP              : M=3, N=24
CodecID                          : 27
Duration/String                  : 58s 40ms
BitRate_Mode/String              : Variable
BitRate/String                   : 23,7 Mb/s
BitRate_Maximum/String           : 25,0 Mb/s
Width/String                     : 1.920 pixels
Height/String                    : 1.080 pixels
DisplayAspectRatio/String        : 16:9
FrameRate/String                 : 50,000 kl/s
ColorSpace                       : YUV
ChromaSubsampling                : 4:2:0
BitDepth/String                  : 8 bits
ScanType/String                  : Progressive
Bits-(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.228
StreamSize/String                : 164 MB (94%)

Audio
ID/String                        : 4352 (0x1100)
MenuID/String                    : 1 (0x1)
Format                           : AC-3
Format/Info                      : Audio Coding 3
Format_Settings_ModeExtension    : CM (complete main)
Format_Settings_Endianness       : Big
CodecID                          : 129
Duration/String                  : 58s 80ms
BitRate_Mode/String              : Constant
BitRate/String                   : 384 Kb/s
Channel(s)/String                : 2 channels
ChannelPositions                 : Front: L R
SamplingRate/String              : 48,0 KHz
BitDepth/String                  : 16 bits
Video_Delay/String               : -40ms
StreamSize/String                : 2,66 MB (2%)

Text
ID/String                        : 4608 (0x1200)
MenuID/String                    : 1 (0x1)
Format                           : PGS
CodecID                          : 144
Duration/String                  : 57s 536ms
Video_Delay/String               : -40ms

[Kris Kohuth]

That looks like pretty challenging lighting. If you were on full auto then the camera was probably doing the best it can. But I can think of two things you might try:

The camera has an iA button (for Intelligent Auto) that lets you choose shooting presets. It has a "Low Light" preset that might give better results.

If you don't need the 50p when shooting low light, then you might try switching the record mode to 50i, in the highest quality setting. (50p gives better results under most circumstances, so be sure to switch it back.) There should be an advanced manual on the CD that explains switching the record modes.

Good luck.

[Don Andress]

Hello Kris.

Thanks for your reply.
I tried to set up x920 your way but unfortunatelly it didn't give any significant improvement.

I tried iA, iA with nigh mode, iA+ with some small adjustments, manual with some more adjustments and night mode. Nothing that would convince me to keep this camcorder...


So how about I tried some decent DSLR?
Do you think that I might get a better result, considering I would use a good lens?

[Paul Anderegg]

PETER, I don't think the x920 can handle SD"XC" cards if that is what you have. I have the 64GB PNG SDXC in my CX900, reads like lightning!

DON: AVOID 18db at all costs! If you look carefully, or not so carefully, you will notice that the very last gain up db rendered the pictures contrast muddy and softens the picture substantially. Always go to maximum, then back down 1 click, and the blacks will return to normal. Also, when shooting in low light, it is imperative to lower the shutter to 1/25-1/30 sec. This will double your low light sensitivity assuming you are in 50p/60p mode, which sets a standard auto 1/50-1/60 sec shutter.

Paul

[Don Andress]

Hi Paul.
Thank you very much.

I tried your suggestions. I set shutter to 1/25, 15db and then I tried setting sharpness.
With sharpness set to 0 the picture grain is just terrible. A bit better with -2 and the best with -5.
I am only speaking about noise, not the quality of details. It's obvious that with sharpness set to low amount I'm gonna get lower details.

But if there is no other setting I could use maybe this is what I'm gonna go with - sharpness -4 or -5.
I believe it's better to have lower details then so strong noise because - and I'm not exaggerating - it looks like little warms on the picture...

Oh, and there is no good setting for the city at night.


Or maybe you know any fine trick I could use in the post processing stage?

[Al Bergstein]

Originally Posted by Paul Anderegg

Yes, this camera has CLEAN HDMI output. In fact, I used this camera for LIVE on air television broadcasts feeding through a TVU backpack. :-)

The only thing to keep in mind is that the words RECORD and PAUSE will briefly appear on the HDMI signal after you press the record button.....not a major issue.

Paul;

I use a switcher when doing live broadcasts so this might be useful, in that I can have it off line while I start recording, and bring it in after the RECORD or PAUSE info is over.

[Tom Van den Berghe]

this camcorder still has a great and sharp picture quality. "Much" sharper then my 2 semi-pro sony camcorders.

When doing multicam shots I see this.