In years past, tech ministry at most churches meant having a solid command of audio and lighting systems. For larger churches with auditoriums seating well into the thousands, it was important to have professional-quality IMAG systems to connect participants viscerally with what was taking place onstage. These systems were carefully designed and calibrated specifically for what happened in weekend worship.
Churches today have begun to increasingly embrace the need to create original media content in order to effectively connect the life and mission of the ministry with a larger world. Creating this type of media requires specific cameras with features and abilities very different than those designed for IMAG systems; using the right tool for the job can often mean the difference between success and failure.
Selecting that right camera for an emerging church film ministry is a crucial first purchase. A filmmaking camcorder for a church needs to meet the demands of different styles such as documentary, event and narrative projects. Just as importantly, its important that a film team's first camera is easy to use, volunteer-friendly, and as future-proof as possible. All of which is why we're excited about the newly announced Panasonic AG-UX180 camcorder.
The Big Picture
Building on the success of the DVX200, the Panasonic AG-UX180 is an all-in-one 4K video camcorder with a fixed lens included. Development on the UX180 was unveiled back in April at NAB, with pricing and release dates just being announced this month. While the features and specs definitely have our attention, it's important to note that what we'll be discussing here is a first impression. We'll know more when we get our hands on an actual unit for review.
One of the big transitions church tech ministries are wrestling with today is the transition to 4K. While the increased resolution definitely has its drawbacks in some circumstances, 4K can be a Godsend for church film teams with only one production camera. This increased resolution allows filmmakers to film in 4K and edit in HD, giving them the ability to zoom into the image without any loss in clarity. This process is called “reframing in post,” and it means producers can get great-looking wide and tight shots of an interview subject with a single camera.
It's All About the Glass
Beyond filming in 4K, the real selling point of the AG-UX180 is the built-in 24-480mm-equivilant 20X zoom lens. 20X is a monster zoom range for a camera in this form factor. Honestly, it's a monster zoom range for any lens. Just as impressive as the zoom distance is the fact that it can frame extremely wide, allowing for some epic establishing shots. Having a wide lens also allows for the filming of multiple subjects in a confined space. As Steve Cooperman, senior product manager with Panasonic explains, “Imagine you're in someone's office, and it's small. When you're set up too close, you might not be able to get two people in frame. With this lens that's not a problem.”
The aperture on the lens is f2.8-4.5, meaning that even zoomed out to its longest it's still allowing in an impressive amount of light. Add in servo control for the zoom, individual rings for manual control of focus, zoom and aperture and you get a pretty impressive piece of glass on the UX-180. It also features Panasonic's Optical Image Stabilizer system for keeping your shots steady.
Capturing the Moment
The sensor on the AG-UX180 is a one-inch MOS sensor, which is about 30% smaller than the micro four thirds sensor found in the DVX200. While this slightly smaller sensor might make it more difficult to achieve a really shallow depth of filed for narrative work, the trade-off is important to the overall design of the camera. “It allows you to have a longer zoom because the sensor is slightly smaller than a MFT,” explains Cooperman.
Another chief selling point on the UX180 will be its ability to shoot in a number of different frame rates and resolutions. The camera films full 4K at 24 frames per second, and UHD (3840x2160) up to 60fps. When filming in HD the camera can film at 120fps, allowing for serious slow motion work. As a bonus feature not seen in many cameras in this range, the UX180 will also film in as low as 2fps for time lapse shots usually requiring an intervalometer to achieve.
The UX180 films to industry-standard Quicktime .MOV and .MP4 codecs, meaning that almost any modern editing software should be able to work with the footage. It records to dual SD cards, either simultaneously or utilizing a new “relay recording” function, which allows one card to be swapped out while the other is recording a live take. The camera also incorporates 3G-SDI output and TC preset I/O for easy incorporation into an IMAG system.
Other features include a touchscreen LED for intuitive control and an OLED viewfinder for accurately judging focus and exposure. The touchscreen can also be utilized for specifying where the camera should focus in the frame. The UX180 also features three built-in ND filters, a crucial feature in a documentary-style camera like this.
One surprising omission on the AG-UX180 comes on the audio side, as the camera includes only one XLR audio input. While it's not a deal-breaker for some, dual XLR inputs have been standard on cameras in this form factor for years. The omission means that mic'ing two subjects simultaneously, or using a shotgun and lavalier on a single subject, will require an external audio mixer. It's honestly kind of a bummer on a camera that seems so well thought out otherwise.
In Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, it's important to remember that this is just a first impression look at the UX-180. Sometimes features don't quite work in practice the way the read on paper. Very often a killer new feature doesn't really hit home until you have the device in your hands. Here at CPM we're eager to explore the camera's overall performance, it's low-light abilities and it's capacity to capture cinematic color and depth of field.
Having said all of that, the AG-UX180 is a camera that seems built from the ground up for the church market. It solves a number of different ministry needs, including documentary work, event fieldwork, and limited narrative projects. More importantly, it covers these areas without the need for any additional gear --- other than a tripod.
Moving into the new budget year this camera will definitely be worth some serious consideration for churches taking their first steps into filmmaking. It's got an amazing lens, it films in 4K to great codecs, and it's all backed up by Panasonic's rock solid reputation for capturing world class images.
The Panasonic AG-UX180 is expected to begin shipping in November at a street price of $3,495.
