/// HD Camcorder Comparison

Picture ?

Manufacturer

Panasonic

Sony

Name

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

HDR-AX2000

European name ?

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

HDR-AX2000

US name ?

HDC-Z10000 (3D-Modus)

HDR-AX2000

lowest US price

(3499) $

2849 $

On the market since

November 2011

February 2010

Manufacturers URL

link to Panasonic

link to Sony

Test preview

slashCAM rating ?

Very good

test picture 1200 Lux

Test image 12 lux auto-mode

Video

Video formats ?

AVCHD
MVC 3D

AVCHD
SD MPEG2

Recording Medium

SD Card
SDHC card
SDXC card

SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo

video resolutions EU ?

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p

AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
MPEG2 720 x756/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p

video resolutions US ?

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p

AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480

Max Bitrate ?

28 Mbit/s

24 Mbit/s

Compression format ?

MPEG4

MPEG2
MPEG4

on-board memory ?

Optics

Optics Manufacturer ?

Panasonic

Sony

Optical Zoom ?

10 x

20 x

Wide Angle 16:9 ?

29,8 mm

29,5 mm

Filter diameter ?

- mm

72 mm

Image Stabilization ?

optical

optically and electronically

ND Filter ?

Exchangable optics ?

Image Sensor

Number of sensors ?

Size of image sensor ?

1/4,1 inch

1/3 inch

image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?

3050000 Pixel

1037000 Pixel

Image Sensor Type ?

CMOS

Controls

White Balance ?

auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift

Focus ?

auto
manual

Minimum shutter time ?

1/250

1/10.000

Maximum shutter time ?

1/24

1/3

Apperture control ?

auto
manual
AE-Shift

Infrared recording ?

Expanded Focus ?

Yes

Peaking ?

Yes

Signal Processing

Zebra ?

50-105%

70-100%

Histogram ?

Yes

adjustable sharpness ?

Yes

Adjustable color ?

Yes

Cinegamma ?

Yes

Black Strech ?

Yes

Knee ?

Yes

Colorbars ?

Yes

Misc.

Shot Transition ?

Custom Presets ?

Yes

Set Time Code ?

Yes

Configuration

Connections

FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite

Out

YC ?
synonymous: S-Video

About Special Equipment

YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal

Out

HDMI ?

Out

DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394

USB ?

USB 2.0

Microphone / Audio input ?

XLR

Headphones ?

Mini-jack

Lanc ?

Time-code interface ?

Genlock ?

Accessory shoe ?

Standard

HD-SDI ?

Misc.

Weight (without battery)

1600 g

2100 g

Weight (with battery)

2300 g

Battery type

Panasonic CGA-D54s

Sony F570

Battery capacity

5400 mAh

Charger ?

external

internal

Remote control

Yes

Size

Height

145 mm

173 mm

Width

195 mm

187 mm

Depth

350 mm

342 mm

Relative Size ?

110

Viewfinder

Viewfinder available ?

Yes

Color Viewfinder ?

Color

Viewfinder format ?

16:9

Viewfinder pixels ?

1226880 Pixel

Display

Display available ?

Yes

Color display ?

Color

Display size

3,5 Inch

3,2 Inch

Display format ?

16:9

Display pixels ?

1152000 Pixel

921600 Pixel

Touch Screen ?

Yes

External controls

Manual Zoom ?

Rocker
Ring

Manual Focus ?

Ring

Manual Aperture ?

Ring

Ring
button

Focus switcher ?

Yes

ND Filter ?

Yes

Exp Lock ?

Yes

Gain ?

Yes

White balance ?

Yes

Push AF ?

Yes

Audio Levels ?

Yes

Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons

Audio

Audio Formats ?

AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
2 channel PCM

Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz

Microphone ?

external XLR
5.1 Internal

Stereo internal
external XLR

Audio Control ?

auto
manual

Audio levels ?

Viewfinder
Screen

Still

Recording Medium ?

Memory Stick Duo

Medium included ?

Effective pixels ?

Resolutions ?

Standard ?

JPEG Exif 2.2

Flash ?

Misc.

Specials

"Smooth Slow Record" slow motion.

Product Shots

View 1

View 2

Test results

Test pictures

luminance resolution

chrominance resolution

lens distortion

test small ISO image

noise / internal microphone

test picture 1200 Lux

Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?

Test image 12 lux optimized ?

slashCAM rating

Lowlight ?

Good

Very good

Resolution ?

Excellent

Good

Color performance ?

Very good

subj.Picture impression ?

Very good

Optical Zoom ?

Sufficient

Satisfactory

Wide Angle ?

Very good

Configuration / image ?

Very good

Configuration / sound ?

Excellent

Very good

Handling ?

Very good

Portability ?

Satisfactory

Photo function ?

Poor

Optics ?

Very good

Good

Dynamics ?

Very good

Conclusion slashCAM

slashCAM rating ?

Very good

Total score ?
(maximal 570)

440

425

Pros

+ Extreme manual control options
+ Very good image quality
+ Good 3D control

+ large wide angle
+ XLR audio
+ good low light performance
+ high resolution display / viewfinder

Cons

- No ND filter
- Autostereoscopic display mode

- sharpness only average
- no touch focus
- no shot transition

Conclusion

Even as a 2D camcorder the Z10000 is absolutely competitive thanks to the professional features and excellent image quality.The additional 3D capabilities are currently unique in this price range (and even much further) (as of 11/2011).

Consumer camcorders like Panasonics 300-series or the JVC GZ-HM400 are able to deliver sharper FullHD images.But on the other hand the AX2000 shines with its low light capabilities, handling, display, viewfinder, wide angle and also in the audio section.As a universal workhorse this semiprofessionell AVCHD-camcorder thus makes a thoroughly good impression.Also the pricing which lies well below the EX1 makes it interesting.A touch focus and shot transiton had been nice though.The former could (as an option) be of advantage also on a rather professional model like this, while the latter would seperate it more from consumer devices.

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